Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-07-06
Great Storm at New York.

Great Storm at New York.
Destruction of Property and Loss of Life-Dam-
age to TIT Crystal Palace, &c.
The city ofNew York and vicinity were visited
on Friday evening by the most terrible storm of
rain, hal, aud thunder that has been expert
enced for maay years. The wind blew "a hu1rl-
care from the Northwest, but the storm was ns
transient as II was violent, Subsiding in less than
half an hour. During the brief time, however,
great dan age was done. The rain, which fell in
torrents, was intemingled with hail stones OF al
most fabulous size, being as large as hens eggs,
and rhomboidalin shape.
The residents of house in Wave:ly Place were
startled by the fall of piece Of ice in their yard
weighing two pounds. Many large pieces of ice
also fell near the dry dock. In the ship yard OF
Mr. Thomas Collier several of these monstrous
haIi stones were measured, and two were found TO
be more than six inches in circumference? The
windows of nearly all the green houses in the up-
per part of the city shattered and the strength
OF the Crystal Palace was severely tested. One
the editors of the Tribune who happened 10 be
in the vicinity, and took refuge in the building
during the storm, says
We had scarcely passed the Northern entrance
and reached the gallery by the nearest flight of
steps when the torrent-it was not rain, but an
avalanche of water-.Struck the building; the gut
tiers were hlled on the windwaTd side i'll moment,
and poured over in an almost unLroken sheet OF
water which was driven drought the Ventian blind
vcnilators into and half way across the West GAL
lery, and also through the upper ventiators. fall
ing upon the main floor OF the North ttanSept.-
Workmen hastened to close the blinds, but that
did not prevent the deluge. The thinning of the
dome being unfinished, the water came down in
showers all over the centre.
1t was found impoSsibleto cose a North window
used for ingreSS and egreSs of wo!kmen upon the
roof, and The water came i'll in almost solid col
umnS. For n time the water nearly two inches
deep on the gallery floor, and poured down the
stairs III miniature cascades.
a great number of boxes, bales, and packages of
goods lay upon the main floor, among which the
water poured down from the edge of the gallery
floor in destructive quantities. Fortunately, but
few goods were opened, and were upon the tables,
or the damage would have been irreparable. As
1t is, we fear sons of the goods are injured.
The grandest exhibition that will ever be seen
and heard in the place, we witnessed yesterday
About ten minutes after the storm burst, the most
terrific halStoneS we ever saw began to rattle like
discharges of musketry upon the lin roof and glass
sides. Some of the masses of ice were as large a.
hens eggs. There were probably thousand ex-
cllcd workmen in the building, and good many
exhibitors and visitors, among whom were some
twenty ladies. A portion of the frame work OF
the addition next 42d street went down with a
terrible crash, and part of the brick wall OF
the engine house on the opposite side of the
street was blown over, crushing two three
shantieS, fortunately without ony other injury than
driving the occupants out into the storm.
In Forty-thrd street, between Fifth and Sixth
avenues, the most terrible disaster from this storm
was experienced. Two unfinished frame build
ingS. three stories high, entirely overthrown,
and there being some eight or ten workmen in diff
ferent pats of the building several lives lost
The bodies of John McCanby, John Mcdonald
and master plaSterer had been taken cut, and
fears entertained that there were other victims
beneath the ruins.
4 large number OF unfinished buildings in all
sections of the city were damaged. brick
building on Forty third street, the North rIver
was blown down and Charles Flynn was killed in
the ruins
The church edifice on the corner of Pearl and
Willoughby streets, Brooklyn, was struck by light
ming, the electric fluid entering near the top of the
SteePe, making large hole.
AT Williamsburg the Steeple of Rev. Mr.. Porter's
ChurchfwaS blown off. In the latter case, the bel
crushed in the roof of the lecture room adjoining
The lecture room was atcd but short time
previous. The loss, altogether, is estimated al
$4,000. portion Of the roof of the NJ. E.
church in South Second street, was blown Off
The three rope walks of MeSSrs. Thurston, Law
renee, and MesSrS. Waterbury 81 Co., in the
suburbs of Williamsburg, were entirely destroyed
loss estimated at $4,000. The roof of the
City Hall was considerably damaged, and the roo
OF the ''Half-Way House. taken of 10 the
distance of two blocks. Many other buildings
were seriously damaged. The lightning struck in
several places, and number of persons were in
jnred in various ways. 1t is believed that no loss
of life occurred.
Conrad Deitz, aged 81 years, while walking
along Tenth Avenue, during the thunder-Stc rm,
was struck by lightning, and instantly killed.