The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-22
LIGHTHOUSE DESERTED.
floating ICE BADLY DAMAGES
THE OLD PLANTATION HOUSE.
The Keeper Deserts - and Is Instructed by
the Government 20 Save All the Prop
srty He Csn-yirginia News.

CAPE CHARLES. VA. Jan. n.-The
tux Norfolk. while making her regular run
- cape Charles. early this morning, ahead
OF the steamer New York. discovered no
iirht in the tower or the Old Plantation
Neht-honse.
Upon Investigation Captain Forrest. OF
thc tug Norfolk. found william Gunter,
colored man. who IS keeper OF this
Nght-housc, under the house in a small
boat waiting for assistance from some
passing boat TO take him off. He saws
that during the night several large ctfes
OF ice swept past the lighthouse one
or two shifting and knocking the lens
oat and badly listing the house lie
promptly telegraphcd the Government Of
fcials the true state Of things, saying that
De had deserted e.
They I'm reply. instructed him 20 dis
mantle the house and to save all the
property he possibly could.
To Notify all Vessels.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The Light
House Board was to-day advised OF the
vrecking. by floating ice. OF the Old Plan
tation Hat lighthouse. at the mouth of
Chesapeake bay. and Smiths Point light
house, at the mouth Of the Potomac river,
On the Virginia shore. The collector or
the port at Baltimore and the inspector
Of the Fifth lighthouse district have
been instructed TO notify all outgoing
vessels Of the wreck.
wild Fowl Dying in Large Numbers.
NORFOLK. VA. Jan. 2t.-Special.-In-
formation from Princess Anne county
this morning is TO the effect that wild
fowl are starving by the thousands. All
OF the streams are frozen over, the
ground IS covered with snow foot deep
and there is nothing for the birds TO
eat. Ducks. seeking food, nave come
I'd the harbOr almost TO the wharVes OF
the city. Yesterday a dozen or more
ducks remained within fifty yards OF
fhs New York. Philadelphia and Norfolk
dock all day. One Of them was shot by
the captain OF a tug, and in less than hVe
minutes II had been devoured by buZ-
xards. The secretary OF the Ragged
Island Club says that all birds are very
thin. and that shooting is out OF the
question. as the birds will not pay for
the shot and powder.
The four rnasted schooner Alice Il. Bah
cock has arrived. Her captain says that
he sailed through ice twenty miles OH
shore. 49,. -.
tween the Wolf Trap and Pianatank'
The Merritts have gone TO her assist
ance.
Lighthouse and Wharf Carried Away
GLOUCESTER COURTHOUSE, VA,
Jan -Special.-Capahoosic wharf, on
York r1ver. was carried away by ice last
night Allmounds wharf and Clay banh
wharf both are badly damaged ana VIII
go flst as soon as the thaw sets In
A colored boy froze 10 death near
Glenns. in this county, Thursday night
e W. Smith, keeper of Smith Poin'
lighthouse, situated at the mouth OF the
Potomac river. has abandoned IL on ac-
count OF the Ice gorge.
The tug Balm. from Norfolk. could make
no landings in Ware river to-day. Inc ice
was too heavy. All the mail for Glouces-
ter was put off at Williams wharf
Ice I'm Chesapeake Bay.
FORT MONROE, VA, Jan 2O.-There
IS more ice in the Chesapeake bay to-
night than was ever known before. 1t
extends about Gn miles outside, and
pilots from the Maryland and Virginia
boats now board incoming vessels by
passing on the ice. This is an unprece-
dented feat. Six steamers were supplied
with pilots this way to-day. The trans
fer steamers OF the Cape Charles route
only local boats. are moving, and they are
very irregular. The schooner {. w.
Church, from Providence, reports en-
countering heavy fee twenty-five miles
east of Cape Henlopen.