The true Democrat., 1854-05-16
From the Sun of the 2eth Destructive Gale in New York

About o'clock yesterday afternoon. mos violent squall of wind, rain, hail. thunder anl lightning passed over this city and vicinity. m roofing trees tearing down houses. dismastine and sinking ships, and scattering destruction i1 all directions.
 The wind was from the southwest. and from a light breeze, accompanied with rain if in. creased to aperfect white squall hurricane.
 As the sqall came on, the calorc ship "Erics. son' was coming up the bay, from anotbe, trial trip, and orders were given to throw the ashes from the furnaces overheard. The fire. man opened the port holes for this purpose and at that moment the squall struck the shin knocked her on her beam ends, and the water rushed in with such velocity, that it was found necessary to head her for the Jersey Flats where she sunk almost to her deck.
 Her pedlcament was noticed by persons on both sides of the river, and as soon as the wind abated numerous small boats and several stea- mers from this side, and the New Jersey ferry boat put off to rescue her hands, which they succeeded in doing, part of them landing on the Jersey side and part on this side of the river. She remained last evening with her wheel house just above the water and appa- rently in an erect position. She now lies in about eight fathoms water. There were quite number of ladies and gentlemen on board who had been down on the trial trip, which was very successful one, and heralded by the fir ing of guns.
 During the afternoon, fleet of schooners anchored in the cove opposite Jersy City, many of which were more or less injured by colli- sions caused by the parting of their chains. the dragging of their anchors, etc.
 Tn tho oOva bo+waop Tarco,, C;t-, o,ol IT ken sloop laden with brick, was capsized, and immediately sunk Two men belonging on board Of her clnng to ropes until the wind sub- sided, when they were taken on board the sloop Pauline.
 Another small craft, laden with iron. was tossed over by the typhoon, and immediately went down, carrying with her one man, who. in all probability is drowned.
 Near the Battery, the sloop s. G. Hicks parted her cable and drove against schooner. ripping up her bulwarks and otherwise iniuring her.
 Several vessels in the East river carried away their spars by running into each other 4 barge heavily laden with provisions, lowed by stea- mer, struck the corner of pier, filled and went down.
 A lighter was capsized off Wall street ferry and the helmsman drowned
 A ship is reported to have been struck with lightning at Williamsburg, and other accidents to shipping at that place are stated to have oc- cured.
 The extent of the damage done on land is not known. Late last night it was ascertaned that large machine shop built by the N. Y. and E. railroad Co.,, in Bergen Cut, had been torn up from its foundation, and the fragments scattered over the track and surrounding hills. number of men were detailed to clear the road which they effected just in time to prevent serious railroad accident
 It was also reported that much injury had been done at Newark, and that the fruit trees. and young growths of the surrounding country, have been severely damaged
 On Long Island the storm was severe. A large brick cone of factory in the south part of Brooklyn, is reported to have been blown down, and on the Heights the gale was exceed ingly severe.
 In the upper part of the city the tempest was not felt in its full sevrity; it appears to have spent its force on the rivers and bay as may be presumed from the incidents noticed.