New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-24
A RAINFALL OF SIX INCHES,
MUCH DISCOMFORT AND DAMAGE CAUSED.

The equinoctial storm which has been raging for
the past three days at its best-or worst-yes-
| terday. The morning dawned with leaden skies.
| from which a steady rain was pouring at an early
hour. Men who had caught glimpses of patches OF
| blue sky at sunset on Friday evening, and were
confident that the storm had spent its force awoko
yesterday morning to find the rain coming
down in torrents. The so conf
pletely buried In the high banks of clouds
which covered the earth thatcomparativey little of
his light reached tho streets Of the city. In
many places the gas had to be lighted all day. At
an early hour the elevated and surface railroad cars
were packed with passengers. No one venured to
walk down town while such drenchng storm was
in progress. Broadway presented a sngularly
empty appearance all day. The stages of course.
usual, hut drays. trucks and private carriages
were few in number. The usually crowded sdo-
walks were nearly deserted. Occasionally plucky
woman might be seen hurrying along the street en-
cased in a rubber CLOAK. With umbrella firmly
grasped in one hand and shopping bag in tho
other, she resolutelv faced the storm and made
her purchases. The fruit-venders on the street
corners were nearly drowned out few of tho
more courageous stuck to their posts till tho
rain had thoroughly drenchcd both themselves aud
their stock in trade, and then they boa. hasty re-
treat for their homes. Newsboys and boOtblacks.
who are usually persistent under all Circumstances
found their business completely checked b. tho
rain. Occasionally a boy with blacHng-bOr
slung his shoulder ventured to show himself in
the street but as no one seemed anxious TO subject
his water-soaked boots to a " shine" the boy soon
abandoned the field. A newsboy with roll OF
papers under his might now and then be seen
making dash for o sheltcrng doorway.
The amount of business transacted In the city
was. perhaps, less than on any day for months. In
41o tI,o ole had IN
do all day long. To them it became duty, tor
once not TO please customers, but themselves.
novel or story-paper. which upon ordinary days
would not be allowed in q clerks hands during
business hours, frequently to be seen. Shop
women discovered bits of fancywork with which
TO employ their fingers and fill up the leisure that
hung heavily on their hands. In the wholesale
ihouses few out-of-town purchasers made their
appearance. One business man remarked: When
il rains merchant feels somewhat discouraged 40
his accomplishing expenses and lack OF sales and IS
n no mood to purchase new invoices of goods. But
let the sun shine for few days and you will usu-
ally find him anxious to increase his stock In one
branch of trade however, there was considerable
activity Rubber coats, umbrellas and overshoes
found ready purchasers. Ii was iInprudent for
anyone to 90 out without rubber coat Um-
brellas might be spread, but even If they were not
overturned by the wind the heavy rain soon forced
rs way through and covered the owners coat and
hat with tine spray that soon penetrated even TO
the skin.
The storm was not without some humorous quail
tiles. For few moments 1t would quiet down and
allow dapper young men, who had been waiting Tor
some time for u chance TO escape from too close
proximity with tramps. newsboys and appewomen
! under q convenient arch awning to start on
their way down town. Then. when they hardly
expected it, down would come torrent of rain, and
they would be again compelled to seek shelter
porty business man with an umbrella In his hand
endeavored TO pass from block to another with
out wetting his new silk hat gust of wind
seized his umbrella and sent it bowling along the
street. while the big drops of rain spashed over tho
shiny hat without let or hindrance.
The city's wharves presented an abandoned ap-
pearance aud longshoremen had holiday. Tho
dramshops near the waterfront did a thriving
business. Sailors gathered in the bar-rooms aud re-
hearsed their experiences before the mast. Their
warns became more improbable the day passed
Oh and the rain continued
Severe as The storm during the early part OF
the day, it grew more furious as nightfall ap-
preached. The rain fell in heavier torrents and the
velocity Of the wind greatly increased The
characteristics of the days storm were preserved &C
night but to them were added new features. Dur
ing the day the rain fell without nternission. ts
water at frequent intervals 1t possible at times
to walk the pavcmeuts without positively wading
through water that was lashed in miniature waves
by the force of the falling deluge. In the evening,
however for several hours 1t was Impossible, for
any length OF time, To ma ke any progress ~
walking except By spashing through broad
sheets of water that poured down the pave;
ments into the swollen tides that fairly rushed
through tho cutters In the streets, tho
crossings were Obliterated by the How oi water.
Almost incessantly the rain fell in torrents. Tho
l,at SUI fa 10
severity of the rainfall during the day an no
evening is TO say that the hardest periods ot no
raining during the day were equaled by tho
steady force OF the downfall after dark.
Not only was The evening worse than the day ~
point of the amount OF rainfall 1t vas rendered
more disagreeable by higher winds. The wind was
brisk all the evening but at times tlttul gusts blew
with the force of gales. At such times the appear
The air was full of falling water. From tho
sidewalks and the pavements the ram was lliiSd
by tho wind in white sheets OF spray, which
carried several feet, in some instances before
the wind spent its force moIncnarily on
the water it had gathered up. In open spaces like
those about the city parks or at the junction OF
particularly wide streets the sight of he falling
RAIN and drifting spray was really beautiful. Ihe
beauty, however was best appreciated by those
pc sons who regarded 1t from the windows or oom-
Portable homes, their minds undsturbcd by such
annoyances as watersoaked shoes % apd dIene9sd
clothing walking Was he asesta'o .,rest c,r. bpps ,ns
was close. steamng atmosphere and little brooks
formed the bottoms OF the cars from tho
Sengers In the elevated railroad ears the condition
OF affairs WAS somewhat better, although for COM
fort there was htto to choose between the two
modes of vance. Perhaps the hercest ln.eryal
of the storm for db0u, ten minutes before half
past in tho evening. For u rev
minutes the effect OF the hard wind
and heavy ialn Was ndoscIibIh.e. An Itet OF tho
severity of the storm then can be derived by those
who did not personally experience II IRON the sate-
ment thai tO persons IN the rotunda oi the AstOf
House the atmosphere outside, as seen through tho
open doors OF the hotel seemed 10 be thick with
pale blue haze resembling dIsspatiug smoke. mo
washing of the streets by the rain or the last lew
DAYS lett the ater tnat rushed through the cutters