Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-29
DEATH AND DISASTER
THAT THE RECORD OF THE RE-
CENT STORM.
WAS A FEARFUL EXPERIENCE.
The const for Miles strewn With
wrecIxage-The Helen ". PnuIding's
Fight with the Sensitive sailors
Swept Overheard.

NORFOLK, VA, October 8.-(Special.)
Tales of death and disaster during the
prevalence OF the recent terrible north
easter are continuing to arrive, and adj
vices from down the coast show that
life-savers have been kept busy, and that
the beach for hundred miles is strewn
with wreckage. while here and there is
an occasional stranded hulk.
The four-masted schooner Helen ".
Paulding, Captain sweeny. which arrived
in Hampton Roads to-day. had a terrible
experience with the storm. She was
bound from Darlen, Ca, to New York,
with cargo Of dressed lumber. which
was lost in the hurricane, while the
schooner herself had narrow escape
from going down.
SWEPT OVERHEARD.
Two members of her crew met death,
being swept away by the tremendous
seas, while unconscious from being
thrown about the decks. When the deck
load Of lumber had gone overheard and
all the boats had been smashed. and
while the storm was at its height, Seaman
Hans Christensen, who was aloft lost
his footing and fell twenty-five feet to
the deck below, where he lay uncon-
scious Christensen was on his last
voyage before embarking for Sweden,
where he was to have been married. John
Overman, a seaman from JERSEY City.
was on deck when a large sea boarded
the schooner. He was thrown against an
iron stanchion, and before aid could reach
him the helpless unconscious sailor was
swept into the ocean. The vessel was
being driven along with bare poles at
terrific rate Of speed, when two heavy
anchors were dropped overheard. They
checked her, but she dragged them along,
so great was the gales force. She final
ly reached Hampton Roads, but with one
of her masts gone and other damage,
necessitating extensive repairs.
THE POLARIA.
The German steamer Polarla, which
stranded on Cape Henry Tuesday night,
is still on the beach, with the Merritt
Wrecking Company's steamer Jones work
ing on her. The Merritts sent a lighter
from here last night. which reached her
this morning. A part of her cargo is TO
be taken out by this means. There was
only one passenger aboard the steamer.
He was landed last night in a surf-boat
sent from the life-savng station. He
reports the ships crew TO be thirty-four
men, all OF whom are still aboard.
There Is said to be a hole In the ships
bottom, but her condition is not thought
to be serious.
An unknown steamer from the south,
bound north. struck on the beach about
1890 o'clock last night between False
Cape and Little Island. The lfe-saving
crew from the latter place shot a line |
across her soon after she struck, but It |
was not used This morning about day |
light she fOated and went away, carrying |
the line with her.
The ship which drifted ashore on Cow |
Island fats. near Kitty Hawk, Tuesday, |
Is still there. and it is thought she will |
90 10 pieces. She is about 200 yards off |
shore. The life-saving crew tried TO |
board her yesterday, but could not on
account of the heavy sea. 1t is not |
known what her name is, |
though she answers the description Of the |
ship abandoned by the tug Luckenbach-
he Matilda.
THE POLARIA FLOATED.
NORFOLK, VA, October 2S.-(SpeciaI)
rhe Polaria was fioated at $50 p. NJ. by
he Merritt Wrecking Company's crew
md lowed to this city.