The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-17
r II e s TOR M,
Terrific Tornado Yesterday
Evening.
frees oproo!sa o. Shattered by Lightning-A
snip Struck in the Harbc-Boats Upset
Loss Of Life-Destruction Of the
Fifty-frst Street Bell Tower.

1t would Not be tue first time that social political
and religious disorders and violence were charged
to the evil influences exercised by atmospheric ir-
regularities ana rlotous proceedings among the
upper and neither elements. Whether the Orange
men and the "Anclent Order'' were respectively
governed by the subtle workings OF positively and
negatively
CHARGED VOLUMES OF WANDERING vAPOR
must be left to the learned and OF course, cOnradc
tory any decisions OF those philosophers who make
special study OF electricity ana animal magnetism,
with the effects OF the mysterious fluid eXcitable
Celts and militia blazers ana 1t Is to be hoped Pro-
lessor LOOMS will be heard from this important
subject before some other supersedes it I'm public
interest; but, be that as 1t may the fact remains
that once more this part or the globe has witnessed
the simultaneous occurrence OF battles and commo-
lions among the cloudy regions OF the upper air
and among the cloudy headed members OF the
lower strata OF New York society
THE FREQUENCY or RAIN AND THUNDER STORMS
in this meteorological district during the past week
has excited the wonder OF all the most reliable
"Oldest inhabitants" ana have deprecated the
market price or umbrellas. articles whose only use
recently has been TO distribute the huge rain drops
more evenly over the wearers person ana soak his
summer clothing more Systematically and tho.
roughly Last evening this city and neighborhood
was visited by the most violent and merci.
less, and, it Is TO be hoped. last storm
OF the season. About half-past four O'Clock
p. M. the sky suddenly became as
black as ink, and then up rose a sudden sweeping
wind from the southwest that carried hats bonnets
chignons and other loose scraps of wearing apparel
away into the clouds like little balloons; made the
air thick with dust, that filed every come at.abe
nose mouth, eye ana eur;
ABUSED FORMULATING PETTICOATs
I'm a most reprehensibe manner; rendered it a deep
study for country cousins to find out what awnings
were made for; transformed obstinate parasois
and umbrellas into timber dOuble-action
reversibles, and played other unseemy
pranks too numerous to mention and TOO rapidly
executed TO enumerate. Babies squalled, dogs
howled, gaylydressed bellies wept over the coming
and inevitable destruction of their nnery, Sabbath
breaking bOotblacks Justify cheered and chalfed
delicate dandies in mouse colored pantaoons the
scramble for open doors, ferry houses and passing
street cars waxed fast and furious and drivers
swore, and conductors, with Touchdown weak
nesscs, broadly smiled and did all that In
them Jay to "feed the fun uproariOus." In all
parts OF this and the neighDOrng cities
trees were torn from the roots ana had their
boughs and branches blown around in ali direc.
tiOns while hundreds of sign boards, WOO len avn
lngs, window blinds and shutters and other pieces
of loose property were carried or into unknown
space When this hurricane, for IL well deserved
that name, had lasted about ten or twelve minutes
1t was succeeded by
in size, density, number, frequency and momentum
Of drop and general soaking quality of water. The
seekers, out TO spend their only idle day-the poor
mans hOliday-in the open air. few Of whom
rapnins at the top Of his speed the distance Of nall
block TO catch passing street car got as thoroughly
soaked as If he had jumped into the river. IN less
than five minutes the streets were hooded, the gut
tiers Overhowed and some OF the sewers were
choked Water shoots from the houses were rem.
dered comparatively useless, and in Eighth avenue,
where the shooting took place Oh Wednesday, some
OF the spouts leading from the roofs squrted
streams OF water clean into the roadway through
the holes maze In them by
THE MINNIE BULLETS OF THE MILITIA.
The scenes along the East River ana down the
Bay, as seen from The Fulton ferry were of savage
magnihcence. The waves rose as high as they are
lightning spread the surface OF the agtated
waters; the thunder doomed and crashed
IKE the discharge a OF "a, a thousand nsls,a pieces
TO the docks and anchored in midstream, rocked 10
ana fro, and croaked and Cried like living things In
water assumed dazzling and transparent color OF
mixed green and gold that would have driven
whole Orange procession to the verge of distraction,
SHIP STRUCK.
The ship Queen OF The East, lying at pier II Fast
the main royamast splitting it, and then ran down
the main royal stay into the lore crosstree and set the
rigging on IRE the only person on board was an ola
OF the officers and crew But for the exertions or
William L. Amory; mate OF me brig America, at the
the schooner Mary Burdett, the Queen or the Fast
would have been probably burned to the waters
edge.
DESTRUCTION OF FIFTy-FIRsT STREET BELL-rowRR.
Up to late hour last night the most serious case
OF damage reported that of the destruction OF
the beltower IN the rear OF the house of Engine
No. 3, In Fifty1rst street, between Third and Lex
Ington avenues. This tower was 1870 feet hign tnir
tyfve feet In diameter at the base fifteen feet
in diameter at the top. 1t was erected in the
spring OF 1868, was composed entirely of wood,
with a foundation OF masonry, into winch the main
supporting timbers we're embedded TO O depth OF
ten feet The bell, which was OF course. near the
named Gunderman, who was in the tower just
before it fell, says tnat when the wind commenced
blowing hard the structure
swAYED TO AND FRO
In such violent manner as to preclude the pos
slbility OF his remaining IN perpendicular position
IN the lookout which consisted OF q table, stove
and several chairs, rolled about the apartment in
the liveest manner possible and Kept him perform
ing all sorts OF gymnastics TO save himself from
INJURY. The wind ne saws, seemed to come
in strong purs, and Immediately alter the first one
mad spent Its force he started TO descend to the
ground, as he feared the next one would not only
Mass az % Wv Rs s
a terrific blast 1t was. The structure continued the
swaying process in such manner as TO frghten
Gunderman seriously and compel him TO make all
possible haste from the building Foreman Nash, OF
Engine No. $, who was watching the tower from the
OF his meh during the second blast to open the
'front.' doors so That they might escape In case II FELL
the men o1eyed pSmp anG ss us w aPors
reached the grouni, after having
SUNDRY FALLS
and receiving several bruises, was running through
the engine house toward the street, loud crash
was heard, quickly followed by cracking OF TIM
bers bricks and mortar, and the Fifiy-urst street
bell tower was thing OF the past IL fell In south.
westerly direction, carrying away rear corner Of
the engine house, smashing in the .o0 Of q large
livery stable next door kept by Va. Hewlett.
and containing fifty horses and q large number OF
Carriages, and dcmolishng small stable IN the
yard next door, which contained ut the time four
horses, three Of which were somewhat injured. The
bell crushed through to the third floor or Dir. Hew-
let's stable, where it now lies.
Foreman Nash had hts right ankle slightly injured
by piece OF the falling timbers, Notwithstanding
which ne ran TO the nearest aarm-bOx and brought
out three engines ana three hook and ladder COM
panies. I'll went to work and cleared away the
greater portion OF the wreck from the sidewalk In
Fifty street. after which they returned 10 their
stations.
COMMISSIONERS BLAIR AND HgNNEssy
arrived at the scene of the disaster as the
mil ladn arrau a ~