Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-01
A THRILLING VOYAGE
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF vIR-
GINA TARs ABOARD THE SIREN.
SHE WAS ASHORE AT GROVES BLUFF
Dragged Her Two Anchors and
Bumped Hnrd-Tbe Waves break
Ing Over He
Gotten on without Harm.

The Virginia Naval Volunteers brayed
the worst storm experienced In Ramp
ton Roads and on the lower James IT,
wears 10 come to Richmond 10 take part
in the launching celebration. and though
they did not reach the wharf In Time TO
gee the Shubrick take the water, thelr
vessel got in soon after the event-in
time 70 fire a Presidents salute Of TWEEN
ty-one guns.
The naval volunteers will be in the
parade to-day. They are eager TO take
part in the demonstration. showing TO
the people they belong 10 the entire state
and not solely TO the seaside section OF
Virginia. as many seem TO believe.
The tackles were tired out when the
Siren reached the Old Dominion whari
at $40 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Ihey
had good cause TO be. The little dis
patch-boat was the only vessel In 'Nor-
folk harbOr hardy enough to leave Mon
day night in the face of the warning
storm signals displayed by the Weather
Bureau. There Is just "A suspicion that
had Commander Cannon known what a
terrible experience was before his crew
and his vessel he would hardly have
yentured out. An old sailor aboard the
Siren told Dispatch writer last night
he had hardly ever experienced rougher
weather
THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
The experiences of the men were not
short OF thrilling. The Siren made II to
a point opposite Groves Bluff without
mishaps, though it was seen when she
entered the Roads from the Elizabeth
river that the weather was dangerously
oh.
about fifteen miles above Newport News,
the officers decided that it was dangerous
to proceed further, owing to the intense
darkness. more than to the gale.
1T was so dark said Lieutenant G.
J. Calrow to a Dispatch writer aboard
the Siren last night, that "A lantern
could not be seen from the bridge 70
jackstaff. 1t was darkness which light
would not pierce-a blackness such as
we never saw before"
Commander Cannon, therefore, ordered
the vessel TO lay to and drop anchor
This was about 10 o'clock. The storm
increased in herceness, and the night i'm
blackness, if possible. Two anchors were
put out. But the gale became so terrible
that the anchors began to drag.
SHE STRUCK HARD.
At O'Clock in the morning, when the
was driving in binding torrents, the
Siren struck on a bar.
she hit pretty hard" said one Of the
officers last night. I'VE knew what had
happened, Of course, but we did not
Know how serious it was. We tried TO
launch the whale-boat but couldn't. The
sea was rough beyond anything we had
seen in long time, TO say the least The
waves broke over the deck every minute.
d fraer ~.
but we did not know what might han
pen to the vessels bottom. But we
wanted TO get ashore chiefly 10 allow
some OF our men 10 get TO a telegraph
station 10 wire 10 Richmond that we
could not get there in time for the
launching
But a boat could not be gotten over
The water was rough beyond description
or conception"
IL was 8 o'clock yesterday morning no
fore the Siren got off and resumed her
voyage. There was no thought Of turn
ing back. Commander Cannon had steer
ed his course for Richmond, and 10 Rich
mona he was coming.
PRESIDENTIAL SALUTE.
At sos o'clock yesterday afternoon was
fired the first gun of her salute of twenty
one as she steamed up to the Old Do
minion Wharf. In a short time she was
made fast, and then, as quickly as posi-
bic Commander Cannon and several of
his officers came ashore and went to the
Jefferson. where they were presented 10
the President. The officers who remained
aboard and the men got something to eat.
and then went 10 their hunks, for they
were so tired and sleepy that they could
scarcely stand or keep their eyes open.
However number of the men came up
town and stayed until late. though every
body aboard will be up and about early
In the morning. ready TO take part in the
parade to-day and to receive later the
many visitors sure TO 90 aboard their
pretty craft.
THE SIRENS OFFICERS.
There are seventy-three officers and
men aboard, representing the Norfolk Di-
visions A, r, and ID. The officers in COM
mand is Commander Harry l. Cannon.
Lieutenant-C Commander r. p. Adams is
second officer. The navigating officer is
Lieutenant Lawrence Waring The watch
officers are Lieutenant r. S. Weaver and
Lieutenant c. J. Calrow: Lieutenant 0u-
Nor grade) j. J. Easoh, and Ensigns j.
A. Anderson. Jr., and w b. Hickey.
1t Is the first time in the history Of
Richmond that any portion Of the naval
volunteer force of the State has visited
this city, and the tars attract much at
tention. and will be accorded the best the
city has TO give.