New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-12
OCEAN CITY SWEPT AWAY.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN SAVED JUST IN TIME
FROM THE UNDERMINED HOTELS.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN SAVED JUST IN TIME
FROM THE UNDERMINED HOTELS.
Baltimore, Sept IL tSpecaD.-News reached
here to-day that Ocean City, resort on tho Worces-
fer County shore, six miles from Berlin, Nd,
las been almost washed away, and the last report
received stated that the water was up to the sec
ond story in the hotels The stretch Of sand be-
tween Synepuxent Bay and the Atlantic, on which
several hotels and score or more of cottages
were built, is only about half mile wide On
Monday night tremendous sea rolled across the
beach and united the ocean and the bay. When
il reccded, the foundations of some of the build
ings were found to be undermined, and in some
places great holes had been washed in the sand
The few guests at the hotels and the servants
were terribly frightened, and took refuge in the
upper stories, only TO have their fears increased
as the big frame buildings rocked and tremblcd
under the force of the fearful gale and the tremcn-
dous seas. 1t was a night of terror. The crew
Of the life-saving station got in readiness two
beats and kept them near the hotels. intending
should the buildings become too dangerous, TO
try to save the people by carrying them across
SynepuXent Bay TO the mainland. This would
have been hazardous undertaking, as the bay
was nearly as rough as the ocean. At noon yes
terday the wind was blowing sixty-two miles an
hour. The life-saving station was abandoned,
the little building demolished and the wreckage
swept out 10 sea- The water was six feet deep
in the dining-rooms of the Atlantic and Congress
Hall Hotels.
At Salisbury, Md, it was feared that the whole
of Ocean CITY would be destroyed before as
sistance could be sent to the people hemmed IN
by the angry waters Twice relief trains at
tempted to reach the place but the high water
in the meadows put out the fires of the loco
motives and flooded the cars. Finally, last
night, train succeeded in getting across the en-
gincer and the rescuing party riskln2 their Ives
As the one car and locomotive were crossing ire
bridge over narrow arm OF the bay the waves
nearly swept them from the track The work oil
the rescuing party was perilous. AT low tide the
place was covered two feet deep with water. AS
the Atlantic Hotel stands furthest back from the
ocean, the women and children were gathered
there, all of them Frustrated with fright. Mem
bers of the lfc-saving crew assisted the rescuing
PARTY. The rescuero went in pairs. wading waist
deep in many places and carrying the women ana
children seated on their joined hands. The tide
began rising again before the work OF rescue was
completed, and several of the PARTY narrowly
escaped being washed out TO sea. While me
tremendous breakers Numbered and pounded
against the fronts of the hotels. the people were
taken out from the rear Several times the brave
men were thrown down with their precious bur
dens: but struggling to their feet again. they
kept on until all were safe in the car. Several
women were soaked TO the skin by falling in
the water. Charles Hooker, one Of the reSculng
party narrowly escaped drowning. The trip over
the bridge and the meadows again was pcrllonS
one. the people having TO stand on the seats OF
the car to escape the water that poured through.
Just as the last persons left the ill-fatcd resort
last night. the pillars supporting the porchcS of
Congress Hall Hotel gave way and II Is hkey
that large portion. If not all, OF the h0tcl las
been swept away. The furniture of the hotels
and cottages a1oat yesterday and most OF
il is total Joss The roofs of nearly all the
houses in the place were blown of.