Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-10-25
THE GREAT STORM.

INV YORK, OCTOBER l4.-Dlspatches
all points show that the storm Of
yesterday was Que of-the most violent
for years. The storm came from the
tropics. and from midnight to noon was
rapidly increasing in energy, and was
central heal Baltimore, 1t was attended
with an unusual RAINFALL At Washington
tue fall was 3 "a inches; Baltimore, 2.74
Norfolk, ? 80; Lynchburg, 2Oi; Smith
vile, N. c., 4.32. At Cape May the
wind blew eighty,four miles an hour, and
drove the tide upon the meadows between
the city and The mainland, covering tie
railroad track three feet, thus prevent
ing trains from leaving. The hotel and
cottages were badly damaged, also the
back drive; and yachts, sloops and
~schooners were blown ashore. At Balti-
more the property along the wharves
suffered much, and disasters on the bay
are feared Along the line Of the Phil
adelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
railroad the loss is serious. The storm
was very severe on the sound and along
the New England coast, aud the light
crafts we're heavily damaged At Mount
Washington, at 5 p M, the wind was
blowing $50 miles al hour, With q heavy
rain. The ship A. S. Davis, from Calais,
went ashore south of Cape Henry, and
is a total wreck. Only one person was
saved. ""
B%ALTrMoRE, October a. Captain
Barker, of the steamer Express, which
left here last Tuesday for Washington,
reports that his vessel ~foundered in the
gale at the mouth of the Potomac, and
that the passengers and crew are probe
bly, lost. The captain was rescued while
drifting with a fragment Of a boat
Captain Barker, in his description Of
the wreck, says that the sea was running
at a great hight, every wave washing the
vessel from stem to stern. Shortly after
3 o'clock on Wednesday morning there
came a terrific crash, and the Joiner
work started from the stanchions.l The
passengers and crew had hardly time to
realize what had occurred before q wave
, tore the saloon deck like SO much paper
work, and the following wave sweptil
of to sea, and with it nearly all on
board.
s Previous to this, efforts had been made
to head her for shore. The storm vat
s so furious hat it was impossible 4
0 stand against it, and the rolling Of th,
D boat prevented the engines from working
fast enough to keep steerage way on Der
/ 1t was deemed advisable to let go tn,
anchors for the purpose of keeping he
!, h,ad to the wind in the hope of her rid
Q ing out the gale, or at least until i
' should subside. The effort was futile, a
the cables parted as soon as she broache
!. and the steamer went to pieces. All o
v board had secured life p%reseryers Ut tn
It earliest period Of the gale, Some officer
tried TO Eecure boats, but they wer
washed away, .ioi
A moment after the upper deck ha
been carried away the hull turned owe
and sunk. Those of the passengers an
crew who could reach portions Of III
wreck clung to them, but the heavy Sc
washed them away. In breaking dow
only eight persons could be seen, thes
!. were Captain Barker, James A. Doul
:, lass, quartermaster, and a colored pa
: senger; these three were %clinging to
!, part Of the saloon deck some distanC
: of, and on another portion Of h
- wreck we're +. j.. Stone, purser; job
10 Douglass, William Grant, colored, Ge
!, Green, baggagemaster, and Hiram
- Debon. The latter two drifted toWaI
BArrer Island and were picked up by
boat from the steamer Shirley, which
ashore high and dry. The captain al
his companions were picked up at tI
o'clock in the morning aud taken
lis Chrisfeld. The Express had a crew
ed twsnty-ene all told, and as far as know
nd eight passengers, 1t is supposed tn
fully twenty lives we're lost. The steal
ny er Weems, after a terrible experienC
a., was rescued by the Tangier and tow
Ior to Chri.feld hsrbor, where she now liz
All The steamer Massachusetts is ashor
at disabled at Drumpoint; all on boa
he we'll. The steamer Louisa is ashore
middle ground. Steamer lde and TIVE
" three %schooners are ashore near I
Massachusetts.
vNF .aU. N...- ....| ... Amman N.