Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-29
WILD STORM RACES.
Great Loss of Life on British
 Coast.
MANY VESSELS ASHORE AND WRECKED
Gale One of the Worst Known In Mdny Years-Haf Hsndred Boats Wrcncbcd From Their
 Noorings In the Thames.

LONDON, Dec. 29.-Incessant reports of innumerable shipping casualties show that the gale was one of the worst known in many years. Probably several days will elapSe before the full extent of the damage becomes known.
 In addition to some vessels not yet identified which have been wrecked or placed in great danger the fate of some of the cross channel mail steamers is in doubt. For instance, the Great Vest ern Railway company's steamer plying between Milford and Waterford is 12 hours overdue, and tidings of her have as vet been received. It would be impossible to enumerate all the minor casualties.
 In response to rockets from Eddystone light Plymouth sent a dockyard tug with q lifeboat to assist what was reported to be q large steamer ill distress i'll the channel.
 The Primrose Hill went on the Pen rhos rocks. three n..les off South Stack, not far from Holyhead. She broke in two and went to pieces in q few min u:es. One man out of the crew of 3o men was saved by q lifeboat.
 Some time before she struck the Prim- rose Hill dropped her anchors but noun tainous seas were running No sooner had the ill fated ship touched the rocks than the three a1tefmaSlS WeHt over board. and she broke in twain, leaving only the forcm2St standing. Three nlln- utes later this went also.
 The vessel was soon smashed up. The Hibelnia stood by throughout, but was powerless to aid. The Holyhead steam iifeboat made three vain attempts to reach the Primrose Hill. The latter's crew huddled on the poop, when d huge sea dashed over the vessel. washing all away save one sailor. who was final ly hurled against the rocks, sustaining severe injuries.
 The British bark Pegasus, Captain i Bailey, from San Francisco Aug IT for Queenstown. where she arrived on Dee. 23 and sailed Dee. 26 for Sharpness, was incorrectly reported to have founder ed off Penarth Roads. One man of the crew of 34 was landed al Cardiff, and the statement of the vessels loss originated
 with this sailor. It appears that the Pegasus grounded off Lavernock point but she was subsequently ioated and towel to q place of shelter. When she grounded, her boats were made readH for lowering and the falls of one of them carried away. precipitating five men into the water. They were all drowned with the exception of the sailor landed at i Cardiff, who was picked up by tug. A terrible accident took place near | Taunton. ne DreakNater at " atcnet | harbor yielded to the force of the gale i and became a wreck, permitting tre mendous sea to have full play against | the shipping in the harbor. Several yes
 sels broke adIift, two foundered. and l five others were driven into hopeless
 tangle in corner between d pier and q
 wharf, where they lay grinding each oth- 1 CT. Their masts and bulwarks speedily
 went. and their hulls greatly bat ! tered. The damage will reach many l thousands of pounds.
 The Austrian bark Capricorn was driy- 1 ell ashore near Rude. Cornwall. Nine of i the crew were drowned, one was saved, 1 and four are still on board, with little l unable to avail themselves of the rocket ! apparatus. Two other vessels are ashore on the Cornwall coast.
 Several were stove in at Ilfracombe ! harbor The bark Ragna was wrecked i off Trevine. near Cardiff, three of her
 crew being drowned and nine being res i cued by rocket lines.
 The British steamships Black Prince | at Queenstown and TeaZer at Portsmout
 were both badly damaged.
 Wales appears to Have suffered the worst effects of the gale both on land and sea, but everywhere the telegraph
 wires are much disorganized, and re-
 ports are thel.fore incomplete.
 Considerable damage to property in>
 land is certain to he repor 9l.
 Some 50 barges and sailing craft broke
 from their moorings ill the Thame alone. At Oswestry theater was destroyed.