The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-01
THE STORM AT WIZ dINGToN.
Wreck of the EuIaIia and Heroic
Rescue of Mrs. Lucas.


The residents Of Wilmington Island had
some exciting experiences. The storm
there was severer than that of 1896, and
the loss is believed to have been heavier.
On the front of the island there was com
paratively little damage to the cottages.
At the Oemler Oyster Companys factory
two houses were demolished; the big water
tank. holding 1000 gallons of water for
the factory. was blown down, the smoke
stack of the factory was toppled over and
practically all of the crops on the island
were destroyed. The damage TO the tim
Der is heavy.
Capt. Augustus Oemler came up 70
Thunderbolt yesterday afternoon in the
steamer Mermaid. He said that the storm
was probably the severest the island has
ever had. The Mermaid was closely shell
tered in an inlet, near the oyster factory,
and escaped damage.
Capt. Oemler will leave this morning
for Warsaw Island TO render what assist
ance is needed to the people there About
the only people on the island are MIR. and
Mrs. Schwab and the help in charge of
the pavilion, and a dozen soldiers in gar
rison on the north end Of the island. 1t is
not believed, owing to the sheltered con-
ditlon of the pavilion and cottages that
the damage is heavy. The water was so
rough yesterday that the Mermaid. did not
venture to cross the sound
All along the marshes between Whining
ton and Thunderbolt and in the marsh OPP
posite Thunderbolt, Capt Oemler said. are
the wrecks of small sloops sailboats and
Rephtha launches. About every small
craft anchored in the river and not Sc
curely tied is a wreck
The steamer Eulalia Is a wreck on the
shore at the south end of Wilmington.
When the steamer left Thunderbolt at 7.3o
p M, Tuesday night on her regular trim to
Wilmington the wind was blowing gale.
When the island was reached it's velocity
had greatly increased. All this time the
rain was pouring in torrents and the sum
mer residents Of the island hurried to their
homes to seek shelter and prepare for the
blow which they felt was coming.
Some difficulty was experienced in swing
Ing In to the wharf al the south end on
| account of the gale and just as the pas
sengers were about to disembark the
wharf gave some, but not enough to pre-
vent tie passengers from landing.
Mr. j. E. Lucas. the owner of the Eu-
laiia, Mrs. Lucas Capt. George w. Rossig-
mol and the crew remained on the steamer.
which was noored strongly to the wharf
Mrs. Lucas was urged to leave. hui re-
fused to go without her husband and re-
solved to take her chances with the crew
The wind was then blowing from the
northwest and the high bluff sheltered the
wharf and the steamer some from the
full force of the gale, but the steamer
| tugged al her mornings and strained the
big hawsers that held her to the wharf.
Those who remained on board huddled
in the cabin not knowing what minute
would bring increased danger. The crew
was kept busy looking after the fires and
keeping watch on everything about the
/ steamer fnh
standing it was the time of low tide
About o'clock the wind changed and
began to blow from the west The wharf
began to strain and creak and the river was
as choppy as rough sea. Fortunately.
| Capt. Rossignol had up fun steam. and
as the wharf was about to 90
he cut loose and beacbed The
steamer nearby A few minutes
later the wharf was completely demoI-
ished. There was about five feet of wa
ter where the Eulalia was beached ana
the waves were flashing about her in such
fury that it was dangerous to try to Ieaye
her, but Capt Rossignol thought it was
best to get Mrs. Lucas ashore if possi
BILE. deck hand volunteered to go
with him and the two leaped over
board and got into shallow water Mrs
Lucas was taken upon the wheel oe Tho
steamer by her husband and was swung
| into the arms of the captain and deck
| hand and carried ashore where she was
! cared for during the night by the is
| landers.
The seven hours Mrs. Lucas spent on
| board the steamer and the trip 10 shore
| were an experience that she will not for
set for a long time, if ever, but she was
| courageous throughout and held up with
a wonderful fortitude.
| At high water all but the hurricane
| deck of the Eulalia is covered by water
| and she undoubtedly sustained severe
| damage. Her lower deck works are
washed away and the brick work around
! her boilers is gone. Capt. Rossignol came
up to Thunderbolt last night. He does
not know what the extent of the damage
| to the steamer Is on account of the high
water, but he thinks she may be saved
| Mr.. Lucas however, is not so hopeful and
| seems TO think his loss will be very
heavy If not almost total.
| The vessel came to Savannah from
| Florida last May, aud has been running
between Savannah, Thunderbolt and VIII
mington and Warsaw during the summer.
! She was to fave left for Florida to-day
| Capt Rosignol, who was in command of
the steamer displayed great GOODNESS and
courage during the storm and in the res
cue of Mrs. Lucas.
The revenue cutter Boutwell, was at
| Thunderbolt Tuesday, but moved up to
! Turner's Rocks in the afternoon so as to
have plenty of room to swing in and OBJ
tain safe anchorage. She remained there
| during the cyclone and sustained no dam
age. The steamer will bring up the resi-
| dents of Wilmington island to-day.
RECORD OF THE STORM.
/