The times., 1899-08-18
DELUGHD BY THE STORM
The Hurricane Sweeps Upon New
pert News and Norfolk.
Old sailors Afraid to Venture Ont
and Newport News HnrbOr Gorged
by Delayed Vessels-A Few Bold
Ones Try TO Brave the Elements,
But Gladly Turn Back to Safety.

Newport News, Va, Aug. 1.-THE West
Indian hurricane struck the Hampton
Roads territory in earnest today. A stiff
wind with velocity of fifty miles an hour
has been blowing all day and seems to
be increasing tonight. An unusually heavy
fall OF rain occurred. Hampton Roads and
the James River are exceedingly rough,
and the tide here has risen between four
and five feet. The water is up to the floor
peake and Ohio merchandise piers have
clear space of several feet yet, and it is
not believed that the immense quantities
of goods stored there for shipment will be
damaged. The steamer between Newport
News and Norfolk this evening was the
only river steamer to brave the storm.
Hampton Roads and this harbor are full
of vessels of every description, which came
in for shelter. There are almost as many
steam vessels as sailing ships. The Clyde
Liner Gulf Stream, which left Norfolk
last night bound for Philadelphia with
passengers and freight turned back and
this morning came up to the shipyard,
anchoring there. She is still in port at a
late hour tonight. The steam collier Orion,
for Boston, with coal, started this morning
but had to put back Several other steam
colliers are here loaded with coal for the
North but their masters will not venture
outside of the capes. The steamers of the
Old Dominion and Merchants and Miners
Line have had considerable trouble. The
Guyandotte for New York made two at
tempts to get away Tuesday and Wednes-
day, but had to put back to Old Point
Comfort, where she was anchored all day.
Tonight the steamers captain abandoned
all hope of getting away and went back to
Norfolk. The jamestown sailed last night
for New York and has not been heard
from. The Merchants and Miners steamer
Howard left this morning for Boston, after
being held up in Hampton Roads for a day.
Telephone and telegraph wires on the PEN
insula are down. Tonight the water is
rising rapidlySand at, 8 80 o'clock is within
foot OF the railroad pier floors.
Norfolk, Va, Aug. 1.-THE most severe
storm which has visited this section in
years is raging here. The wind, high this
morning as yesterday, blew a, gale this
afternoon which for hours at Cape Henry
sustained velocity of sixty eight miles
an hour. In the city the wind blew at a
forty two mile rate and was accompanied
by rain. which fell all day almost without
intermission. No steamer sailed from this
port tonight with the single exception of
the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk
Railways transfer boat, which sailed
across Chesapeake Bay for Cape Charles.
1t is believed that she will be compelled to
return. The Old Dominion steamer Guyan-
dotte. which essayed to sail for New York
this morning, as she did yesterday, was
against compelled to put back. A high
tide inundated the lowlying part of the
city this evening and invaded some streets.
Communication with other coast points
has been cut off since last night, but the
wire 70 Cane Henry worked until shortly
before nightfal. when it fell also. Grave
fears are expressed in the marine district
| that when news comes from the coast it
viii tell of many wrecks. The wind which
was northeast has at times shifted to the
northwest.