The San Francisco call., 1897-11-30
During the Binding Storm
Vessels Of All Kinds Are
FOundered.
SERIES OF THRILLING MIS-
HAPS REPORTED.
NO1 Shore the Wind Increases to a
Cyclone and Also Plays Sad
Havoc.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

LONDON, Nov. 29.-The latest reports
from various points along the coast show
that the gale which swept English waters
yesterday and last night, and which had
not abated its fury up TO noon to-day. was
one Of the worst storms Of recent years.
In MANY places it was almost cyclonic in
its violence, and long list OF disasters in
Guides a large loss OF life, many wrecks of
large vessels and tbs loss of scores, if not
hundreds, OF smaller craft with serious
damage to property ashore at many i'm
portant towns.
In the north the wind was accompanied
by binding snow and hail that hid the
lights and immensely increased the diff
hculiies of navigation. Many ships are
known to have foundered, in most cases,
it Is feared, with all on board.
Scarcely q town on the coast has escaped
without more or less injury, falling walls
and flying debris adding TO the loss of life.
There nave been rocket and bomb sig
mails almost without number. Stories of
thrilling escapes came from all sections.
At Norfolk, Baclon and Happisburg five
vessels, 4 yet unidentified, went down,
al . he crews OF all perished.
y number OF bodies have been washed
was wrecked off Hemsby. The coast
guard service made desperate efforts to
save the crew, and succeeded in getting a
line on board. a dying woman was
-''rocketed'' in safety and then the brig
capsized, all the rest OF the ships COM
panv perishing.
AIarge steam collier dashed upon FIam-
borough Head, the famous promontory on
off nd
foundered with all on board. a steamer
not yet identified was wrecked on the
Birdlongton sands with her entire COM
pany.
Last evening the steamer Rose of Devon.
CaUtain DAVIS, went on the rocks near
Red Ruth, Cornwall, where she pounded
aIl night long, her crew Of twelve perish
lag. This morning the bodies of the cap
tain and seamen, all wearing life belts,
were washed ashore.
The British ship Larnica, Captain Bur
CESS, was driven ashore near Fleetwood,
at the entrance of Moretown Bay, about
eighteen miles northwest of Preston. Tie
crew we're saved, but the position of the
vessel is dangerous. She left ST. John, y.
B.. November l for Fleetwood. Phenom-
enally high tides are reported In many
localities.
The district near the mouth of the
Thames has suffered severely, several
townships DeluB DdTIIy SuDMeIRSu. 1AG
Sherness dockyard and the WoolWlch ar
senaI were inundated. At Scarboro, the
fashionable watering place, the seawall
was washed away. At Yarmouth and
other coast towns of Norfolk the espla-
nades were flooded. At Liverpool the
squalls blew off the roofs OF several
houses, threw down chimneys and tore
up trees.
The Mersey flooded its banks on the
Chester side and deluged the shore. Sim
liar disasters accurred at HOlyhead, where
mum Der OF valuable yachts were sunk at
their moorings. Scarcely yestige re-
mains in sight of the wreck OF Lord Mel
sons old flagship, the Foudroyant, long
fast in the sand off BlackpoOl. There is
a greal deal of wreckage near the Good
win Sands The scenes at such popular
resorts as Yarmouth and Margate were OF
great grandeur, but the damage done was
enormous Tremendous seas still invade
the gardens of the hotels and residences,
wrecking the parades and buildings, while
much debris is floating about.
Immense damage has been done TO the
Government property a Sheerness dock
ward and the Woolwich arsenal. Seven
thousand troops were huTrledIy ordered
out to-day to remove thousands of pounds
worth of ammunition and stores from the
wbarves and sheds to places of safety.
The 1ide continued to rise and invaded
some of the workshops, ouenched the en-
gines and stopped electric lights. The
Workmen were obliged to 60 home, wad-
ing kneedeep. Despite all the pr eau
lions properly to the amount of many
thousands of pounds has been lost,
Below London bridge the low-lying
houses AMI cellars are flooded, and all
work Is TEN mporarily suspended along the
Thames, even as high as Charlng Cross.
The continual rise of the river is looked
nnon as ominous, but as yet no damage
has been done above London bridge.
SIX vessels were wrecked between Var.
mouth and Bacton only few miles apart
on the Norfolk coast and twenty-five lives
lost.
The storm tore ont her masts, and when
inc rocket line was fired the crew was un-
able TO maui it in. FINALLY the line
DRAGGED them into the surf ana three OF
the Seven we're drowned. Rochester and
Strood, on the Midway, but thirty miles
Al Rochester the gas works were Aoodeo
and the town Is in darkness.
The gale is now travelling southwark ana
trayer.ing various parts OF the continent.
Verv rough weather Is reported along Inc
north coast OF france.
A dispatch from Liverpool SAYS that
during the gale the Russian bark Nlkolal,
Caniain Karlsen, stranded on treacher-
ous bank near Formboy, soath OF South
port After fearful experiences her sails
were blown away and the vesse' was SO
damaged as 10 lie uncontrollab4e. one OF
the crew, a man named Karlston. was
>wept overheard and drowned. Inc cap
tain says no one on board slept Ior IouI
days The vessel will probably become
wreck
The British steamer Esparto foundered
on Royal Sovereign Lightship In the Eng,
1sh Channel, between Dungeness anu
Beachy Head, yesterday afternoon, aiter
no h.aGT So with
steamer Noel. The latter vessel was
beached at Dungeness in sinking con-
diuon. No lives were lost. The Esparto
was q 1245.to vessel and hailed from Lon