New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-27
A DRIVING SLEET IN THE CITY.
HIGH TIDES FLOOD CELLARS AND EASEMENTS
VESSELS CLING CLOSE TO THEIR PIERS
SCENES IRON THE BATTERY.


SCENES IRON THE BATTERY.
| From the tip of the staff reaching up from the
top of the Equitable Building yesterday there
whipped around violently bit of red flag with
black circle in its centre. 1t was the cautionary
storm gnal No signal needed, however, TO
tell people that the weather was black To
the man who had heard the raging wind Of the
day and night BEFORE or who had felt the stinging,
prcking bits of ice shot against his face and hands
by its fierce gusts, storm signals expressed only
vulgar truisms. The storm had made itself keenly
felt on all sides. The surprise OF people was eX-
pressed in jibes at the Weather Department, for
fairer weather had been prophesed for yesterday.
The Signal Service observer, however, SAID that
trustworthy indications could not be given, as the
storm had hovered near New-York. Although the
barometer indicated that the storm would move of
rapidly after reaching New-York, one could tell
the conditions the east side of the storm, that
was out at sea. The barometer there would prob
ably give an extremely low indication, as nothing
else could have blocked the storm 1t seemed to
have become anchored around here. For to-day
however, he felt confident in promising fair
weather, with westerly winds
Those who kept indoors on Sunday. while the
storm was most severe, but who were forced TO
come forth yesterday, were met with a driving
Though the wind was not so high as the pre-
vious day, it was not less disagreeable as the
snow and rain of Sunday had turned TO minute
bullets of ice The sidewalks were treacherOus,
and iron rails and exposed dOorl<nObs were slated
with thin covering Of ice. Early In the morning
long cicleS hung from the roofs Of the cars on
the surface and elevated railways, while slender,
finely pointed needles of ice adorned the noses
of the horses. The cars were generally run on
time and as the usual heavy travel fell off con-
sidcrably, no Inconvenience from lack Of accom-
modations was felt b. those who had TO be out Of
doors. During Sunday night many of the sur
face were drawn by four horses, while snow
ploughs were brought into use to keep the tracks
clear.
Mr.. Baldwin, wire chief" Of the Western
Union Office, told the reporter that the telegraph
wires of the company had suffered greatly from
the storm. Yesterday morning the operators had
not been able to communicate with distant places
at all From Southern New-Jersey to NewBruns-
wick they had been severely damaged In New
Jersey and Connecticut miles upon miles of them
had been levelled down if broom had swept
through a mass of cobwebs. In the New Jersey
meadows the damage amounted to complete
wipng away of all lines. Boston, too, had Jared
scarcely better Toward evening, however, the
operators began to get answers TO- their calls, but
at n, tune during the day was there any perfect
communication.
Telephones worked imperfectly, but the wires
in the city were not seriously injured The police
telegraph wires were in working order, although
there was trouble of the lines early in the
forenoon Superintendent of Mails Bowen said
that all morning mails from the Northwest were
late.
Numbers of people went down to the Battery 10
see the effects of the storm on the bay The
visit there was well worth the trouble. The space
of water before one was restless hcaving mass
Of dark, fringed and crested with flying light
winged white. A heavy veil of mist and fog
shut out the Lower Bay and darEcned the air
around The sails of tho vessels the troubled
waters were distended while the masts and hulls
leaned gracefully over The vessels Glove through
the dark blue like keen-edged knife flashes, and
dashing along, were suddenly swallowed up in the
ow-hanging mantle Of mist, leaving behind them
an additional bit of foam to be tossed lightly
about by the wind. The tide was exceedingly
high and ran strongly throughout the day
Cellars and Easements in South and West Sts were
flooded in many cases