The New York herald., 1870-03-28
Effects Of the Terrible Storm In the Me-
trOpOliS and Elsewhere.
Buildings Blown Down and a Family
Crushed to Death.
Soldiers Carried Down the Bay and a
Young Woman Killed.
The Highest Tide known
for Years.
Damage to Shipping, Docks and
Property.

OdAAAd6o W Oil1pplnS, LOCKS ana
Property.
It was "heavy weather., yesterday In New York,
m the cities and towns which are It's appendages or
SUBURBS and on the North ana East rivers, the bay
and Long Island Sound. furious easterly gale,
which sent Its threatening couriers forward as
agents OF alarm the twenty-four hours preceding,
burst upon this section about daybreak, and, with
binding, maddening rain, continued all day, hold
ing high rcvel In the streets, disgusting to pedes
trans, and on the waters danger to the ship
ping BY degrees the storm grew more severe,
and although as early as six O'Clock In the morn
Ing its severity made matters remarkably unpeas-
ant 1t did not assume its character OF hurricane
and young deluge until later in the day. when .s
fury created general discomfort, alarm and death.
Not within the period Of fifteen years have the mes
sengers OF Pluvus ana Boreas gone hand in hand 40
determnediy In this latitude and carried on their
pranks with SO much vigor and destruction.
The few churchgoers that ventured forth In the
morning found to their bitter cost that the winds
and rain have but little respect for costly apparel
and those ladies who, In the enthusiasm OF their
ardor went out to display the latest ideas OF dress
In fashionable circles, even when drawn to places
OF worship IN costly carriages by richly caparisoned
teams, found that their vanity cost them dearly.
AT noon the wind blew great guns,n and con-
tinued its violence far into the night. The telegraph
wires leading to and from this city were In many in
stances snapped II but feeble threads and twisted
into troublesome and fantastcal curves; telegraph
poles were demolished, trees uprooted, awnings
torn into shreds, signs blown down. scuttles swept
of the houses, doors torn from their hinges win
dow panes innumerable broken, and houses blown
down and demolished and innocent lives sacrificed.
Those who ''toted' umbrellas soon expert
enced that they were OF little use, and even
the old blue cotton affair, with world OF cloth
the terrific onslaught OF the gale and many OF these
at times serviceable articles were wrecked in the
vain OF their owners to shelter their persons
from the drenchlng rain.
The North and East rivers were lashea into seeth.
ing foam and the ferryboats plying from either side
OF the city were roughly used and many or them
found 1t a matter Of extreme difficulty to make even
haf the usual number Of trips allotted to them. The
severe trial and were tossed to and fro as II they
were but feathers amid the white capped waves
On the bay the storm was terrible and the water
especially rough, the WIND having full sweep over
the b DAD eXpanse and raising serious representa-
ton or the fury OF the open sea in hurricane. Sew
adrlft and TWO three collisions occurred between
such thus released, but only slight injuries were
done, ana bapplly no lives were lost in this wise.
On the Sound from all accounts, the state OF
affairs was just as bad. Numerous vessels, both
light and loaded, inward bound, were at anchor In
Flushing Bay, awaiting the subsiding OF the storm,
and many other vessels sought the various ports
along Its shores In dire distress. The appearance
or the waters Of tns inland sea during yesterday
IS said to have been fearful. and the dangers OF
trip across them were such as to cause even old
'saltsn cling with their crafts to safe havens,
making them rather bear the Ills they had already
than fly to others tnat they knew not OF.
sea W aa n s mow anss %
severe trials, OF wrecked vessels, shattered hus
and the terror Of passengers that viii come to US
as tne result Q! this gale, cannot now be estimated
but IT s feared that they VIII be many. From every
DAMAGE nctr
sulting frOm The storm, and IL may Safely be pre-
sumed tnat the entire losses will NOT be known for
weeks or months. II ever
Up to a late hour this morning the following par.
tlcularS have been received
IN THIS CITY.
All along South and West streets the cellars
were filled with water early in the day, and much
aaods the M yer were e
more or less damaged IN ever instance and
many OF the larger vessels suffered by chatting
against each other and against the llmbers OF the
piers. The water at evening" when reaching the
highest point OF the flood tide. covered many OF the
docks aud on the East river at Peck sp Catharine
street and Fulton street. it was scene desoating
The extreme. The water was Two and three feet
deep aud great damage was done to everything per-
lsnable that II came IN contact WITH.
The number Of signs that were blown from build
ings down town was so great that !! occupied much
OF the time OF the police officers ID carry them to
| their respective station houses. the merchants
who these useful appendages 10 theI places OF
ons TWeny @ Third Po9rs and Skin pre-
cnct station houses they may find them as the col
iectOns In these places comprise several score, ana
many OF them are very valuable and ornate
The walls OF the burned buildings the scene OF
the late disastrous nre on Crosby street, near
Prince street. were blown down by the gSle and the
] detris filled the street for some distance to the
depth OF several feet, ODstruttng ths Blcecker
street cars and making ndeslrlafism eny-
thing but agreeable there for many hours
! Fortunately no lives were lost by this Incident;
| but the question may be asked at thistime why
was II that the Inspector or Buildings lad not the
foresight to thai the walls OF the destroyed sruc
lure were extremely dangerous and mad dthem torn
down Immediately after the ire2 Had tley been
demolished by the wind during business day
1 score or lives might have been sacrificed his GRIM
l iHal negligence.
| The bark r. X. Weldon, lying at pier 10. II East
| river was badly chafed by Deng blown against rh g
pier. The crew after working Tor hous finally
| secured her before she was very badly damaged.
| Two schooners, names unknown, Off tie Battery,
dragged their anchors and coltIded, earring away
| their Jbbooms and portions OF the rigging
| Erightful Calamity in F0rty-Sixtb Street.
Buildings Blown Down and Crnaied-Fivo
Persons Killed aud One Injured-Appear-
! ance of the Dend.
One OF the most serious and terrible incideats OF
the day was reported by the Twentyiecond precinct
| police. About fifteen MINUTES afte' Two O'Clock q
| sudden gust OF wind struck the iage three story
building on Forty-sixth street. near Eleventh ave-
nue., and In a moment therewas ,otterilg OF the
walls, rumbling and cracking, aud an instant
| after they fell heavily upon the east side.
! In q small frame dwelling, Nesting down modestly
under one OF the walls or tlr structure, dwelt Ben
| jamln Donney, his wife and four children who at
the moment were gathered about the stove ENJOYING
the quietude OF the Sabbath They were startled Dy
a crash and then became unconscious, or tile
| walls Of the unfinished building had fallen upon
! tneIr home and crushed Z 10 atoms. An instant
later the neighDors looked out up0u Tie storm and
beheid che home OF the Ionneliys a wreck, the