New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-04
THE END OF A WEEK OF RAIN
FLOODS AND LIGHTNING ALL AROUND. ,
AN EXPLOSION WRECKS cellar IN BRooH
LYN-sTREETs PRACTICALLY INPAssABLA
TRAINS DELAYED NORTH OF THIS
CITY-MGHTNING STROKES OF
VARYING DEGREES.

CITY-uGHTNING STROKES OF
VARYING DEGREES.
The last day OF the week of rain that has jus0
ended proved itself worthy of those that had
gone before il. The fair weather of Friday
proved only little rest as preparation for what
was to come. The storm of yesterday morning,
like many OF its kind, did much more damage
all around New-York than in the city itself. 1t
severe enough everywhere, but its evil effects
were seen chiefly in Brooklyn and the suburbs.
Serious damage done by the storm in
Brooklyn. Many streets were flooded, and this
the cause of peculiar explosion that came
causing the death of several men. Lightning
struck the flagstaff on a police station, and
badly frightened several persons. In their car
penter shop at No. 3l3 Bergenst. George Craigen
& Co. had a ten-horse-power caloric engine.
This was operated by hot air supplied
by a pump the induction pipe of which opened
on the sewer. So great was the fall Of rain that
the sewer soon became flooded and tlN water
was backed up TO the induction pipe, filling it,
From the pipe the water was pumped into the
engine, drawing out the hot air by which IL was
fed, and the steam thus generated caused the
boiler 10 explode The cellar was completely
wrecked, the cylinder and working joints Of tho
engine being scattered all about.
The fire was also scattered about, and the shop
was enveloped in flames The fire spread rapidly,
and when the firemen finally extingushed 1t s2,oOe
damage had been done. The building was well
shaken by the explosion and all the windows were
broken The engineer had narrow escape
He had gone upstairs few minutes before the ex-
plosion, and when returning TO his post was
startled 10 hear the engine going at greater rats
than usual He started on run. and had nearly
reached the entrance 10 the cellar when the engiha
blew up.
A BOLT HURLED AT POLICE STATION
At about 80 a. m. binding hash OF hgh"
ming. accompanied by a sharp clap OF thunder,
indicated that something had been struck
bolt had struck the flagstaff on the cupoia OIL 'no
Sixteenth Precinct Police Station, at Lee-ave and
Clvmer-st.. and had shattered the upper END ana
torn the large silk flag TO ribbons. 1t then
knocked q piece OF moulding from the corhlce o9
the cupoa. Its course after that could not Do
troced Captain German, Sergeant Ashton. De-
tective Sergeant Burns and several others experi-
orood unnleasant sensations. The Captain thougho
he ,ras enveloped in blue fame and that his heaa
voc about IN hurst He was shocked nearly 20
rnoonsciousness The telephone bell tlnliled at
oreat rate and the instrument seemed q mass OF
htre fro An electrician who examined the nag-
staff later in the day said that the SIX nag hho
undoubtedly saved the building and those IN 40,
nc the force of the lightning was spent on i@ ~
new flagstaff will have to be erected lne Peop''
in the Court House. next TO the station nouse' "eio
much startled by the lightning
LIGHTNING also struck the tall chimney OF tho
chemical works at Graham-st and Newtown Ofeeo
About ten feet of bricks were knocked 10 th'
ground No was hurt
Tho flooded district, as that portion OF the
Nineteenth and Twenty.frst Wards empracins
Iee Flushing Harrison and Marcy a'es' anu
Walton. Hopkins, Walabout and .Gwinneoe ses'
is called. became more than ever noodeu' 'n'
sewers there are wofully inadequate, ana .ne pe''
nle resumed with renewed vlgor the "orA VI o".o
ont the cellars of their homes Inc stree'S "eio hNo
ri,ors and people were compelled to remain an
home or wade through two feet OF muddy water
Even in the houses, though, people could not Keep
drv down stairs for the water backed up INTO
,h ,ords and flooded Easements and lntcnens!
Tha d.maoe TO carpets and other furniture was
;mn,opea for what the water did not do In the
NAV of destruction was done by mud In many
of the houses the water in the kitchen was so hgn
that fires could not be lighted until hte hour-
Many people threaten to sue the city Tor tho
loss occasioned by the flood, which they ueoh''o
would not have occurred If adequate sewers hao
hoor laid II is asserted that relief could be al
fordod at a nominal cost, as only about one-hah
milo of GOOD sewer is required to carry OIL such
q volume of water as flooded the streets yesoer'
| may Az Ieeave and Grand-st the cars were run'
Though pond that came up to the noors III
Flusbinoave. from Washington.ave. to Canton-st,
the water was 50 deep that the Sands-st. cars "ere
nearly aoated OIL the track. and one really was.
The passengers had to stand on the seats TO aVolo
getting their feet wet Tic uptown track was
! m soU q
water.
BRIGHTON BEACH TRAINS IN THE WATER.
Other parts of Brooklyn suffered, too. At one
| time il was thought that traffic on the Brighton
| beach Railway would have TO be suspended De-
tween the Willink entrance 20 Prospect Park ana
uerpen-st. for the tracks were 80 completely sub
merged that there was danger Of tie hres IN the
| engines being eXtingushei. In the tunnel nortn
| If the Prospect PARK station the water was hgh-
| est. and trains got through with dlhcnlty;
| One train had such a struggle that IT was feared
! the passengers would have 10 remain IN tne cars
| there until tie waters subsidized, or wade OUT
those who dad not stand on the seats got their
! feet wet. The grounds of the Navy lard were
, so covered with water that the morning dr1ll OF
the marines was dispensed wllh. =,
MANY of the South BrcoEhn streets were badly
| flooded great stream IAN down The Atlahuc-
ave hill from Ilicksst. TO the Jerry reminding ono
| of "A mountain stream during a tteshei. fasSen-
0ers ON the ears went to New-l lOrk with wet feet.
| here was miniature Niagara along Furman-st.,
great volumes Of water pouring over the stone waii
| that protects the Heights Furmdn-st got wlac
! berth from truckmen while IL laste1 In the
Twenty-sixth Ward il was almost impossible Ia
cross the streets, there being IN many places TWO
to three feet of water. Cans could not De run ia
upper FultoD-st. =, ,..-..
4 hrG in any of these badly flooded districts
would have been a hard thing 10 conquer, as the
engines would not have been able 10 get near
the burning building and 0p rate. The water was
M Kirh that the fires could not be kndied.
DAMAGE DONE ABOVE THE HARLEM
Tie half-hour cloudburst, for it was nearer 70
that than anything tlse, yesterday morning did
more serious damage along the Harlem Rail-
road than the previous storms OF the entire week.