The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-06
STORM EFFECTS IN THE CITY.

AS the havoc ana carnage or o battle can never
be lully ascertained until the smoke OF the con-
fiet has blown from the field, so the dire effects
OF Wednesdays storm could not be estimated
until day-dawn Of yesterday. Early yesterday
morning the rain came down as If it intended to
make one fierce effort and then pass away. leav-
ing the sun master for time. 1t came down In
dashes after each peal Of thunder, and the city
was brilliantly Illuminated for many seconds by
continuous flashes Of lightning peculiarly OF
the storm was the fact that, Notwithstanding Its
apparent severity, not quite one-eighth OF an inch
OF rain fell, and the wind did not blow at any one
time faster than five miles an hour.
1t was cloudy and there was a dense fog 1t
was explained at the Signal Service Bureau STA
lions in tnis city that the air so full of mos-
ture that 1t served as an excellent conductor of
the lightning to and from the earth, and the cool
breeze from the Alleghanies precpitated the rain
from the overcharged air.
AFTER THE STORM.
Though the foods from the condition OF the me-
tropolis, could not have created either the confn
SION or damage that they are said TO have wrought
Pennsylvania, still many OF the avenues Lying
WITHIN the upper boundaries or the city were Sc
riously aIected-indeed, to an extent sure co re-
suit In considerable pecuniary loss.
Ever since the press began an investigation OF
the condition OF the Harlem mats 1t has been
OF leading avenues were in an exceedingly
bad condition, A thunder shower OF no greater
vehemence than Is nEely to visit the city at any
time during the summer months was OF itself
81 alcient TO hood Third avenue rom fortieth TO
Forthwith streets the other day, and drown hun
dreds OF people out OF their homes. With proper
system OF sewerage no sucn accumulation of
water would have been possible Ior the condi-
lions of the locality were no more calculated to
produce it than numerous other sections OF the
same thoroughfare.
the neignborhood Of Forty-hrst street, was liter
ally flooded, and the water when the sewers
should have carried rlverward was damned up at
the sewer mouths and raised over the sidewalk
and deluged great many cellars. Pedestrians,
were compelled to seek shelter in stores, Saloons
private houses and, IN TACT, all the places that
afforded them temporary refuge from the Hoods.
The sunken lots lying along Fourth avenue IN
the neignbornood OF SiXty-sxth street were t1lled
before the heavy storm OF yesterday-some times
without the slightest exaggeraton, TO the depth
OF four feet After the rain last evening they re-
sembled series OF lakes the streets lnterSecting
them looking not very unlike pontoon bridges.
There was rush OF water down the gulleys, and
here, too the sewers were faulty, and the sidewalk
in many Instances wholly concealed from view.
regatta could have been held on the Harlem
mats a Ninety eighth street ana Third avenue.
They could not be seen; the water lying on them
was at least Jour feet deep. Here this water VIII
lie day after day, becoming foul almost the mo-
ment 1t falls and growing more and more 80 as
it is gradually dried up by the sun.
The PEDESTRIAN, no matter i'll what section Of
the city he may have been at the time OF Wednes-
days heavy rain, must have noticed that the
sidewalks were So deluged.
DAMAGE ALONG THIRD AVENUE.
This long stretch oil straight road presented
strange ana curious sight yesterday morning.
Seventy-sixth street, between Second and Third
avenues, was completely hidden from view by
water, and on Et9hty-seeond street the boys had
O miniature yacnt race, which was witnessed by
quite large assemblage OF little folk, with no
small degree OF enthusiasm.
All the vacant lots ana The greater part of the
cellars up town are completely flooded. On Fourth
avenue, In the vicinity OF Sixtietn and adjacent
streets, the scene is simply barren waste, while
on Second ana Third avenues beyond Nine ty-ffth
TO 105th street, there is scarcely specE of land
to rest the eyes upon The flats are Still reeking
with filth, and the noXious gases, despite she
rain, still emit their pestilentlal Odors.