The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-19
MANY VESSELS DRIVEN
 ASHORE BY THE STORM
GREAT DESTRUCTION REPORT
 ED AT VINEYARD HAVEN.

Fifteen ships Stranded and Many
 Others Damaged by COIIisiOn-The
 storm the Fiercest Since the Blizzard
 of 1sss-Three Barges Fetch Up on
 Fishers Island-orews Taken on in
 Brooches Buoy.
 Boston, Dec. 1S.-The following dis patch, brought by train messenger from Woods Hole. was received by the Associated Press here tonight:
 Woods Hole. Mass, Dec. 1S-Vine- yard Haven and vicinity were swept to- day by the fiercest storm since the bliz- gard of 1898"
 Fifteen vessels are ashore at Vine yard Haven, while many others are re- ported damaged by collision. No loss of life had been reported here this afe- ernoon.
 The storm prostrated all telegraph and telephone lines along the entire length of Cape Cod and as far inland as Warehaln, so that communication with Boston can be established only by 3 special messenger, who will leave on the last and only train for Boston to- night.
 The report of the destruction at Vine- yard Haven reached here late to-day. When the storm broke at o'clock this morning Vineyard Haven, which is looked as a particularly safe harbor, was well filled with coasters, including nearly forty schooners, five tugs and nine barges.
 Two hours after the storm began the wind was blowing full gale from the northeast Snow began falling at the same time, and as it was damp and heavy, telegraph and telephone wires were soon down and out of condition.
 Between here and Buzzard's Bay poles and crossbars snapped off like pipe-stems
 Besides the big fleet in the Vineyard, there were anchored under the lee of Nobska Point a tug and two barges, while in the harbor was one three-mast- ed schooner.
 At dawn this morning the schooner was covered with sleet from trucks to waterline, and as she presented con- siderable front to the gale, she soon be- gan to drag anchors. By 8 o'depck she was ashore on Naushon Island, on the other side of the harbor, but was rest ing easily and will probably float with out damage.
 The morning train had hard time ploughing it's way down the Cape, and Y.nanhad here an hol1r late
 The storm did not pass until this noon. and even then. the state of ship ping in the Vineyard could not be seen.
 About o'clock this afternoon the tug Susie D., was sighted coming across the sound. Upon her arrival her captain reported the damage in Vineyard Ha- ven to be the worst since 1898, when a score of vessels were wrecked. He said that at least fifteen schooners had been torn from their anchors and driven on shore at the head of the harbor, where, Fortunately, the bottom is soft. Many others were badly damaged through collision with the helpless craft, Bow spirits had been carried away, booms smashed and rails broken. So far as the captain of the Susie D. could learn, no lives had been lost, despite the great destruction to shipping.
 Additional advices are anxiously awaited, for it is feared that some of the coal-laden barges at the entrance to the harbor may have foundered.
 The snowfall in Martha's Vineyard was. very heavy, nearly three feet on a level, while it drifted badly throughout the island and roads are impossible Communication with Nantucket is cut off
 At 4 o'clock this afternoon the big seven-masted schooner Thomas w Lawson came up Vineyard Haven sound. She appeared to have weather ed the gale in excellent shape, although in the teeth of 1t off Gay Head. The damage to wires in this vicinity may prove very great, and 1t will be many days before the service is re-estab- Iished.