The semi-weekly messenger., 1903-10-13

Norfolk. Va, October 1O-The Viz
ginia coast from Cape Henry to Dam
Neck Mills. II miles south. is streWn
with the wreckage Of i'll fated craft
tonight. All communication with sea-
board is cut off, but it is known that
three vessels have been wrecked and
several lives lost within that distance
today, and the last report is that
five maSted schooner has been thrown
upon the beach, while "a brilliantly
lighted passenger steamer is laboring
very dangerously near to shore with
a terrific gale from the northeast fight
ing her efforts to make the open.
OF the large ocean going coal barSes,
Ocean Belle and Georgia nothing is
now left except miles of wreckage on
the shore and of the crews that man.
ned them, the fates of only five are
known. Captain George H. Adams
and Seaman Charles Peters are drown
ed while Joseph Peters. Peter Lopez
and NJ. Payne owe their lives to the
heroism of Surfman Charles CapPs,
life saving station No. 2. All these
were on the Ocean Belle and when tnis
barge was dashed ashore, the waves
swept her decks clear of rigging and
crew. Capps plunged successfully into
the raging surf and after desperate
struggles brought all three men TO
land. The fate of the Georgia's crew
is unknown but little hope is for their
safety. Both barges were in tow Of
the tug Richmond and the tuS IS
missing.
The three masted schooner Nellie
w. Hewlett, Captain Cheem, lumDAr
laden from Pensacola is a total wreck
on the coast three miles from Dam
Neck mills. Captain Cheem and his
crew of six men are safe at the station,
but their rescue was fraught with acts
of bravery on the part of the life saw
erS. Four attempts were made 10
launch the surf boat and thus reach
the ship, rapidly pounding to pieces on
the bar, and each endeaVOr was re-
pulsed by the sea. The surf guard
then with double charges of powder
in the life gun succeeded in dropping
a line OVeh the vessel and one by one
the crew was hauled ashore through
the surf.
The last train from the coast arrived
in Norfolk tonight at o'clock and
| brought 1000 people back from the
| scene. At that time, a large five
masted schooner was reported in the
Henry and near her a big passenger
| steamer, with light shining in every
pOrthole seemed to be fighting a losing
battle with the northeast gale that was
| blowing her towards the breakers. The
| wind at the cape is over seventy miles
| an hour and the surf is piling over the
sand hills and back into the mainland.
| AT the Norfolk navy yard, the cruls 4r
| Olympia is in drydOck with her bottom
| LOT ND q CT
! tide is creeping inch by inch up the
| outer side of the CaisOn. At high tide
| this morning it reached six inches of
| the top. The winds change to north
! will make the flood tide this midnight
| much higher and grave fears are fGit
| for the cruisers safety should an
! overflow occur.
The terminal piers of the Norfolk and
| Western. Southern and Atlantic Coast
| Line in the outer harbor have been
| badly damaged by the wind and tide
! and the big pleasure piers at OccdH
| View are destroyed.
Hundreds of small craft have cone
| ashore in the harbor.
! Norfolk city has experienced gale
from forty TO fifty miles all day dEd
| besides flooded streets. much damdg g
has been done. For the greater part
OF the day. the city was cut off from
| the outside world.
TRAVELLING IN BOATS IN NOR
FOLK STREETS.
| Norfolk. Va. October 10.-Norfoll
today experienced the worst storm
that has come over this section in fif'
teen years. Wind and rain have bee!
raging for forty eight hours and tht
city is practically flooded. All alon:
the lower bay the beach is strewn W Il
the wrecks of small boats. Since las
night an inch and . half OF rain ha
: fallen. The high winds backed up
} tremendous tide into the inner harDor
! The downtown section of the city !:
: navigated in boats. while high wagon
, are used all over town to connect wit
trolley lines. where the water prevent
the operation of cars. The city nal
is an island and can be circumnaviga.
ed in boats. The tide has come ove
! the sea wall and waves are breakin
in the street
81 Ocean View the large pieaSuT
| pier has been almost completely swai
away and geat damage done t. Ill
summer homes. Virginia beach. direct
e on the ocean. has borne the Uunt {