The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-02
RAVAGES OF TIE TORNADO.
LOSS oFLIFE AND PROPERTY ON CONEY
ISLAND BEACH
Women and Children swept into the Ocean
Hotels Damaged 20 Destruction on Man
haitian Beach n The Roadway Ruined

The storm of Thursday night swept over
the Manhattan Beach end Of Concy Island with
fearful violence. Tho tide rose higher than
at any time before for the past twenty years.
causing lamcntable loss OF life. Tho unfortu-
nate victims were the families OF two watchmon
named wynne and Brennan. who occupied
small houses on the Manhattan Beach property.
The men were engaged in protecting tho prop
erty. and working on the bulkhead in fair
weather. In the height Of the gale. and before
the tide had reached its height. the two men left
their homes for the purpose of reporting TO tho
head Waterman. Mr.. Weed. tho apprehendod
damage from the tide They we're gone only n
few minutes. but before they returned the
water had swept away the frail wooden struc-
lures in which they lived, not vestge OF which
was to be seen The sea had engulphed them
ALL 1t IL supposed that the little houses were
struck by three tidal waves in quick succession.
giving their occupants no time TO escape.
Wynne's family consisted of his wife. one child
aged years. and another one only two days
old. nurse who had boon brought from the
city to attend Mrs. Wynne persisted with tho
rest. Brennan's family consisted OF his wife,
one child aged years and the other aged
months. Yesterday afternoon the body Of Mrs.
Wynnc. clAspng in her arms the corpse OF her
oldest child was washed ashore nj Sheershcad
Bay. They were taken TO the Manhattan Beach
Hotel The others had not been recovered at
latest accounts but it was thought that the re-
turning tide would bring in others. Several
residents Of the island and the hcreavcd hus-
bands patrollcd the beach watching for them.
The damage To the Manhattan beach property
Is extensive. although the hotel proper Is little
injured and the bath houses escaped. Several
miles OF the expensive bulkhead were washed
away and the tasteful covered seats destroyed;
4 watchman named Gallagher. who occupied
the little house the furthest from the hotel.
barely, esceped with his wife. His house was
Further down the beach. Engermnns front on
the shore was badly damaged and his bulkhead
was undermined. The Concourse was badly
washed. and il IL impossible at high tide from
Engermans 70 the Manhattan Beach. At Van
dcveer's still further down. similar damages
were sustained. and the tide came up very near
the house. washing away the plank walks.
Teams were busy last evening repairing tho
McIntoshs No Name Pavilion. two story
frame building. WAS honted of. hut no lives
were lost: Gannons Pavilion shared u similar
fate. The Camera Ohscura building WIS
wrecked. Abbots. ut the terminus OF Gun
theirs road WIS washed of the posts, and
Wards further on suffered considerable dam
agc. The beach IL strewn with the debris for
miles, and great labor will be necessary Ia re-
store II To NJ condition for neyt summers en-
Joymcnte. Even part of the Manhattan Beach
railroad was washed away and all the roads
near the shore were more or less damaged
The tide on the beach r9sc feet 10 inches
higher than ii is remembered TO have done
before.
inspector waddy and four detectives went To
Crney Island on hearing Of the ravaErs OF the
storm. under instruf ton- to give all MD needed
10 any persons requiring H. They reported last
night that three of the bodies had been rccov-
crcd-that Of Mrs. Btnnan and two children
Tho watchmcn said That great black walls of
waves twenty or thirty feet high plunged IN on
the coast. roaring aud believing IN deafcning
noise. high tide was threatened in the after
noon, and the officers were obliged 10 hurry
away from the island to keen from being cut m
The tide had cut two or three nlcis into the
brcakwater between tae Manhattan Beach Ho-
tel and Engcman's. and at the next tide
the water would make an island Of
that part ~ the beach where the hotel IL
situated. The waves had borne away nearly
all of the bath houses. all oi the plank walks
and had so undermined the Japancs. building
west ot the big hotel that II had settled down on
one side. and almost upset 1t. Tn" water had
carried away much Of the earth beneath the
long end OF the hotel containing the dining
room. and threatened to undermine that end 81
the building. The owners Of the Manhattan
Beach property have expended much money in
building breakwacr along the coast. which
the tide has DESTROYED.