Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-04
STORM WREAKS HAVOC
ALONG VIRGINIA COAST
Norfolk, Old Point and Hampton
Flooded, With Newport News
Not Heard From.
SHIPPING SUFFERS HEAVILY
Vessels Break Loose From Their
Moorings, While Ships at Sea Are
Sending Out Distress Signals.
Tide Highest in Many Years.
SUFFERS HEAVILY
Especial to The T,mes-pispatch !

lSpeclal 10 The Times Dispatch
NORFOLK. VA. April 3.-Not since
April as that which held this section
In It's grasp to-day. The tide was
higher. the wind blew at greater
velocity, and 1t has been colder than
1t has been on April for eighteen
years. and considerable damage has
been done to property In this city and
section. Telegraph and telephone poles
have been blown down. roofs OF houses
blown off, windows have been smashed
and cellars flooded, while some OF the
streets In the downtown section were
navigable only by wagons and other
craft. and City Hall Avenue and Cove
Street. from the water front to Cum
berland Street, was a miniature Pan
anna Canal.
With every means OF communication
cut off since early morning. 1t still
is impossible to state definitely whether
or not there has been extensive dam
age to shipping. There was practically
no wire service to Newport News
throughout the dSy, and nothing has
yet been learned regarding conditions
there. 1t has also been impossible to
communicate with other nearby points
and 1t is feared here that extensive
damage has been done. Tho storm
lasted many hours. and was accom-
panied by heavy fall OF sleet and
snow.
Norfolk and vicinity was isolated
from the rest OF the world throughout
the entire day. and 1t was not until 6
O'Clock tonight that the Western Union
established communication over a single
wire to Richmond. and from that city
to Atlanta. This was the only wire
in operation in Eastern and Central
Virginia.
No trains reached Norfolk to-day.
Railroad officials said that they would
be unable to furnish information re-
gardinE train movements until wire
communication was restored.
BUSINESS IN NORFOLI<
PRACTICALLY SUSPENDED
Business in Norfolk is practically
suspended. Many OF the principal
streets are several feet under water.
and small boats arc being employed
as the only means OF traffic. Launches
are being used to ferry citizens across
City Hall Avenue In the downtown
section.
The storm struck this section about
10 o'clock Friday night. increasing In
intensity with every hour. About mid
night the wind here attained ve-
locity OF sixty three miles an hour. At
Virginia Beach the wind blew seventy
five miles an hour during tho height
OF the storm. Snow and sleet began
falling. and in tho early morning a
high tide was sweeping into the busi-
ness center OF this city.
The entire Virginia and North Caro-
lima coast Is tonight believed to be
the scene OF more than ono shipwreck
y steamer. supposed to be tho French
Maurits--name doubtful. but received
as written-is reported in distress In
latitude 1910, longitude "a. An un-
known schooner is appealing for as
sistance off Diamond Shoals, and an
other is displaying distress signals of
Gull Shoals.
Reports that n British warship was
displaying distress signals off the canes
were received hero to-day. but could
not be verified. An unknown Dutch
steamer is In distress off the capea, and
a British warship has gone to her as
sistance.
COAST GUARD GUTTER
GOES TO ASSISTANCE
The coast guard cutter Onondaga
has gone to assist several schooners
frnptiDuod ~ rCIFth