The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-16

All was quiet. and peaceful in Will
mington last night, quite a contrast to
the night before when the rain came
down in torrents and the win swept
over the city at a velocity of Is miles
per hour.
The storm did not strike Wilmington
until Tuesday night just after dark
but all day Tuesday the sky was GER
cast with threatening clouds which
plainly old that there was a storm
brewing. There was no way OF telling
how bad the storm would be as it came
from the ocean and consequently 1t
was after 8 O'Clock Tuesday night be-
fore the storm signal was displayed at
the weather bureau n the weather
observer knew that the North Carolina
coast was being swept by a terrific gale.
All of Tuesday night and through the
greater part of Wednesday the storm
ragged without ceasing for a minute.
Trees were. blown down and the streets
We're covered with limbs. Mr.. Felger,
the weather observer, stated early yes
terday afternoon that according to in
dications the high wind would continue
throughout the day and last night and
that by this morning it would be clear.
This prediction came true as far as
clearing off, but it cleared much earlier
than predicted. By sun set the storm
mad passed n that quiet prevailed
that always follows a storm.
The greatest sufferers from the storm
were the telegraph companies n that
which affects the telegraph companies
nearly always effects the
The Wilmington papers certainly felt
the effects of the storm last night for
practically no telegraphic news was
received. For hours the city was an
solutely cut off from all outside COM
munication in every direction. An op-
orator who has been in the Wilmington
office of the Western Union for many
years stated last night that this was
the worst trouble he had ever known
the Western Union to have at this
place. The Postal was completely tied
UP not having a line up and the office
was closed by 9 o'clock. The Western
Union was more fortunate. having the
line to Richmond during the greater
part of last night.
Last night at midnight Richmond
and Washington. D. c., were in the
midst of the storm, which was travel
ing up the coast. The storm struck
the coast so suddenly that it is feared
that there were many boats wrecked
and lost. 1t was impossible to get any
communication from the coast. The
CLYDE Line steamer left Wilmington
Tuesday night, but the storm was SO
severe by the time she reached South
port that she anchored n remained
there yesterday.
Very High Tide.
The Cape Fear river was h highest
since 1898, but it was not as high as on
thai date. The water was over several
docks above Princess street. but not
enough to % any material damage.
The SeaSo@ j docks were completely
stbmerge- Ind two loaded fiat cars
had to e in out on the dock to keep
it from l.oAting away. There were a
number OF people on Wrightsville
Beach when the storm legal but by
yesterday afternoon only a few fam
lies were left. The sea was very
rough yesterday morning and white
caps were visible as far as the eye
could see.
The steamer Wilmington was not
aisle to make the trip to Southport on
account OF the high water. She was
preparing TO leave when it was learned
by q message from Southport that the
water was over the dock and that it
would be impossible for her to lane if
she went town. This being the case,
Captain Harper only went 90 Carolina
Beach. There We're only a few people
on h beach, and all came up OF the
Wilmington The party reported that
the water was very high on the beach,
but that no damage had beer lone.
It was feared yesterday morning
that the rice fields wouli be badly
damaged, but it was learned last night
that the damage would be only sight.
Nearly all OF the trains coming into
Wilmington were late yesterday, and
the A. and Y. train, due to arrive at
s o'clock. did not eac Wilmington
until midnight. The = rack between
here and Fayetteville was completely
submerged by v9ta~ N many places
and the train proceeded at q snail
pace. In several places there had
been small wa~hou-s and the train had
TO wait until ','osc could be repaired
The storm III struck Wilmington
was not as severe as 1t was at Mt
Olive. 1t is said to have been almcsi
a cyclone in that sectioc and greai
damage was cone. Considerable dam.
age was lone cotton in h cotton belt
Bod ON the Carniyal.
The carnival was a desotate Iook;n.
place yesterday about 81 Severa
tents had been blown down and thos
that had not been were taken down
The tent OF the Crystal Maze was con
siderably damaged, but \ mirror
were taken down and were un
injured At one time 1t looked lik
the n-Miliigan Mardf Gras Com
pany had been almost p1s cut OF bust
ness, but from the appearance o
things last night the storm Damages