The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-04-09
THE STORM At NORFOLK.
Total Loss VIII Run Up to One Million
DoIlsrs- disastrous tires and Many
Wrecks

Especial Correspondence OF the TIMES.
NORFOLK, April s.-The greatest aud
most disastrous storm which has visited
this section for years, greater and more
disastrous in fact than the terrible
August storm Of twelve years ago, struck
Norfolk at 10 o'clock Saturday night
At ll.lj the wind was blowing at the
rate Of fifty-four miles an hour, and at
midnight il had increased 10 sixty.
The gale came from the northeast, and
soon the water was rising and com
menced to flood the lower streets. Down
on the wharyes large forces OF men were
put To work, and all possible speed was
made in removing freight to places OF
safety
The terrible gale was blowing trees
and signs down in all sections of the
city and completely prostra'ed telenhone
and telegraph wires. Houses were IN.
rooted, and as the falling tin fell from
them with terrible noises women and
cl dren grew more alarmed.f
At quarter 10 O'Clock the tire-bells
commenced ringing, and at half-past
the skies were lighted for miles around
by big bright glare. Down Water
street the engines were pulled at full
speed by the fiery engine-hOrses. The
water in the street was so deep tina. fires
were put out and then they had to be
hauled TO plugs on Main street. Batch
elder & Collins coal and woodward
was mass of flames, and before the fire.
men could get "A stream on the building
and stock, the seaboard Cotton Compress
Company warehouse, J. W Perry x Co. :
warehouse. John .. Gamage <
Sons. lime storage warehouse, and
Santos & Bros wood and coal
ward were set on fire. Around the burn
ing buildings there was aperiect river Of
water three and four feet deep. Fire
men were standing in IL directing streams
ON the burning buildings. Bales Of cot
ton and immense pieces of lumber
were floating everywhere, and
the water continued 10 rise
until il had attained depth Of five feel
on Water street Bales of cotton were
used rs boats for floating women and
children from tenement houses on the
The street 10 places OF safety. Doors
from many OF the warehouses were used
"a RATS, and anxious merchants stood on
them and polled themselves along the
street 10 their warehouses.
The bright, red glare from the fire in-
creased. and at times as the wind blew
the flames. with continued fury, 1t scent
ed that the entire south water front
would be o mass of flames. Finally the
fire was gotten under control but not
before the places on fire had been com
pletelv ruined In J. ". Perry X Co.
warehouse there was 700 bales OF cotton,
and in the Seaboad Compress Company
building there was almost as much. The
damage from fire alone will amount to
about $4,000
The damage by water is much greater
Every store on Water street has H. stock
damaged more or less by water, and the
losses will be total, as there Is no insur-
ance on water damaged goods.
In Portsmouth The United States steam
ship Pensacola is sunk in the dry dock.
The Constellation, which arrived in
Hampton Roads Friday from a cruise ID
the West Indies, is reported ashore al
Sewells Point.
Not telegraph line worked into Nor
fOlh Yesterday anu Lht UNt Albth vet7-
mouth. There was no communication
between the two cities until this morn
ing, when the ferry steamers commenced
running. \ tug could not be chartered
Sunday for love or money, and all were
tied 10 the shore.
At Virginia Beach the Princess Anne
Hotel had part of the roof blown OIL
There the wind blew at the rate of
seventy miles an hour A four-masied
schooner is ashore, a two master and the
Emma f. Hart, three-master, near the
hotel. Four Of the crew of the two
masted vessel are reported drown The
TWO other crews were rescued by life
savers All wires are down along The
COAST but many shipwrecks are expected.
In Berkley the Christian Church was
blown down. The Norfolk Opera
House is damaged to the extent OF
$4,000 Schooncrs are ashore all the
wav from Norfolk TO Old Point. The
new dry dock in Portsmouth is badly
damaged probably to the extent OF
5000
From the present outlook the losses in
this vicinity will probably amount TO
81. 900 900 hut may be more.