Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-04-11
ArL,,Ar ~ TIE aALE.
A wiin,.nston,an'. E1c,sins Espe-

A wiIneingtOMtan's Exciting Expe-
Fienee Near Franklin Gay.
Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal
CAIsooIEAGuG, Va, April 8.---One Of
the greatest storms that ever visited the
Virginia coast mas been raging here since
Saturday morning and at ,hts writing is
still blowing hurricane. Numerous
oyster GRATIS have been wrecked in the
sound and large veseoi is ashore on
Fox's shoal outside. IA there is no COM
munication with tho life saving stations
nothing de6pite is known.
The writer left Wilmington at 8 80 on
Saturday, bound FOR Ohinooteaeue, ar
irving at FrRpklin City at 2 y. m. We
atarted on what proved TO be the moht
exciting and dangerous trip 10 the history
OF the line. This steamer 10 under the
control Of the Psnnsylsania Railroad
Company and is abont 81 unfit for tho
duties required as she would be TO GROSS
the Atlantic. Here shc ia used a. both
freight and passenger steamer in connec-
ton with the Delaware, Maryland d Viz
GINA railroad.
We left Franklin at o'clock in the
face of strong gale, and with the assur-
ance OF the captain that we would reach
ChinooteRgue, only seven miles awsy, in
less than On hour. As we left the wharf
! immsdiately noticed that we were drift
ing rapidly backward with oil the power
that could be used of no avail. An
anchor was cast, but it failed TO hold,
aud crash we went into two oyster
schooners, tearing one adrift aud soon to
| be dashed wreck on the lower shore,
| The captain now began to recognize the
weakness OF his craft in such guile, and
he told us that We were ct the mercy of
the storm. Our boat was rolling like
log, shipping huge seas at every lunge.
In the cabin, which was on the upper
deck, were seven passengers, oooped up
in little room 10 by IL feet in size. As
the boat rolled from side to side, il was q
mixture of chairs, luggageand passengers
being dashed from ons side to the other.
4 Around us the waves rolled madly, and
the rattle and culver of the struggling
steamer put an anxious look on every
face. In the midst of oil this the captain
appeared and informed us that he "could
rot make Chincotesgue tonight" and
that he would try and anchor below o
neighboring point. AS darkness settled
down, the wind and rain increased in
fury until IL seemed as il the fates were
against us. AS the trip is short one,
no provision ia made for a long voyage
and we were confronted with the un-
pleasant statement that there was not 0
particle OF food or fresh water on tne
boat. Under the circumstances we &C.
cepted it with silent approval and
through that long Saturday night We
watched and waited for the abatement OF
the storm and that homecoming daylight
Fear gave way to misery until the long
hours of the night were broken by the
bad news that we were rapidly drifting
ashore, aud with downcast face the cap
tain warned us 10 prepare for the worst
A cork life preserver was soon on eacf
ones arm and we watched aud waited fol
the shock Of our steamer striking th'
shore. Dark as pitch and the bowling
storm drowning every voice, you car
never realize our predietment. Bat oul
anchors caught, and daylight revealed te
us our narrow escape. Not q CABLE
length from shore lay our craft tossing
like mailman. The rain had now turnet
to binding snow.storm which felt lik
shot rs it struck your face. Oh, how
, wished fer home; Z O'Clock aud no break
fast; IL O'Clock and no dinner; 80 hour
without even drink of water. For tn
first time felt the pangs Of hunger, bu
what could we do in helpless craft 9
the mercy Of storm in which no boa
| could live. As thought OF the rapid
coming darkness, all hope of reaohin
! the island passed from my mind, and
, bad about given up in despair, when tn
storm seemed to sbate and the oaptail
! said he WAS going to try to reach a land
ing. After several Intellectual attempt
the anchors were lifted and we starte,
for Cbincoteague, but the danger was no
half over. such storm. The lat
blizzard did not compare wit
, it in velocity. The crew were drenche
in raising the anchors. Gold, weak an
hungry, we started to make place o
safety, but II seemed as if the storm wa
i tauntiog us in its increased fury. Still
the craft wss gaining, and even in tn
, midst of threatened oapsi1ing, We cheere
up with nope of reaching port. As W
drew near the entrance TO the harbor th
keeper of the Lighthouse tolled the grea
fog bell to warn MS of the reef that
! married. and toward which the storm wa
/ rapidly driving ms. The keeper wave
his hat fEantically, but VIC were at th
mercy of tie storm and % the Graf
drifted along not 20 feet from the light
house, I felt chat We were safe, althoug
our boat was tossing msdly and on
: hatehes were blown of. The fresh waite
!, Ia the boiler all gave out. A water-soske
and half. starved crew, we reached th
, landing where nearly bandred heart
. Ohineoteaguers had anxiously watche
our laboring craft and they gave us
lusty cheer as we reached the landing.
l / desire TO return my thanks to th
,, gallant engineer, Louis steffens, VIII
stood at his post knee deep in wstel
cooped up in little pen for 20 Ion
!. hours doing oil he conld with his helplei
r craft and also to Captains fruits an
Jones, whose untiring efforts carried I
safely into Chincoteagus, and again
: the kind people who afterward learne
! sent a lot OF provisions down the shoi
by team and then to be sent by boat, b,
. which failed to reach US on account {
. the terrible storm JAMES FL. MORGAN.
So
RucHIen's Arnica SaiYe.