Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-26
Oldest hhabRant Probably Does Not
Remember Another Such Blow :
as Yesterdays.
British Steamer Eskside Crashes Into
Pier A After Dragging Two Anchors
and Running Engines in Vain e..
fort to Keep OH-TroubIe Ashore
and Afioat.

Everyb-dy who las lived in these
parts for any length Cf time has seen
a fair share oI gales. bu, il is doubt
FIJI that the oldest inhabitant ever
saw another such gale as the one that
swept across the peninsula off James
river yesterday morning between II
o'clock and non. During that hour
the wind which lad been blowing al
a high rate since very early In the
morning. reached a fearful Sel-ci;y.
Some damage was cone ashore ana
af1oat, but. strange to say. as Tar
as can be learned pothins OF very
serious nature happened.
Ashore houses rattled aud shook,
and the usual damage was d3ne to
the wiring systems. awnings. signs.
etc: Parts OF several chimnefs went
down. end roofs are reported to have
been blown off one or two small
houses On the outskirts Of the city.
Comparatively little damage was
done to small craft along the water
front, though few boat owners found
their property piled uron the beach
after 1t was all over The onshore
gale kicked up an almost Ocean-like
storm moderated. but stiff westerly
wind continued to blow all through
out the afternoon and last night.
The wind not only attained a high
velocity but was what mariners along
the waterfront called trick breeze
en- account Of the fact that in a space
CT time OF about twenty minutes. II
hauled around from due southwest to-
northwest and blew just as hard in
the new direction.
Steamer Dragged Anchor.
This sudden change In the direction
Of the wind was responsible for con-
siderable trouble experienced by the
shipping anchored In the harb5r and
oil along the waterfront. Several
sclponers dragged their anchors for
a considerable distance, but were
brought up before they did any
damage. The big British steamer
Eskside. which arrived in port early
In the morning from Perth Amboy.
and anchored in the stream to await
her turn al the ccal piers, dragged
her anchor across the harbor and
brought up against Old Dominion pier
with a crash. despite the fact that
an extra anchor was put cut and the
engines were worked in an effort TO
make Roadway agains; the gale
Damage Slight.
.. Although the ship hit the pier with
considerable force. she was uDt
damaged 10 any extent The pier aAl
freiSh. house located on Il sustained
some damage enc Of the large rafters
OF the hcuse being broke, in two
and the fPIon N the end OF the pier
being torn of with It's connecting
timbers.
During the afternoon several tugs
tried L Iull the Eskside out into the
stream. but gave. the job ~ en- &C.
count Of the nigh seas and the wiad.
After che gale abated somewhat al
about eight o'clock last nigh. she was
tcwed into the stream and anchored.
NO ships were locked at the Chesa
peake 4 Ohio piers or the docks at
the sh'pyard during the day. and the
regular passenger steamers plying be.
tween this city and ether nearby
points had dihicalty in making their
landings.
IN Roads For Shelter.
A large fleet o! Schooners. basscs
and steamers bSund up and down
the coast came into Hampton Roads
Yesterday fSr shelter. and the steamer
William Chisholm. bound from Ba!t;-
more 20 BcstCn. came up to this pert
Tor harbor- The captain Of the lat
ter vessel stated that he had
never seen II blow so hard as It did
around noon Yesterday. and taa; the
sea running around Old Point and the
Thimble WIS about the roushca that
he had ever SEEN in this vicinity.