The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
All Communications Are Cut Off But il is Known That Three
 Vessels Have Sunk
THREE SAILORS OWE LIFE ID
 HEROISM OF 4 SURFMAN
Storm Extends Inland and Many Cities Suffer From Effects of Wind, Ac- companied by Heavy Down.
 pour of Rain.

Norfolk Va, October 10.-The Virginia coast from Cape Henry to Dam Neck Mills, twelve miles south, is strewn with wreckage of several ill-fated crafts to- night. All communication with the sea- board is cut off, but it is known that three vessels have been wrecked and sev- eral lives lost. Of the coal barges, Ocean Belle and Georgia, nothing is now left ex- cept wreckage on the shore, and of the crews that manned them, the fate of only five is known.
 Captain George H. Adams and Seaman Charles Peters are drowned, while Joseph Peters Peter Lopez and M. Payne, owe their lives to the heroism of surfman Charles Capps. life saving station No. 2. All these men were on the Ocean Belle and when this barge dashed ashore the waves swept her decks clear of rigging and crew
 Brought Three Men to Hand.
 Capps plunged into the surf and after desperate struggles brought all three men to land. The fate of the Georgia's crew Is unknown, but little hope is held for their safety Both barges were in tow of the tug Richmond, and the tug is miss ing.
 The three-masted schooner Nellie W. Hewlett, Capt. Chem, lumber laden, from three miles from Dam Neck Mills. Cap tain Chem and his crew of si,s men are safe at the station. Four : Nmpts z.ele made to launch the surf boat and 10 reach the ship without success. The surf guard finally succeeded in dropping a line over the vessel and one by one the crew was hauled ashore through the surf.
 The last train from the coast arrived at Norfolk tonight and brought many re- fugees. They reported large five-masted schooner in the surf between Virginia Beach and Cape Henry. and near here, big passenger steamer was fighting a battle with the northeast gale that was DlOWlHB Ter loWdruS tle pIedhelS. Hc wind at the Cape is over seventy miles an hour and the surf is plllng over the sand hills and back into the mainland.
 Cruiser Olympia in Dry Dock.
 At the Norfolk navy yard, the cruiser Olympia is in dry dock with her bottom plates removed. At high tide this morn ing the water was six inches from the top of the caisson. The change of the wind to the north will make the flood tide at midnight much higher and fears are felt for the cruisers safety.
 The terminal piers of the Norfolk and Western, Southern and Atlantic Coast Line railroads, in the outer harbor. have been badly damaged by wind and tide and the big pleasure piers at Ocean View are destroyed.
 Hundreds of small craft have come ashore in the harbor Norfolk has ex- perienced a gale all day, and besides flooded streets, has suffered much. For the greater part of the day, the city was cut off from the outside world.
 Beach Strewn With Wrecks.
 All along the lower bay the beach is strewn with the wrecks of small boats. Since last night an inch and a half of rain has fallen. The high winds backed up a tremendous tide into the inner har- bor The downtown section of the city was navigated in boats, while high wagons are used all over town to connect the trolley lines where the water pre- vents the operation of cars The city hall is an island and can be crcumnavigated in boats. At Ocean View the large pleas ure pier has been almost completely swept away. and great damage done to the sum- mer homes there. Virginia Beach, directly on the ocean, has borne the brunt of the storm, and reports of great damage come from that point.
 The coast wires are all down and the commercial lines are working under great difficulty. Both Maryland and Vir- ginia pilot boats have been compelled to come into the harbor from their stations. The wind has changed, and is now from the east northeast, making matters worse on the coast Continued high winds will increase the tide, and preparations have been made to remove stocks from the wholesale district yet unflooded.
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