The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-10
SMALL CRAFT WRECKED
Sale of Sixty Mile Velocity Raging at
Capes-Steamers Hug Port.
1snoninl "a rhn Characterization,

Especial to The Dlspatch)
NORFOLK, VA. October "a terrific
gale struck this coast last night and is
still bowling out at the capcs. All arriv-
Ing vessels are late and their passengers
half dead with fright and scasickness.
The rain storm Of yesterday afternoon
rapidly grew into storm which was
especially severe on tho usually tranquil
Chesapeake Bay. The sxty-rnile gale
dashed the waters Of the bay into fury.
however and at Q o'clock this morning.
when the gale was at its height, some OF
the passengers on the incoming boats
became almost pan!c-strickcn.
The favorite fashion in evening dress
aboard the Washington steamer, Norfolk,
about that time was wh!to, With N!c
preserVess.
The officers Of the steamer state that
there was no time during the gale when
she was in any danger. The rough seas
which she encountered in turning Smiths
Point at the mouth of the Potomac, was
what did all the mischief.
Some of the freight got loose and shifted
about with terrifying noises. Much of IT
was broken open, and the darkies below
feasted
The violent rolling OF the boat fright
ered the passengers badly. The screams
OF women and loud demands regarding
the whereabouts of tie life preservers
created rear among tlloSc WV ''S.>~N>
otherwise have been cool.
Mr.. William Linn and wife. OF Norfolk.
who were among the passengers on the
Norfolk, stated that they never had such
mr., experlence. The crashing of the freight
below and the pounding OF the waves
against the boats side was terrifying.
they stated. Nobody slept. and every
Gre was early on deck, some Wearing
life preserycrs. Ono cXcited iauS Pu'
hers on about her neck.
Crockery and glassware, the wines ana
liquors in the cafe, and everything else
hreakable was broken. The furniture
few about the decks, and 1t was almost
impossible to sleep.
similar experiences were encountered
by every boat coming down tnc bay TINS
morning Nobody WAS hurt. but the poa's
were all tossed terribly by the storm.
The tides here were extraordinarily
high and small boats, even In the shell
ter of port. were swamped by dozens.
Mr.. j. w. White, Of Port Norfolk, lost
lis pretty little yacht Louise. and ne
ga VS. that but two out of fleet OF some
twenty pleasure craft at Port Norfoik
outrode the storm. The others were al
either sWamped or driven ashore
At Care Henry the gale Is no" seventy
two miles an hour and holding lts own.
Al Kitty Hawk the Weather Bureau re-
rorts a velocity Of sixty miles an hour.
rho wires to Cape Hatteras went down
during the gale. as usual. and there is
no news from that dangerous point
where every gale wrecks a vessel.
No wrecks are reported as yet from
down the coast. but ii Is feared that the
continuance Of to-niShts seventy-hVe
miles an hour gale will drive many yes
sells ashore
One schooner whose name is unknown
is in distress off Ocean View. She Is IN
great peril, and there is no llfe saving
station at that point. The Merritt Wreck
ing Company has dispatched assistance
10 the vessel.
Neither of the Baltimore liners LETT
port on schedule time tonight. Both the
chesapeake Line and the Old Bay Line
steamers are hugging port, waiting for
the storm to go down. The New YORK
steamers left on time on the New YORK,
Philadelphia and Norfolk route and the
Old Dominion Line, but tho other INES
are hugging port, with their passengers
asleep aboard
Another unknown schooner went ashore
Tonight near Little Creek. Those aboard
arc safe It Is reported.