Evening star., 1915-04-04
miles. it is believed. with not a pole
Record Cold Weather.

standing
Record Cold Weather.
MOBILE. Ala. April s.-Today was
tho coldest April 3 on record at the
United States weather bureau when
early this morning a temperature OF
40 degrees was marked down. The
Gale at Norfolk.
NORFOLK. Va. April s-A northeast
gale which swept up the Virginia coast
early today caused serious damage
here, although no loss of life had been
reported early tonight High tides
inundated many Of the principal streets
in which water stood three feet deep.
Telephone, telegraph. railroad and
ferry and street car service, were put
out Of commission.
With all means of communtca tions
cut throughout the day. II has been
impossible to ascertain what damage,
II any, was suffered by shipping. There
was practically no wire communica-
tion from Newport News since early
morning, the telephone and telegraph
i lines to that city having been prostrat-
ed. 1t also has been impossible to COM
mun!cate with other nearby points. and
1t is feared here that considerable dam
age was caused by the storm. which
continued many hours, the high wind
being accompanied by heavy fall of
snow and Sleet.
All through the day Norfolk and
vicinity were isolated from the outside
world and 1t was not until o'clock
tonight that the Western Union estab-
lished communication on single wire
from Norfolk to Richmond and from
Richmond to Atlanta. This was the
| only wire in operation in eastern and
central Virginia.
Worst Storm in 90 Years.
No trains arrived here today. Rail-
| road officials reported they were un-
able to give any information regarding
them until wire communication was re-
sumed.
| Virtually all business in Norfolk was
suspended. In many of the streets
| small boats were used as the only
means of traffic. Launches were used
to convey residents across City Hall
avenue. one of the principal streets of
| the city. There We're indications that
the tide was receding early tonight.
The storm struck this section about
| 10 o'clock Friday night. increasing In
| intensity with every hour. About mid
night the wind here was blowing sixty
| three miles an hour. At Virginia
| Beach its velocity at one time was re-
ported at seventy-flve miles an hour. Snow
| and sleet began falling and early in
the morning a high tide was sweeping
| into the business center of this city.
| Telegraph and telephone poles We're
| blown. down and all wires Frustrated
| before daylight
| The storm is declared here to have
| been the worst experienced in Norfolk
| since 1887. The tide, it is said. has
| been higher and the winds velocity
| greater than In twenty-eight years.
6a6 COB
| ported ashore near Lynn Haven bay to-
| night. On account of high seas coast
| guards were unable to reach them. An
| other schooner reported ashore off Dia-
| mond shoals was tonight said to be
| breaking up.
The barges Pacific, Gorcia, Henry En-
micott and Nanticoke, each with three
| men aboard broke away from the tug
Resolute between Hog Island and Cape
| Henry during the height of the storm.
No news had been received from them
| up to a late hour tonight
| The Cape Charles lightship was torn
| from her moorings and was reported
| to be drifting to sea. She was last
| sighted off Virginia beach. Two Brit
ish steamers endeavored to get lines
| aboard her. but failed.
The submarine d., torn from her
| moorings at Old Point, reached New
port News without serious difficulty
Heavy in Tennessee Also.
| NASHVILLE. Tenn. April "a John
son City special says that as result
of heavy snowstorms last night and
| this week trains on the Linville River
| railway, east of Cranberry. n. c, were
stalled today in snowdrifts, which
| have covered the track in places six
| feet or more.
Four Inches in Six Hours.
| LYNCHBURG. Va, April 3.-One of
| the worst April snowstorms on record
| swept this section today In SIX houfs
| four inches of snow fell. There was a
| thirty-mile wind.