The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-10-15
THREE VESSELS ARE LOST.

Norfolk, Va, Oct 1O.-The Virginia
coast from Cape Hsnty to Dam Neck
Mills twelve miles South, is strewn
with the wreckage of Inflated craft tc-
night.
All communication with the sea-
board is cut off, but it is known that
three vessels have been wrecked and
several lives lest within that distance
today, and the last report is that a
five-masted schooner has been thrown
upon the beach while brilliantly
lighted passenger steamer is laborlng
very dangerously near the shore with
terrific gale from the northeast fight
ing her efforts to make the open.
OF the large ocean-going coal barges,
Ocean Belle and Georgia, nothing is
now left but miles OF wreckage on the
shore, and OF the crews that manned
them tbs fates of only five are known.
Capt. George II. Adams and Seaman
Charles Peters are drowned while Jo-
seph Peters, Peter Lope. and M. Payne
owe their lives to the heroism of Surf
man Charles Capps, life-saving station
No 2
All these men were on the Ocean
Belle and when this barge was dashed
ashore the waves swept her decks clear
of rigging and crew. Capps plunged
s,.cc ,sstully into the raging surf and
afte< desperate struggles brought all
three men to land. The fate OF
the Georgta's crew lie Unknown
and but littls hope IS held for their
safety. Both barges were in tow OF
the tug Richmond aud the tug is miss
ing.
The three-masted schooner, Nellie
w. Hewlett, Captain Chem, lumber
laden from Pensacola, is total wreck
on The coast three miles from Dam
Neck Mills. Captain Gheem and his
crew of six men are sale at the station
but their rescue was accomplished only
by acts of bravery On the part OF the
Ire savers. -Four attempts we're made
to launch the surf boat and thus reach
the ship, rapidly pounding to pieces
on he bar, and each endeavor was re-
pulsed by The sea.
The surf guard then with double
charges Of powder In the Lille gun sue
Gee led in dropping line over the YES
sci aad one by ono the crew was hauled
ashore through the surf.
The last train from the coast arrived
il. Norfolk tonight at 8 o'clock and
brought 1900 people back from the
scene. At that time large fve-mast.
ed schooner was reported in the SUR
! between Virginia Beach and Cape Hen.
r. and near her a big passenger steam
err, With lights shining in every port
| ho:,s, seemed to be fighting a losing
battle with the northeast gale that was
blowing her towards the breakers.
The wind at the cape is oyer seventy
milss an hour and the surf is plllnf
over the sand hills and back into tht
main land.
| At the Norfolk navy yard the cruiser
Olympia IS in dry dock with her bot
tom plates removed and steadily ris
ing tide is creeping inch by inch W
the outer side OF the caisson. At high
tide this morning it reached within
six inches of the top. The winds
change to the north will make tn
fo"I tide this midnightamuch highe
ana grave fears are felt Tor the cruiser
safety should an overflow occar.
The terminal piers OF the Norfolk 4
Western, Southern and Atlantic Coas
Line in the outer harbor have beef
badly damaged by the wind and thu
tide in the big pleasure piers at Ocean
View are destroyed.
Hundreds of small craft have com,
as', re in the harbor.
Norfolk city has experienced a gall
Of from forty to fifty miles all day, an,
besides flooded streets much damag
has been done For the greater par
OF the day the city was cut off from tn
outside world.
| Newport News, Va, Oct. 10Th
tug Richmond arrived here tonigh
with the crew of tho barge Georgia
which is ashore at Virginia Beach.