Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-05
CAPE HENRY STATION SOURCE
OF BIG STORIES EARLYIN WAR
Reported Arrival of German Submarine Deutschland
and Later Told of Coming of Commerce.
Destroying Craft, the Appam.

war. some OF tho most important
news OF the activities OF the Germans
on this side Of the Atlantic was
given to the world by the observer ut
Cape Henry.
tcpurtS comin.: or Deutschland.
The observers there first reported
the arrival OF the Deutschland. the
first merchant submarine that ever
crossed tho Atlantic. For almost two
weeks n lone tuEboat stood guard OFT
Cape Henry awaiting the arrival OF
the Deutschland. To escort. her
through the Virginia carcs and up
Chesapeake Fay TO Baltimore.
Tho Deutschland appeared OFF Cape
Henry at . o'clock one morning. She
showed blue light indicating that
she wished 10 take on a pilot. The
observers at cape iicary sighted her
and reported her arrival. Th" writer
OF this article was the first news
paper man to learn Of the arrival
of the unGcrsea craft. and the news
was fla shcd all over America. News
papers In many cities got out extra
editions. and correspondents were sent
to Baltimore to watch every move
mcnt OF tho strange craft.
It was Cape Henry that first re-
ported tho arrival Of the German
raiders Kronprin1 Wilhelm and the
fIitci Friedrich. These German craft
after months on tho ocean. engaged
In destroying british merchant ships.
ran short OF fuel and food and were
forced TO seek shelter in some neutral
port
Cape Henry was also first to re-
port the arrival OF the captured Brit
ish liner Arpam. This vessel passed
cape Henry in charge Of a German
crew from tho notorious raider
Mocwe. There were n number OF
passengers on the Appam. all British
subjects. and they were treated al
most aS prisoners OF wa-. The APP
pam was II command OF Lieutenant
BcrS. of tic German navy. The pas
senEers were given liberty here and
were brought over To Norfolk on a
special steamer furnished by the Old
Dominion steamship Company.
freaks Appnm story.
The Appam's arrival probably was
the biggest news story ot the war to
break in America. before tho United
States entered the conflict Cape
Henry furnished tho most complete
information about this ship and was
iirst TO announce her arrival.
From Cape Henry has also come
first reports of shipwrecks along the
Virginia ana Carolina coasts. The
wreck OF the Libcrator at Virginia
Beach twenty years ago, when five
members OF the vessels crew and
the captains wife and baby were
drowned. was first reported by the
Cape Henry observers from infor-
nation supplied by the llfesavars.
Tho Cape Henry observatory was
established December -, 1879. The
FIRST weather observations were taken
on january !. 1874. The first observer
was William Stein. There hive been
n number OF observers since then, ana
j. Frank Ncwsomc, the present OBJ
server has held the post for about
htte"n years. He Is also supervIs-
ing Inspector for tho whole district
extending from Cape Henry TO Cane
Ha;tcras. lie is ono of tho most
popular and accommodating officials
IN the government service. and his
office Is headquarters for valuable
shipping information that is eagerly
s"ush; by shin owners. ship agents
and ship masters.
Mr.. Newsome has 2 corps Of tour
assistants, who also furnish the pub
lie with valuable information during
their hours OF duty. They arc: =.
r. Swartz. c. l.. White. II. VI. Pcrrv
and j.. II. IIinc.