Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-06-26
From Virginia Beach.

ICorrespondence Alexandria Gazettc
VIRGINIA BEACH, June 24-The weather
has become quite cool here, and strong
northeastern is rolling such huge waves upon
the beach that there are few bathers Some
of the St. Johns boys stick to it, however
az the water is very warm, and enjoy them
selves by standing 10 the surf up to theii
knees and breasting the pillows which roll
in. sometimes over their heads They are
occasionally upset and rolled in upon the
| sands, but they jump up and try it again.
There have been great many visitors to
csmp among them Messrs. John d. Purcell
and Martin p. Green, of Alexandria, who
came down to Norfolk on Saturday nights
boat and could not get back until to night:
They are stopping at the Princess Anne and
Seem to be ENJOYING themselves greatly. MIR.
Joseph Lawler, OF Norfolk, a former Alex.
andrisn, but now prominent plumber oil
Norfolk. also visited camp with mis- young
son as well as Messrs. Blamire and Hume,
Of Norfolk, former cadets, and Mr.. g. w.
Petit. of the Elizabeth Iron Works in that
ciiy-brother of Mr. Zach Petit, of Alexan-
dra, who has son in camp-aDd his family:
The bows are all we'll now, their boxes
having been depleted and good solid food
being the fare. Mr.. George E. French con-
tinues to improve and is often to DO seen
npon the beach.
On Saturday, two of us took walk OF
some four or five miles up the beach. to
within two miles of Cape Henry light. On
the way, we visited three vessels which
came ashore in the great storm last April.
The first, less than mile from this place, is
the splendid four master, Bei jamin +.
Poole, of Providence, r. l. She sits as firm
" upright in the sand as If she was on ways
and has an easy ladder with side roll, eX.
tending from the beach to her deck. Ali
her mssts are standing and the captain and
a small crew are on board, for she i5 entire
" uniniured and her owners expect to get
her oil this autumn, when the sea gets high
from the gales which are always expected at
that eeasop. About half a mile farther up,
lie the Gonna f. Hart, of Camden, N. j.,
whose masta, apparently cut away when she
grounded where she lies, rest on the beach
and extend to the deck. She, too, seems to
be uninjured. but, l presume, is in
worse condition than ia apparent to
an inexperienced observer, as she seems to
be abandoned. Two miles and half farther
is the Carrie Holmes, of Perth Am5oy, NJ,
also comfortably embedded in the SAND and
apparently abandoned. She is four mast
er, but has only three masts standing, one
having apparently gone by the board. 1t
will cost some $4,000 to get the Benz: F.
Poole aaoat, but che is valued at $4,000,
being new vessel. suppose the others
would not pay for their removal, even fit
coaia be effected. Where the Carrie Holmt 8
lies and apparently from there to Cape Hers
nv, there is basin of sand, looking like the
bottom of dried up lake, extending from
the beach half o mile or more inland and
broken only by a few sand hills which rise
from it like islands. Beyond it are hills
covered with tall sombre pines making,
with the dark sea rolling in ceaseless thun
der on the strand, about as gloomy picture
as one can we'll imagine. Four vessels COM
ing into the Chesapeake were the only signs
of life, except the sea birds which flew near
with their mournful cries. For the entire
distance to Cape Henry there are no signs
of human habitation except two tishermen's
huts and two life saving stations.
FIDELIs.