Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-14
TWAS A BAD STORM.
WIND AND WAVE CAME NEAR
wREckING THE OLD DOMINION.
SHE BRAYELY WEATHERED The GALE
The sea Rose High Above Her Decks
and She Was Takcn Far Ont from
the Coast and Lost, Hut She Came
NobIy Into Port.

Though Richmond escaped tho fear
fni West India hurricane which swept up
he coast last Saturday night. the resi-
dents Of 'hls city can appreciate the We
locity with which the wind blew on the
sea when II Is stated that "a was
greatcr than that which passed over
this city on Tuesday evening OF last week.
and they can also realize to some extent
the havoc played by the waves. which
were dashed TO fury by the wind. the
ike OF which the oldest mariners in this
section say has not been equallcd in
their time
Many ships at sea during the storm
suffered from the gale. but, so far as is
known. none OF them were lost though
some arc stin overdue. The old Do
mionin Steamship Company's steamer
old Dominion. which was due here Mon
day morning, was caught off the capes
by the gale. and only arrived at New
port News early yesterday morning,
having been driven out 10 sea by the
storm. and for thirty-six hours or more
lost there. Her passengers. about fifty
five en- number. were greatly frightened
by the severity OF the gale, but kept as
cool as could have been expected under
the circumstances. and are unending In
their praises OF the seaworthiness OF the
ship and OF the courage and seamanship
Of her commander. Captain Brakeman.
to whom they believe they owe their
lives
- HIGH WIND AND HEAVY SEA.
rfhedule time Saturday afternoon, and
passed through Sandy Hook about half
III hour after her departure from her
docks Just after she rounded the
Hooks she encountered a strong wind
md q rather heavy sea. but nothing SUI
shcont 10 cause alarm for the safety OF
the vessel. AS she advanced on her
rourse down the coast, however, the wind
Increased in velocity. and the darkness
became more and more dense. Captain
Brakeman kept a sharp lookout for dan
ger and guided the old ship well until
when within about thirty miles of the
Virginia capes It grew too dark TO navi-
gate with safety, and the waves We're
dashing over the vessel threatening to
sink her at any moment. Being totally
unable to ascertain his whereabouts, and
not knowing at what moment his ship
might be dashed upon the rocks or thrown
az into shoal water, the Captain very
properly headed her for the open sea.
ran out about fifty miles, and kept her
out there.
shortly after he had made this tack,
the rudder-chain snapped, and the boat
wac left entirely at the mercy of the
waves. which were by this time rising
hizh above the decks OF the vessel. Not
withstanding this the good ship rode the
waves as prettily as could be expected,
though she dropped into the trough Of
the sea on one occasion. and was severely
thumped by the angry waves. The chain
was repaired as speedily as IL was posi-
hle to accomplish the difficult task. and
the passengers, who had been worked up
to q terrible state of anxiety for their
safety, Gained down. seeming to have
great confidence in the ability OF Captain
Blakeman and his gallant crew to
weather the storm.
THE CHAIN BROKE AGAIN.
The chain. however. snapped again
after a short while. and once more the
vessel began 10 plunge up and down and
i'm and out among the waves like tail
less kite This break was also repaired
as soon as possible and the vessel was
once more under the control of the crew.
But the waves continued to boom against
the sides Of the vessel and to break
over her decks and she was more or less
damaged by them, but not sufficiently
30 TO impair her for service. as she
sailed from Newport News yesterday af-
fernoon. The guard forward al her pad
die box was torn up. and the paint
locker containing her paints and tools
was washed overheard.
\ The boat fioundered about in the open
sea all Of Sunday night and Monday, the
Aa4..~. Nhprp they
And afraid 10 attempt to make q port
for fear OF running aground or founder
ing on q rock.
THE FIRST RAY OF HOPE.
About o'clock Monday night. however.
the o.Stown was sighted. and by means
Of the signal flags it was found that the
ola Dominion was about sixty miles Off
the capes. Then the passengers began
10 feel relieved from the fearful tension
10 which their nerves had been wrought
up. and the bow Of the ship was pointed
10 the capes. and she passed into harbor
az Newport News, arriving there about 1
o'clocl, Yesterday morning, Just about
1hirty-three hours later than she should
have arrived. Everybody was over
soved ut their salvation from death on
The sea. and so appreciative were they
OF the noble work of Captain Brakeman
and his crew that they drew up set OF
touching resolutions expressive or their
sincere gratitude therefor.
rhe ola Dominion was bound from
Me- York 10 Richmond, but owing to
~. DELAY occasioned by the Storm she
dla NOT come further than Newport
~nn g. and her passengers were sent on
"a the Chesapeake and ohio railway.
s.,nssin John T. Mayer, agent of the
rc,<r nv here. went 10 Newport News
vl.et< rdav and superintendent the I'M
it,adihe OF the freight consigned TO TINS
merit which was brought here over The
t,a4ss oeake and Ohio last night. and Will
,.cdelivered this morning from the clyde
Tine wharf.
WORST THEY EVER ENCOUNTERED
tCaptain Mayer Gays that Captain Blake
nan and his entire crew agree that
,he storm was the worst they ever
.hcountered. and the vessels engineer.
,sbo has been on the line for the last
dirty wears. says there never occurred
hsfore I'm his recollection SO severe
sxorn. The officers Of the Old Dominion
NJ Justly proud OF the noble manner IN
yhich the good ship rode the waves, ana
mir attachment for her has been great
M intensified since this last trip down
TSe damage TO the boat, Captain mayer
sAs was Comparatively slight ana her
stieht was but little damaged, when 'he
roegh sea through which she passeu -
considered.
RE storm has had the effect Of great
,,Nnterfering with steamboat traffic be-
Il Richmond and New York. as all
afNthe boats plying between here and
80 have been greatly delayed. The
Il mship Richmond which left here Fri
ana ehould have put out from New