Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-02-10
THE sToRM-vEsSELs IN DISTRESS
OF THE lCE-AN ADVENTURE ON THE ICE, &c


HAMPTON, Va, Feb. 5. 1857.
MesSrs. Edtors.-Two weeks have mnrly passed,
and no mails from my quarter Of the country have
been received at this place; consequently we lave
nothing to write about but loc0i materS-yet sup
pose your numerous readers will not object to some
little news which, though local. is nevertheless Of
some interest to persons in different parts OF the
try.
1 have no doubt you have, by railroad and teie-
graph, received accounts of the recent Storm from
various places. AT this place, it exceeded any thing
ever before witnessed by Oldest inhabitants. Til.
| wind for nearly two days, blew gale seeming at
times TO threaten the destruction o. '7"oes trees
| houses &c, &c. Fortunately, we have 10 var,
serious accident to record, and have been able to
| pursue the even tenor OF our way-if l may be al
lowed to except the Inconvenience of large quanti-
| ties of snow, deposited in our houses daring the
storm. This caused each one to complain of ms
house no doubt every man considered his own hab.
ta'iou worse than his neighbors until he heard from
his leghbors lips the statement of the condition Of
his family residence.
The snow.drift, isl the time now write, nearly
two weeks after the stormy still in many pisces COM
pletey blocksdes the roads, compelling the weary
| traveller often times to take to the woods cross
fences and bitches, to reach nj. place nf destination.
The shipping IN Hampton Roads suffered some
| what from wind and ice and many vessels of all
classes have snce the Storm arrived, some of which
| have been or were in state of distress.
The Black Warrior came in short Of provisions
and entirely out Of fuel compelled to burn every
thing that could possibly be spared.
An emigrant shin from Bremen. for Baltimore, is
now at Old Point, for several days aground, be-
lieve now aaoat. One hundred and eighty emgrants
were on board, and in a distressed situation. They
have been attended To by persons residing there and
are now doing as well. as under. the circumstances
we can expect
have been informed that largo ship, with emf.
grants, (some several hundred,) was aground at Will
loughby Spit. think che is noe of.
The Light Boat, al Wilougnby Spit, has been ia.
ken by the Ice nearly tc the Capes. The captain and
crew on board.
large schooner recently from the coast Of Africa
and lying at anchor during the storm, was dismasted
aud in dstress several days passed before any one
could reach her. have been informed.that small
steam tug succeeded in getting to her and brought
her to safer harbor. This little steamer, 1.-THE name
l have not heard,) has done good service.
Should any of your readers wish TO SEQ ice bergs
they need notg go on an exploring expedition with
DR.. Kane. II they could possibly pay Old Point, or
our town visit at this time, ! am very sure they
can be gra,itied. In many places the ice has been
estimated to be from to thirty feet in thickness
Th. immense thickness ia owing to the force Of the
tides which not unfrequently throws, or causes one
large piocc to slide the top, while another goes
underneath, this often repeated soon forms an ice
berg of some size. Witnessed one to-day, some
thing like fifteen feet above water end so deep
in the water that ii grounded, at place where ves-
sells drawing twelve or fifteen feet can CO. This bsrg
is very large, and is to Southerners something very
strange.
As far as the eye can see from Old Point towards
the CHpes there seems but one vast field of lce-pre
senng few evenings ago, when the rays of the set
ting Sun were beautifully refected-s grand and
picturesque appearance. -t"
Of the many adventures of which have heard,
know Of none equal to that Of the "oyerland route
to Old Point from Norfolk, performed by two gentle.
men, one Lieutenant in the army, the other Bap-
tist Clergyman. They arrived at Norfolk by the Bal
timore Steamer. After remaining week id that
place. and seeing there would be Nc communication
with this place. Old Point, as all vessels were pre-
vented from leaving in consequence Of the ice, they
determined to abandon all idea of getting over by
such MEANS and, adopting the plan -four Arctic E1-
plorers, took the overland route, tolLowels Point,
and crossed the ice from that place, to within about
a mile of Old Point. When they had nearly reached
the Rip Raps seeing open water, they determined
to 90 around towards the Bar and from there to the
shore. At this time their situation Was anything but
pleasant. The officers ofthe Black Warrior then at
the Pont seeing their danger, dispatched boat and
brought them safely 10 land. Many were disposed 10
doubt this at first, but now pretends to deny
it. The gentlemen in or near this place. and ran
testify the correctness Of this statement besides
quits number Of persons saw them taken of.
have heard Of the total loss Of vessel, up to this
time though there can be little doubt that great
deal of suffering has been experienced by the SEA
men from the storm along the coast. The ice is now
rapidly breaking up. and we hope soon to have a
mail from Norfolk, by which we shall learn some.
thing of what 10 going in other paces than this
land OF snow and ice bergs-
kyp A-p