The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1927-03-04
STORM MAY COST THIS
SECTION OVER 100000
Coast Section Biggest Loser, With Many
Houses Wrecked, And Thousand of Dol
lars Worth of Nets Swept Away


more is believed to have taken
place on the sounds of North
eastern North Carolina in the
gale that swept the coast Tues
day night, and that was accom-
panied by the worst wind and
SHOW storm in fifth of a CEN
tury, according to reports
reaching this city yesterday.
Most Of the damage is believed to
have resulted to the nets OF shad
fishermen that were swept by high
seas and winds all during the night
Wednesday. Reports from Dare
County indicate this loss may Grip
pie the industry for the balance OF
the season. The gale came Oh the
same day of the biggest catch in
years. The loss of nets may ruin
some fishermen.
All cOmmunica tion is cut off from
points OH the sounds, for telegraph
wires are down. but the steamer
Trenton came in Thursday, bring
ing report that many houses on
Roanoke Island were partially
wrecked by the gale. The porches
were swept from two blocks of
stores in Manteo. and from numer-
Gus dwellings, and tree limbs were
scattered everywhere. Chimneys
were blown down and the court
house damaged. Many houses were
believed to have been wrecked at
Nags Head, but no report was avail.
alle from Shcr or other points
down the coast No loss of life WAS
reported.
Capt Martin .plilson. veteran
skipper of this section, calls ii the
worst all day storm he has ever
known. The snowfall is said to bc
the heaviest in over 20 years.
The Norfolk & Carolina Tele-
phone & Telegraph Company Of this
city, Is reported among the heaviest
losers by the storm. Wires and
poles are down everywhere. Many
city lines are out of commission and
the city is totally out Of touch by
wire with Norfolk, and ii will prob
ably he u week before all lines can
be repaired. Poles, weighted by
wires coated in snow and ice were
snapped off by, the gale that swept
the section Tuesday. night. The
damage can only be estimated, but
it is believed will run to $4,000
to $4,000.
Train service Oh the Norfolk
Southern Railroad has been inter-
rupted and delayed. The railroads
communication system was put out
of commission and for seven miles
along the track, all the poles and
wires were down, many of them
across the tracks. The Wednesday
night train from Norfolk TO Eliz-
abcth City. arrived nearly six hours
lute. Freight trains were held up,
because no train may leave sta
tiOn without orders, and the wires
being down, no orders could get
thru, and each train lad to await
the next one before proceeding.
In the heart Of The city, dozens Of
trees were stripped of their limbs,
or uprootcd. Some of the city's
finest and largest elms were blown
across streets. Two were uprooted
at the W. ]. WOodley home, one at
the J. T. Kramer residence, Que in
front of the e. O. Robinson home,
one in front of NJ. Leigh Sleeps
home. Streets were blocked by fal-
len branches. Telephone poles lay
across the streets, and an entire
line was down OH Riverside Avenue
TO the hospital.
The old beech Oh The postoffice
lot. ut the corner of Martin aud
Main, withstOOd the storm. Half
Gf its trunk is almost gone, but it
has Il concrete filling reinforced
with iron. and I'LL the force Of the
wind against lis many branches
did not bulge il.
Nearly all automobile travel was
suspended by "Wednesday afternoon,
the SNOW being so thick, and the
streets so slippery. that progress
WAS impossible. Sales of Oyershoes,
boots and galOshcs increased heay-
lily. for people had TO walk.
The lowest tides in years prevail.
cd on the river. The waters were
swept down the sound by the force
of the wind. and boats grounded Mt
the wharves. as the water fell six
feet below its normal level at Eliz-
abeth City. On Tuesday night, all
water transportation suspended.
Only one steamer came into Eliz-
abeth City that night, the Virginia
Dare Of the Elizabeth City boat line,
coming from Norfolk. Capt. J. R.
Barrett, wlID was Oh watch, reports
The worst storm he has known. A
rough sea, q hard wInd. ana snow s.