The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-14
READS LIKE A ROnIANCE.
Thrilling Escape From Death In q Storm
Graphic Story Of Mr. w. Is. White--
Saved His Wlfo and Baby.

The following account Of tho narrow
escape from death OF Mr.. w. B. White,
wife and child, In storm In Virginia,
ID condensed from tho Norfolk Dispatch.
Mrs. White nee Miss Leila Norris IL IL
native Of Newborry and was on her
way to visit her old homo at tho time
OF the recent terrible storm.
So far as has been learned no lives
wcrc lost In this part of Hampton
Roads, but n number OF very remark.
ablo rcscues aro reported; and narrow
escapes, thrilling In detail, ore told OF
by fortunate survivors Of the great blow,
which Is said to have been tho worst In
five years.
Among many almost miraculous de-
livcranccs from almost certain death
in tho tempest lashcd waters, that Of
w. b. White, Of York County, WAS
tyiical and exciting. The story 40 re.
lated by himself this morning, Scptem-
bor lat, is as follows:
left PoquOson River in the bugcye
j. +. White about III o'clock Monday
morning with my wifo and 7-month-old
baby, who were going to yia!t my
wifc's mother, Mrs. Lizzie II. Norris,
In Newberry, S. &. My wifo's maiden
name was Leila Norris. | was bring
ing her here to tako tho train. My
mate, II. NJ. Morclund, was nlso OF the
party.
The storm struck us between 4.30 and
) o'clock in tho afternoon just outside
tho Rip.Raps. We had aeon it coming
and hud taken In all sail, having only
the peak Of the foresail on. This was
left on in order to keep from being
dashed to pieces against the Rip Raps.
We wero Quartcring the waves when
tho storm luck us in the side aud the
bugeyc WIS capsizod In the twinkling
OF IN cyc. Water began to pour into
her. and through this rushed to the
cabin aftor my wife and child. caught
the little one under ono arm and soizcd
my wife with tho other and fought my
way up tho companion way against the
water. which was pouring down In tor
rents.
We had desperate struggle to got
TO tho windward side, which was lying
up, but finally succeeded in reaching
tho monkey rail, to which all hands
clung, while tho waves wore rolling
tho boat about liko foot ball.
My wife took the baby and hold it
close to her breast. | put ono arm
around hor and hold on by tho other
and the foreman was clinging on with
both hands. The wavea covered us
like sheet. 1t poured down rain and
hail stones pcltcd us for an hour and u
half. We tried but could not got any
ono TO come to our aid.
In this porilous position we remained
for perhaps an hour and half. Then
tho bugeyo drifted around between the
Rip Raps and the shore to smoother
water. Hero we managed to got the
canoe free of.water and after q while
put off in 1t for tho Rip Raps, which
wo reached considerably tho worst for
l haustcd. lily wife's trunk and all Of my
, own clothing had been lost.
, The watchman, or rather his wifo,
Mrs. Kcistcr, for he was sick, gave us
shelter, food and drink until noon yes
torday, when hired canoe and three
boat that would help mo right the J. T..
White, which | had anchored before
leaving.
We met with the schooner Il. T..
Bcauchamp in tho Roads and Captain
. Smith kindly consented to help me.
wrecked and succeeded by good work
in righting tho bugeyo, after which we
bailcd her out and Captain Smith
towcd mo to Norfolk. l want to say
r right here that Captain Smith did not
0 charge mo cent. 1t was tho kindest
J thing over knew q man to do.
:, My vessel 10 now on Hunloy's rail
- way being refttcd. 1t viii cost nc
o about 800. The boat had lost her rud-
Il dor, tiller, cabin doors, anchor hawscr,
4 mainmast and potmast. am going up
@ the James in her Monday. My wife
and child 60 on South Friday.
Mrs. Whites trunk was picked up by
: Captain Cotton, OF tho sloop Virginia
and taken to Scott's Creek. He also
}. picked up two men whom he found
v hanging to q canoe which had capsizcd.
, Three boats, one Of them q canoe,
~ capsIZcd near the J. T.. White.
The sloop II. j. Bradshaw, Of Hamp
4 ton, loaded with sand, sank to the bot
4 tom. Her crew Of three men 0oateG
g on plank for nearly three miles anG
q were picked up near the Horse Shoe
light by Captain Thomas Gibbons.
Mrs. White's trunk was recovere
l. ! hnt ito cnntonta xuara no III " Il a I'm rod