Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-08
STIFF NOR'WESTER.
THE WORST IN YEARS All
NEWPORT NEWS.
MUCH TROUBLE IN TIE HARDOR.
Crews Spend a Miserable Night
The Transport Thomas Called
Back-COllisiOns-A Train De-
laycd on the &. ~ ..

NEWPORT NEWS. VA, March T.
(Special.)-The st fest Northwestern that
has visited Newport News in a long time
swept over this entire section of Virginia
this morning, and is still raging. There
have been worse Billiards, colder, and
with more snow. but a more disagreeable
one than that raging here now has not
been experienced in years. The storm
started last night with a heavy rainfall.
Early i'm the morning the wind COM
rnenced to blow. and increased in velocity
until il travelled at a rate of fully sixty
miles an hour. Daylight saw a slight fan
of snow. but It increased during the day,
and about two or three inches fell, al
though it did not lie heavily in any one
place. as the wind scattered it before it
reached terra nrma. The temperature
dropped from IS degrees at 8 o'clock last
night To % degrees at } o'clock this morn
ing.
The crews OF the ships on the river
spent a miserable night, and with them it
was to keep awake constantly and be on
the alert to save their lives. if necessary.
The harbOr is fairly black with vessels
Of every description. the smaller ones put
ting in for shelter. The large ships are
those which are under orders TO load coal
Bnd general cargoes. The historic James
never presented a more angry appear
lnce than 1t did this morning, and it was
o grand siglt TO behold. The waves were
unusually high, and even the large ships
were observed from the shore 60 ride on
the mountains of water while at anchor.
The United States transport Thomas,
formerly the Minnewaska. which started
Tor Savannah last night. was recalled, n
returned TO the har, at a late hour.
About midnight The nmmenced TO
drag anchor i'm the harhor. and she sound
ed her distress whistle for assistance.
The Chesapeake ana Ohio tug captains
heard her shrill whistle. but knew 1t
would be useless 70 attempt to run along
side OF the big ship on such a night. All
through the early morning the Mime
waska dragged her anchor about the har-
Dor. being completely at the mercy Of the
waves. and her distress whistle kept
many a sleepy person awake. The large
liner fouled a number of schooners in the
dark, and il is said sent one to the bot
tom near the ship-yard. The Thomas also
crashed into the ship-yard pier during the
early morning, doing considerable dan
pge. This morning she was tied up to
one Of the Vard-piers. and will be sent
Into the dry-dock for repairs.
The schooner G.. Il. Keagle, which was
IN collision with the Chesapeake and
ohio steamer Louise Sunday morning off
Craney Island. was badly broken up by
the storm, and his morning she sank In
the slip between the breakwater and the
passenger pier. The steam-launch q. W
Ridley was sunk at her moOrings this
morning. About a dozen oyster-sloops
sre aground inshOre. and some are in dan
gerous positions. None of the larger
ships have been damaged so far. but If
the storm continues it is feared that much
more disaster will follow tonight.
The Cape Charles, Washington, and
Baltimore steamers arrived at Old Point
his morning nearly on time. The steamer
Louise had little difficulty in making her
landing here this morning. The river
steamers made their regular runs 10 Nor
folk. Smithneld. and the upper James.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Passenger
Train. No. 2. due here from Richmond al
lll0 o'clock this morning. did not arrive
until ] o'clock. The delay was caused by
a wreck on the Chesapeake and Ohio al
DiascOnd. near Tcano. IL seeSns that a
freight car jumped the track while going
into the switch at that point, and carried
several others with II across the main
line OF the road. The train from Rich
mond was unable TO pass. and when the
uain from Newport News arrived the
asgengcrs were transferred and the
Richmond trains went back again. IL Is
understood that he wreck was cleared
away IN time 90 permit the passage OF
trains this evening.