The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-30
ENGLAND GALE SWEPT.
One ofthe Worst Storms Of Recent
Years on Britain's Coast.
BIG LOSS OF LIFEAND PROPERTY.
Many Large Vessels and Hundreds OF
Smaller Craft Wrecked. with Seri-
GUS Damage to Property Ashore at
Many Important Towns.


GUS Damage to Property Ashore at
Many Important Towns.
London, Nov. 3O.-The latest reports
from various points along the coast
show that the gale which swept En-
Elish waters Saturday and Sunday
night was one of the worst storms OF
recent years.
In many places 1t was almost cy-
clonc In its violence, and the long list
of disasters includes large loss OF life,
many wrecks Of large vessels and the
loss of scores, if not hundreds of small
err craft, with serious damage to prop
erty ashore at many important towns.
In the north the wind was accompanied
by binding snow and hail that hid the
lights and immensely increased the
difficulties of navigation. Many ships
are known to have foundered, in most
cases, 1t is feared, with all on board.
Scarcely town on the coast has es-
capped with more or less injury, fall
ing walls and flying debris adding to
the loss of life.
There have been rocket and lifeboat
rescucs almost without number. Stor-
les of thrilling escapes come from all
points. On the Norfolk coast, between
Bacton and Mappisburg, five vessels.
as yet unidentified, went down, and
the crews of all perlshed. A number
of bodies have been washed ashore
near Yarmouth. The British brig Ruby
was wrecked off Hemsby The coast
guard service made desperate efforts
to save the crew and succeeded in get
ting line on board. A dying woman
was ''rocketed" in safety. and then the
brig capsi2ed, all the rest of the ships
company perishing.
A large steam collier dashed upon
Tlamborough Head, the famous pro-
moHatory on the North sea coast, float
ed off, a,s1 then foundered with all
on board. A steamer, not yet Identified,
was wrecked on Bridington sands with
her entire company
Sunday evening the ship Rose of
Devon, Captain Davis, went on the
rocks near Red Ruth, Cornwall, where
she pounded all night long, her crew
of 12 periahins. The bodies Of the cap
tain and five seamen, all wearing life
belts, were washed ashore.
The British ship Larnica, Captain
Burgess, was driven ashore near Fleet
wood, at the entrance of Moretown
bay, about IS miles northeast Of Pres
ton. The crew We're saved, but the po-
sition of the vessel is dangerous.
Phenominaly high tides are reported
in many localities. The district near
the mouth Of the Thames has suffered
severely, several townships being partly
submerged. The Sheerncss dockyard
and the Woolwich arsenal were mum
dated. At Scarborough, the fashionable
watering place, the seawall was washed
away. At Yarmouth, Lowesteft and
other coast towns of Norfolk the es-
planades were flooded
AT Liverpool the squalls blew off the
roofs of several houses, threw down
chimneys and tore up trees. The Mer-
sey flooded its banks on the Chester
side and de.uged the shore district for
miles.
Similar disasters occurred at Holy
head. where a number Of valuable
yachts were sunk at their noorings.
Scarcely vestge remains in sight of
the wreck cf Lord Nelson's old flag
ship, the Foudroyant, long fast in the
sands off Black Pool.
The scenes at such popular resorts as
Yarmouth and Margate were of great
grandeur. but the damage done was
enormous. Tremendous seas still in
wade the gardens Of the hotels and resi-
dences, wrecking the parades and
buildings, while much debris is floating
about.
mn hn IN
the government property at the Sheer
ness dockyard and the Woolwich ar
.senal. Seven thousand troops were
hurriedly ordered ou, yesterday to re-
move thousands Of pounds worth of
ammunition and stores from TIE sheds
and Wharves to places OF safety.
Tho tide continued to rise and in
vaded almost all the workshops
quenched the engine fires and stopped
the electric lights. The workmen were
obliged to go home, wadng knee deep
Despite all the precautions, damage to
the amount of many thousand pounds
has been done.
At Sheerness and Queensborough,
two miles away, hundreds OF acres have
been submerged, scores of cellars flood
ed and 200 yards Of the Sheerness pier
have been swept away
Tho boom of distress guns from Good
win Sands has been almost continuous.
Below London bridge all the low lying
houses and cellars are flooded, and all
work Is temporarily suspended along
the Thames, even as high as Charng
Cross. The continual rising of the
river Is looked upon as ominous, though
as yet no damage has been done above
London bridge.
Six vessels were wrecked between
Yarmouth and Bacton. only a few
miles apart on the Norfolk coast, and
Is lives lost. The brig Verda stranded
at Bacton. The storm tore out her
Tasts. and when the rocket line was
fired the crew was unable to haul it
in. Finally the line dragged them into
the surf and three out of seven were
drowned.