The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-22
SUNDAYS THUNDER STORM.
CHURCH SPIRES. ROOFS AND CHTNvEYs
TWISTED OFF BY THE WIND.
Los. OF Life ny Lightning a Tornado In
Northampton and whiriwind In Middle
town-Mnny buildings Injured In Albany.


MIpDLErowN, n. Y, July 2l.-Between l2i
and o'clock to-day this village was visited by
the severest rain and wind storm ever known
here. The spire Of st. Paul's NJ. T.. Church, tho
tallcst in the place. was blown over, and Hell
across the roof OF the house opposite crushing
through TO the first floor. No person was hurt.
One boarder in room on tho second floor was
saved by partition. and tho occupants OF the
first floor were thrown down 10y tho shock.
The damage to the church is ~ 900. and TO the
house. which is owned by Mrs. Prudence Hor-
ton. $500. Two brick houses were unroofed by
tho wind hundreds OF shade and fruit trees
were blown down chimncys toppled over the
tin roofing stripped from the school building
and rolling mill n coal shed torn down. and the
chimney OF the cradle factory was blown down.
crushing the building. The wind blew first
from the southwest vcered to southeast and
seemed TO whrl round and round. The track
Of tho whirwind was confined to the centre of
the village Rain fell In q solid body for fifteen
minutes. Lightning struck a haystack Just out
side the village. There was no wind outside
the town. The steeple Of st. Pauls Church, re-
frrcd TO above blew over Just after the services.
while many Of the congregation were waiting
inside for the rain to stop. Not one person was
injured 10y the storm.
ALBANY. July 2l.-A about 1 o'clock this after
noon North Albany was visited by one Of the
most terrific storms that was ever experienced
In this part of the country. leaving in its track a
scene Of desolation and ruin. No lives, how
ever were lost.
There was no warning. and in not more than
ten seconds OF tme the hurricane struck. un-
| Guiding the large brick retort house Of tho
| People Gnslight Company and the Watcrvliet
| horse railroad companys barn.
There were two storms moving In nearly op-
| poste directions One was seen approaching
from The northeast accompanied by rapidly
! from point little south OF west.
! Tho two currents met in the vicinity Of
| West Albany, forming cyclone Of terrific force.
! lts general direction when IL struck the city was
| from west southwest 10 east northeast. and IN
width 1t extended from the vicinity of the
Shaker road to Erie street. a short distance
| a distance Of about three-eighths of "A mile
| OF dust, branches Of trees, lying timber-,
roofs ot buildings, and other debris To
see distance Of more than ten feet
Trees were split as though struck by
| lightning and twisted in every. conceivable
shape; and some Of from tive to three feet in
diameter were litod from the ground boy the
roots: Heavy Tin and shngle roofs were car
tance OF $50 feet and landed in the middle of
Genesee street; another was carried from
The inhabitants were terribly alarmed. and
| many thought tina, the worl q was coming 90 an
| end. Almost everyone hid some personal eN-
pericnce 10 relate Of hal breadth escapes some
| ~ which seemed truly miraculous. Al West
Albany two frame dwellings and three barns
| were entirely destroyed.
Tho foncrs ana sheds at the cattl, yards werc
| badly damaged This morning 3O3 car loads
oi cattle were placed in the pens, and the cattle
became mixed 10 the great discomfort Of the
| owners.
| Works tho whole northern part OF the city Is in
| total darkness Tonight.
Tho horse railroad company had four horses
killed and twenty others m re or loss injured.
II IL impossih hle at present 10 give an accurate
statement OF the losses. but IL is believed that
they will approach 100000. and may exceed
| that sum.
The los= % tho GasliSht company is very
heavy, and the railroad company Gs we'll. as
but the saddest feature of the c.ham-
" Is th9G los e the POI, peoPls, 9i
! houses ana personal property. upon whi'h Of
course. there IS No insurance from damage by
wniTruAL1 N.Y.July PA terrific thunder
storm prevailed hgreior oyeran hour hi, morn.
| known for years. Several houses were struck
| hy lightning. among them the residence ~ the
Hon. = I. Bowen. doing. however. slight
,,CoNcoRD. y. H., July 2l,-The ssShqttuek
and burned down. with part Of the contents
Including two or three libraries y the master;
| The loss is estimated at $4,000 partly covered
,GL9UcEsTEn. Mass. July 2l.,In a heavy
| thunderstorm thi. afternoon the house Of John
| Fiens was struck by lightning. and Mrs. Julia
McPhee and Mrs. George Byers were instantly
| killed. FIVE other houses were also struck by
SPRiNGIIELD. Mass, July 2l-A tornado this
| afternoon destroyed the fence aud all the build
ings OF the Hampshire. Franklin and Hampden
| Agricultural Society AZ Northampton. The loss
Is estimated at about $1,000.
| BUFFALO. July 2l-This section was visited
| by Il heavy rain storm early this morning. after
which the day was delightfully."- COOL tho ther-
momcter ranging from 73 20 ~ generally. but
~ was the extreme for n short time during the
middle Of the day. Tonight It marks 7O with
stin breeze blowing and clouds threatening
rain. young man named c. +. Ernst died
| to-day from the effects of the heat yesterday.
loUGHKFEPsIE. July 2l.1There, was n heavy
! storm Of wind and rain AT DObb'r Ferry to-day.
| Trees We're uprootel. ienccs destroyed. aud
| telegraph wires torn down. The Hudson River
! Railroad track was ob-tructed for three hours.
NAPANEE. Ont. July 2l.-A severe hailstorm
| and hurricane passed over this district To-day.
| uprooting trees, breaking glass, and causing
| great damage to crops.