Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-12-14


sTAUNToNIAN AMONG THE PAssEN
GERs-HIS EXPERIENCE.
&C, &C., &C.
The storm which marked the last day.
of November. and its devastating effects
along the eastern coast, brought terror
and death to many homes. Monster waves
driven before furious gale swept the
shores of the New England, and
Middle Atlantic States, leaving them
strewn with wreckage and the dead bodies
of mariners. Many happy homes were
washed into the sea to be again thrown
back in fragments upon the sandy shores.
The suddenness which characterized
the storm afforded little warning to
the fishermen or sailors, and a terrible
sacrifice of human life was one of its
appalling results. With such tempest
as this sweeping down upon her. the
Nacoochee with her cargo and passengers
from Savannah, bound for New York,
steamed down the river and out into the
Atlantic. 1t was Friday morning, 23d
November, and cold rain had set In with
Northeast wind, but this for November
weather was not unusual, SO her mOorings
were cast off and she sailed with every
prospect for successful voyage. How
ever, as she approached the mouth of the
river, where it widens into the Atlantic,
noticeable change had taken place. Snow
capped waves were seen curling and
breaking, as far as the eye could reach,
Lal \ L
wind. Preparations were made for a
rough night, but such an one as came
was not contemplated. Among her pas
sengers was Mr.. Hugh l.. Powell, formerly
of this city, and well known throughout
the county. He, together with the other
passengers and crew, had a most exciting
experience during the next few days,
which Mr. Powell has detailed in the
following interesting letter to his daugh-
tiers here, Misses Lucy Lee and Louise:
MoREHEAD CRY, N. c.,
NEAR CAPE LOOKOUT,
Nov. 28th, 49,
With heart full of thankfulness to God
for his mercy and goodness, I write to tell
you of the dreadful and fearful experience of
the trip from Savannah to this point 1 tele-
graphed you at the nearest station; 80 miles
away from the disaster; to let you know that
myself and companions were safe, fearing
you would see newspaper reports of our being
blown ashore during that terrific storm; also
wired your sister Marian who expected me in
New York, according to letter sent her before
sailing.
On Friday morning we reached the city of
Savannah and at once drove to the wharf and
secured passage on the Nacoochee, which
soon after sailed. A cold, disagreeable rain
was falling that chilled the deck passengers
through and through As we reached the out
let of the river quite strong north-easter had
sprung up and there was every indication of
a blow during the night, but to our dismay
the night came on
IN A ROWLING TEMPEST,
waves running mountain high, the wird
screaming among our masts, and blowing the
ship from side to side, (rocking as they call it.,
and snen without warning would plunge for
ward into the trough of the sea sinking her
bow beneath its black waters; another instant
and her bow was lifted high on the crest OF
some mountain wave, while the aft sank till 1t
seemed that only the very bottom of the sea
would stop our downward course. All. night
4his terrible experience kept up and by morn
ing the gale seemed to have increased in fury,
and the day of anxious watching crept on,
while the elements were increasing in fury
till we thought the ship must break in pieces
under the fearful strain. So Saturday night
closed in and the situation was worse thar
that of the previous night; heavy seas now
swept the deck at short intervals diving below
the benumbed sailors. Nothing could now
stay above and the ship, unmanageable,
plunged wildly through the impenetrable
darkness. For little rest had thrown my.
self on o berth without removing any cloth.
ing, but was suddenly pitched from it. 1 then
tried the sofa in the cabin. but had hardly
reached it when lurch of the vessel hurled
me to the floor beneath table on the oppo
site side of the room, where I lay partially
stunned and wondering what would come next.
THE SHIP SEEMED GIVING WAY
under the fearful pounding of the monster
bil,ows. which had just broke through the
cabin next mine, and almost washing the poor
man in it out of his berth. He awakened,
and terrified by the drenching rushed into
the cabin almost erazeG with fear, begging me
to help him save himself and clothing. Every
thing was floating in t2e salt water. My
clothing too were soaked, and the agony of IN
certain rescuing grew, till Sunday morning
aawned and still the terrible tumult in the wild
waste of water. Our poor ship grooming and
creaking as thoGgh every timber were being
crushed by the straiGs Later in the day the
clouds seemed to lift little, and we began to
hope the worst was over. Towards 8 p. M,
the syn shone at intervals through riffs in the
drifting blackness, but the worst was not over.
The ship ned lost her bearings and had
pRIFEED ON TO THE ROCKY REEFS
of Cape Lookout. From utter exhaustion
nearly every one was below taking little
needed rest, but the rude awakening, ''ShiE
aground" brought all to their feet. At 1856
Sunday night, in a dense fog, she haG
grounded some distance off the shore and wa
larching and dashing against the sands be-
meath US. The ships gong striking for thu
tAreyerse engine" tho whistle screaming, mel
running here and there in wild confusion
Officers calling out and above ali TIE ragin;
surf, combined, made pandemoninm never t
be forgotten. The utter helplessness of the Sit
nation was now fslt by all, and nothing re
manned but TO abandon the ship and take
the life boats but this could not be done s
easily. The boats could not live in such
eA. and what now remained was te keep th
ship afsoat and from breaking to pieces. I'll;
was done, ty throwing overheard during til
night large quantities OF the cargo We coul
aiso,v discern the lights sieng the shore, an