The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1854-05-20
Storm ct New York.
DISASTERS AND LOSS OF LIFE.

The New York Herald, of the 2Sth ult..
which has n long notice Of the storm which
took place in the neighborhood Of that city on
the previous dry. We copy the following
from IL:
Another dreadful storm, freighted with dis.
nster. passed over our city yesterday afternoon.
Within the last fortnight we have experienced
the extremes Of weather, having in that time
had q snow storm, attended with chilling winds
and all the appurtenanees of winter, and yes.
tcrday a heavy thunderstorm, preceded by a
hot, sultry atmosphere, and attended with
vivid lightning, drenching rains, furious whirl-
winds. and all the other paraphcrnalia of n
real, genuine midsummer shower, when the
very earth trembles beneath the crash Of cthe.
real war.
The prevailing wind yesterday was from
the southeast, and II was still blowing quite
freely from that quarter, when, abont 8 o'clock
in the afternoon, a dense mass of clouds began
to coil up in the west. In the short space of
half an hour they had overshadowed the sky,
their general direction being in the very teeth
OF the atmospheric current, which up TO this
time had continued. The storm was accom-.
panied by q perfect tornado, ripping awnings
into strips, tumbling chimncy.tops to the
ground, and tearing the flags hoisted upon our
shipping into threads. Vivid flashes of light.
ming cleaned IN the heavens, and heavy crash.
ing thnndcrs shook The earth, Earring houses
to their foundations. The rain fell In torrents,
and the streets ovcrllowed with swelling floods.
AS might have been expected, such a storm
brought disasters. especially to the shipping,
which we collect, ms follows: -
Loss n ITO Ericsson.-1he caloric steamer
Ericsson was returning from her trial trip
o the bay, and was opposite to pier No. b
North River, when the storm came on. As
soon ms the storm struck hcr-a few minutes
alter o o'clock-shc carccnod on her beam
ends, and water passed into her through the
dead lights" which were open. She soon
after rightcd and commenced sinking. The
small boats of the Asia, lying at tho Cunard
dock were Immediately dispatched to the aid
OF those on board. Small boats also came
from ncighboring vessels, and steam tugs also
came TO her relief One Of the Jersey City
ferry boats, the Jersey, Capt. Price, also went
oil to her; bu. as there were only n few per-
sons on board-it being a trial trip-thcy
were got oil in season and before the ferry
boat arrived. The Inflated Ericsson soon after
sunk, and now lies with the top of her wheel
houses and her bow-sprit just in view above
the water. She has gone down in about eight
fatholns "ater. With the company on board
there were several ladies, who were much
frightened by the accident, ms we'll they might
have been, for 1t was n disaster which would
no doubt have resulted in great loss Of life,
had she been further from the shore and the
assistance she received. We learn that her
trip yesterday gave much satisfaction to those
on board, until the dreadful tornado struck her
and so sadly terminated the excursion, and
which must operate very much against the in
~vention which the vessel illustrates.
by the violence of the storm q number of
sloops of the Battery were driven ashore on
the rocks piled up for the Battery extension.
When the storm abated they were got of,
without much damage having been done
them.
The ship Briton, lying at pier No. @ North
River, was turned ON her baas., ends and some
what damaged.
TIE Storm M Brooklyn, The Church of
the Restoration, on the corner of Monroe place
and Clarke street, was struck by lightning,
and the steeple was somewhat shattered.
JerScy Gtg-Thc large new custom.house
on the Cunard dock was entirely unroofed by
the whirlwind. Tho building IS OF brick, about
one hundred feet by forty.nvc in extent, three
stories high, aud substantially built, The roof
was all taken o%ff-tin, boards, and a part of
H;G raaers. .crn, relied mp and thrown
over the side of tie building, leaving the goods
inside exposed to the storm. The damage to
the building will he about 5000.
The unfinished machine shop of the New
York and Erie Railroad. three miles from the
Jersey City ferry, at what is called the pater-
son depot, WAS destroyed by tho gallo,