Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-06-22
COLLISION NARROWLY
AvERTED ON RIVER
Collier Aearenda Drsss Anchor and
Comes Near Crashing Into italian
steamer-Telesraph and Telephone
Poles Blown Down-Lishtnins
Strikes House at Riveryiew.

Two collisions between vessels an
chored In the harbor were narrowly
avcrted: several telegraph and tele-
phone poles in different parts of the
city were blown down: shade trees
n the central part of the city were
badly damaged and many telegraph,
telephone and. electric wires were
torn down in the severe electrical.
wind. rain and hail storm which
swept over this city and Section about
$3.50 O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
While il blew gale for more than
an hour, the wind reached the proper
tipns of young hurricane for few
minutes and limbs of trees were
snapped like twigs, while number
of telegraph poles went down with
their loads of wires. SO far as has
been reported no one was injured.
Just after the worst part of the
storm had passed. n naval tug moved
the United States naval collier
Abarenda from her anchorage off the
Chesapeake * Ohio passenger pier so
as TO avoid collision with another
collier and dropped the vessel near
the Italian steamer Monsenisio, which
was anchored of Old Dominion pier
A. The golfers anchor did not get
q good hold at the bottom before the
strong wind began blowing the vessel
M the river and the Abarenda headed
for the italian steamer.
Wind SIackens In Time.
The collier footed her whistle for
j tug, but pone came and for five min.
rtes collision seemed a certainty.
However. the Italian steamer swung
around with the tide SO that she was
bow on 10 the collier and the latter
vessel was swinging directly across
the river. When the vessels were
only forty or fifty feet apart. the
wind slackeBed and the Golfers
anchor held her ssafe. preventing a
collision The collier finaiiy got up
steam and shifted her position so as
TO be out OF dangers
This is the second narrow escape
from damage which the Monsenisio
has had since she arrived at this port.
During the heavy storm at midnight
Saturday night. the vessel dragged
anchor down the harbor and was
rapidly approaching NcwporS News
Middle Ground bar when Chesapeake
:" UNIV 'GRc taFititu Htt anu tONtu
her TO a safe anchorage of pier A.
Iron Barge Drags Anchor.
The second near-ccllisioE yesterday
afternoon was between the barge
Lancaster, which was unloaded. and a
coal-laden wooden barge These YES
sells were anchored Just north of Old
Dominion pier A. the Lancaster being
about 100 yards down the river from
the wooden craft. The ligh; barge
began dragging anchor and for a few
minutes IL booked as il she mus:
smash into the other vessel but the
wind a6ated in the meantime and the
Lancaster drew up on her anchor
chain and got out of danger She was
later moved by a Chesapeake G. Ohio
tug to safer anchorage.
-Four telegraph poles on Eighteenth
street were blown down during the
storm and several electrical wires
on the River Road also were carried
Gown. Two poles supporting the
main feed wire from the shIpyard TO
the shipysrd foundry az Washington
avenue and Fortieth street. also were
blown down and many wires on War
wick avenue and Huntington avenue
went down in the storm. All Of the
poles and wires were gotten into place
exafn yesterday evening with little or
no interruption to the telephone and
eiestric light service.
Shade Trees Damaged.
Many OF the big shade trees along
Twenty-third street. Twenty-fourth
street and Twen1y-fifth street near
the River Road along West avenue