Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-06
PRETTY STIFF STORM.
EXPERIENCED IN AND AROUND
NEWPORT NEWS.
Many SAILING VESSELS CAPSlZID.
Two Men Narrowly Escape Drown
ing-An Uncomplcted House Blown
Down-Was Nearly AsphyHinteo-
Personal and General.
Personal and General.

NEW POBI MI WI >, ' ~, OCNSiASSh -.
Especial Newport News was swept Wy
a terrific wind yesterday, and to-day the
after-effects are still apparent in nlgh
winds and prospect of colder weather.
A heavy rainfall started late Saturday
night. and continued off and on for eiSh-
teen hours several times pouring IN
torrents. During the afternoon the wind
reached a great velocity, and at night IL
is estimated ii was blowing here iuIS
forty miles an hour, and at the virginia
capes its velocity must have been even
greater. Sailing vessels sought shelter
I'm Hampton Roads and the James river
and a great many of them have not yet
ventured out. The Washington, Balti-
more, and Cape Charles steamers had
difficulty in making their landings at Old
Point last evening, and even to-day the
wind IS blowing al a high rate OH Ola
Point.
A small sailing vessel capsized off the
Hygeia Hotel pier last evening, and the
two occupants--two truckers from Gl0u-
cester county by the name OF smith
narrowly escaped drowning. The little
steam launch from the b1ttleship
Texas discovered the plight of the men,
ana steamed at full speed In their direc-
tion rescuing them none the worse for
their experience other than cold drench-
ing.
4 large three-story frame dwelling
house, in course of erection for Mr.. n. III.
| Turner was blown down last night and
entirely wrecked. The building was near
ly completed. Another house, on the elec-
trio railroad near Sater's creek, was also
blown down. and one of the occupants
was painfully injured. Reports from
Hampton and vicinity and the surround
ing counties are to the effect that .ne
hurricane played havoc with outbuildings.
Twenty-Five trolley-poles on the road
| of the Newport News and Old Point Rail-
way and Electric Company were down
| yesterday afternoon, and the road for
| nearly a mile was rendered unservlceable.
| Passengers on cars going out OF Newport
| News and Hampton were compelled 10
I walk the entire distance through muddy
fields and pathways from car 10 car IN
| order 10 finish their journey. The damage
| has been repaired. however, and the SER
/ vice is uninterrupted.
Mr.. John Bennett, a travelling sales
man. from Reading, Pa. who registered
. at the Metropolitan Hotel yesterday
morning, narrowly escaped asphyxiation
| in his room in the hosiery in the after
| noon. one Of the hotel clerks, In passing
| the guests room, detected a strong Odor
| of escaping gas. and on opening the door
| OF the room found Bennett in bed uncon-
scious. The room was filled with the
deadly VapOr. a doctor was summoned,
and the unfortunate man was soon re
| stored. An examination OF the stop
| cock showed that 1t had been turned too
| far back when the light was eXtinguished.
| Nelson Banks a negro well known IN
! the cOlOred sections, was arrested to-day
| by Chief-of-POlice BOatwright, on the
| charge Of passing counterfeit coin. H.
| had i'm his possession a counterfeit quar-
! ter dollar that was a perfect Imitation
| Of the genuine but had not the weigh
and ring of the silver coin. The Chief is
| tracing the source Of the coin, which ha5
passed through half a dozen hands, as
far as known.
police force, was to-day appointed Deputy
Sheriff of Warwick county by Sheriff
| Young,
The Trinity Evangelical Lutheran
church was organized yesterday morning
at Moss Hall. with sixty members. Rev
l.. l.. Smith organized the church. ant
at night Rev T.. a. Shenck was installed
| as pastor by his cousin, Rev. j. f.. Shenck
Of Norfolk. Messrs. $. IL. ID. Freed anC
| A. c. Coots were elected elders anC
| Messrs. A. J. Harman and Oscar Dab
| were elected deacons. The Lutherans con
template building church in the nea
/ future.
John Godsey. the ringleader Of the re
cent iail delivery, when six prisoners ef
fected their escape, has been brOugh
back 10 this city from Primers Point
where he was arrested by Norfolk detec
tves Godsey will be given long tern
| for breaking jail.
The United States hospital ship SOlace
formerly the Creole. which was built here
will soon be overhauled and converted
into a transport for the navy. with OF
ficers quarters She will be on the Orde
of a naval palace for the transfer Of mel
and supplies. and Will be fitted out In first
class style.
Coal freights have advanced on trans
pOrtation TO northern ports in cOnse
quence Of the recent disastrous storm OF
the New England coast. when so man
coal vessels were destroyed or inca
pacitated.
The report published in the New Yorl
papers yesterday about the alleged sal
of the ship-yard by Mr.. Coils L. Hunt
ingtOn TO English capitalists is withOu
foundation Mr.. Huntington it Is learned
from a reliable source, will not sell tn
yard. but win take in more capital wit
view of adding an ordnance and armo
plant TO the yard.