Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-31
WORK Or THE STORM.
LATER REPORTS FROM THE vIR-
GINA SEASIDE ISLANDS.
The Destruction wrought-several
Narrow and Thrilling Escapes
Wells FiIIed with Salt water--Ac-
comac Personal and General Notes.

ONANCOCK, VA, October 3.-(Spe-
cial)-Echoes from the great storm con-
tinue to come from the seaside islands.
and when the fury of the gale and the
force and height Of the tides are consid-
cred. the wonder is that even greater
damage was not done. AS 1t Is. the de-
struction Of property will amount to
many thousands of dollars, and while
no lives appear to have been lost, yet
there were many narrow escapes.
Captain Parker Risley and his wife
were occupying house built on piles on
Kegotank bay. where they were employed
in watching the oyster-beds OF Gordy &
Figgs. The tide surrounded the house
and cut of escape by sweeping away their
boat. AS the water rose they deserted
the first floor and took refuge In the loft.
from which they managed to display
distress signal. which was fortunately
seen by Mr.. James Miles. who went to
their assistance. But when he reached
the house the tide was SO high that Ris-
ley and his wife had to make their way
out of the house through the roof. from
which they leaped into the boat, and
after a hard struggle with the waves,
Mr.. Miles succeeded in getting them
safe to land
On Chincoteague Island widow named
Aydelotte, with five small children. lived
In house that was situated ar some
distance from any other human habita-
ton. The water surrounded the house
and drove all the occupants up TO the
second floor, where they remained two
days and nights without food or fuel
before they were rescued from their
perilous position.
HOUSE BLOWN OVER.
Charles Bunting. with his wife and
small child. occupied small house on
the banks of Willis's shoals. on Chinco-
league Island, The house was blown
over and was noating about in the water,
with the waves breaking over 1t. when
two men adrift in boat came by and
rescued Bunting and his wife and child
all of whom were nearly exhausted. The
men in the boat had no paddles or sails
but taking the bead-quilt, in which Bunt-
ing had wrapped UP his little child, and
making a sail Of II, they managed TO
drift before the wind, and finally reached
land in safety.
At Wishart's Point, on the mainland,
about seven miles south Of Chincoteague,
the high water washed away about 100
cords of wood large quantity OF shin
giles. belonging to Hon. s. w. Matthews,
the representative from this county In
the House of Delegates The hotel on
Matomkin Beach, belonging to Thomas
w. Russell, Esq, was badly wrecked, and
1t is thought that many sheep and ponies
on the island were drowned. The ponies
On Assateague saved themselves by taking
refuge on the high sandhills. which the
water did not cover. The animals on all
the seaside islands are said to be suffer-
ing dreadfully for water. as all the wells
and fresh-water ponds are full OF salt
water.
The surface Of Cedar Island is said to |
have been washed to an almost dead level. |
Before the storm 1t had number OF |
along the beach.
A GRAND SPECTACLE.
Persons who were on the islands du-
ing the storm say that the sea pre-
jented a spectacle of indescribable |
yrandeur. as II came breaking In great |
md laundering cataracts against the |
peach, and sweeping in rushing torrents
,ver the land. 1t is said that fully one
third of the house on Chincoteague |
we're flooded during the storm. The loss
# fencing and small craft in the low
wing regions of the mainland Is greater
han was at first supposed.
The suspension of shipments OF sweet
potatoes from this section during the
ecent stormy weather has caused the
rice to go up, and to-day the local
,uyers are paying sl.25 per barrel for
hem, and returning empty barrels to
he farmers 1t is said that the proper
ion Of potatoes now remaining In the
round is very small
Cards are out for the marriage Of Mr..
samuel II. White, of Washington, d. c.,
nd Miss Maude c. Mills. Of Onancock,
which will take place on the 10th OF
November.