The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1878-08-09

Iuesdays KAN storm
Seems to have been general throughout
this section of the country The New
York Sun has the following:
A violent storm, with thunder and
lightning, burst over the village of Orange,
y. J., yesterday morning, laying fat the
crops, and, by subsequent floods, damag-
ing buildings. The wind came in gusts
from north. south, and west, and brought
together masses of rain-clouds at that
point. The clouds were so low and full
that they dropped in rain burst. The
very heavens seemed to have opened and
dropped down water. A Communication
train on the Morris & Essex Railroad,
filed with business men bound for New
York, was flooded. The rain was driven
into the car through the top and no one
could sit in the seats. AT stood in the
aisles until Hoboken was reached.
Orange has no sewers. Between it and
the Orange mountainsis valley through
which runs Parrow Brook. The streets
of Orange and the Orange mountains shd
the water that fell, and the brook re-
ceiving it, the low banks overaowed.
Where the brook touches the northern
edge Of the village is a collection of hat
factories, called Doddstown. On the
waters edge is Sam c. Persons hat fac
tory Foreman Henry Cover said that
the storm began just before A. NJ, and
the stream did not rise perceptibly until
an hour afterward. Suddenly it began
to rise. Within ten minutes it had risen
three feet. There were 60 cases of hats
ready for shipment to New York, and
they we're ruined. Fancy dyestuffs and
costly chemicals Aoated around the rooms.
The fires under coloring and sizing
kettles were put out, and the employees
were driven away. An clubhouse was I'M
defmined and overthrown. In saving the
property Jim Roberts, an employee, was
twice nearly drowned, and was saved by
the foreman. The water was highest at
about 9 A. NJ. The loss there is $500;
uninsured.
Somer's hat factory, above, and Wal
ker's hat factory, below, on the stream,
were damaged about $50 each. Henry
James, baker. had twenty-five barrels
of flour in his cellar spoiled. The water
entered the first story of the houses in
the valley and drove the residents into
the second story. The track of the
Watching Branch of the Greenwood
Lake and Montclair Railroad was flooded
and impossible for trains.
On the west side of town, the hand
some stone bridge, called Harrison
bridge, had its piers washed away. In
Llewellyn Park stones weighing from 60
to l00pounds were washed out of the
pavement and rolled off. Meredith's
handsome garden was washed full of
gravel and boulders from the hillside.
The roads on the Second mountain were
quilted and the roadbed was carried away.
The roads on Freeman's Hill were SINH
larly served. The flood subsidized at
about La. NJ.
The lightning played queer freaks in
Orange. bolt struck the liberty pole,
over hundred feet high, in the centre
of the town. On the top of the pole was
a gilded eagle, with wings outstretched,
and below it were two horizontal rods
crossed at right angles, and holding the
letters indicating the points of the COM
pass. The lightning spared the eagle,
but knocked off the rods, carrying away
the letter N. S. and W. leaving Z. I'M
touched. 1t split the pole from top to
bottom. 1t stands just ready to fall,
and Orangites fear to pass it.
A stranger freak of electricity was the
descent of ball of fire into McChesney's
restaurant. The basement is used for
bakery. McChesney's baker, Mr.. Kier-
nan, was sitting under the rear basement
window, reading newspaper, as the fire
ball entered the open window. He had
his side to the window, and he turned his
head to see what it was that shone so
brightly. Ithad been quite dark, and he
was reading by an artificial light. He
about eight inches in diameter. It moved
rapidly and straight toward him. There
was no time for escape. It struck him
on the back of his head, and threw him
fifteen feet from where he sat, PROSTATE
on the floor. He retained his senses, but
the hair was singed from the back Of his
head. The ball passed through a narrow
doorway into the front basement, which
was closed. The only light came through
a basement window, four feet long and a
foot high, and holding four panes of glass,
each foot square. The window could
be let down for ventilation, but was then
closed. The ball foated toward the win
dow, snd, touching it, exploded with a
terrific noise, throwing three of the panes
in small bits into the street, and breaking
a hinge. The remaining pane and hinge
and the window frame were unframed.
Herman said that he was unframed, but
soon went home sick.
A laborer's little boy in William Street,
near Hillyer, was caught by the sudden
rise of water and swept under culvert.
He was rescued by passer by.
The barn of R. B. WhitloclS at Mounts
Hill, NsJ., was struck by lightning, and
burned with all its contents.