The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-07
TEE STORM ON oH1NcorEAGUE.
water Rose while . Man Wns Feeding u Horse
1T Caught Another Man In BED.

$50 -" N
Fhom the Norfolk. Ia. Landmark.
The height of the tide reached the business
part of the town about g or o o'clock with a
suddenncss almost equal to a tidal wave. This
Is shown by the experience of a son Of DIR. \. S.
Smith. He went out to feed his horse, and the
ground which he went over showed only the
effects of an ordinary rain. but when he re-
turned a few minutes later the water was knee
deep and still rising. Tho streets by this time
were flooded. Hip boots had to be discarded
and boats used for going about.
One of the most trying experiences was that
of a man named Merritt. who lived alone on the
upper part Of the island. He was bedridden
with rheumatism. All during Sunday night he
lay In his bed on the ground floor and watched
the water first como in the crack under the door.
then rise higher and higher till It actually
reached the covering on his bed before his
anxious eyes told him that 1t had ceased.
What his sensations must have been, as he lay
there powerless to help. himself. 1t is hard to
imagine.
Even more thrilling. however. was the exp peri
ence of Charles Bunting, keeper of a watch
house. at Wills Shoals. abreast OF Chinco-
league Inlet. It may be well TO explain that a
"watchhouse' ia a house built over q scow.
making an appearance very much like a freight
car. The owners of oyster beis place a man in
charge, whose duty IL Is to see that no depreda.
lions are made on the beds. Bunting. with his
wife and child, aged three months. were on the
"watchhouso"' mentioned ana during the gallo
Sunday night the whole concern was turned
The door was locked. but after much diff
| Guilty Bunting managed TO crawl through the
window, dragging his wife and child after
him. An eiglit.foot pole happened to be planted
by the side OF the 'watchhouse." Hunting
eagerly seized II, and holding his child in ono
arm, grasped the polo with the other. while his
wife chung about his neck.
In this perilous position they remained for
| moro than an hour, thinking each moment
would be their last. They Were finally rescued
by Minas FarloyS and a boy named AlonzO
Dennis. The rescuers were a few hundred yards
OFT in a monitor. This .capsized with them,
and they took TO a small bateau. but found
| themselves adrift without sails, poles, or oars.
After discovering the distress OF Bunting and his
family they looked around for some means of
rescue, and finally hit on the plan OF throwing
the anchor overheard and hauling up to II with
the line. ny this slow process they finally
reached tho pole and transferred Bunting to
the bateau, but not before he was almost OK
haurted. The strain i'll II few minutes more
would probably have. proved too much for him.
\ coat was utilized as u sail, and after being
beaten around by the winds for several hours,
A landing was at last reached near the Atlantic
Post Office, The party took refuge In the home
of John Fletcher, where they were given dry
clothing, and new clothing, was h~urriedly made
for the baby. Friends on Chincoteague tho next
day discovered the upturned "watchhouse."
and floating household effects, and concluded
that all had persisted. .-