The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-29
fIRRIFIC GALE.
A Remarkable Wind Storm
Causes Havoc in Many Places.
Some Lives Lost and Great Dam
age Done to Property.

A storm swept over Manhattan Island the
other afternoon which was one Of the most
unusual ever experienced by the people of q
great city For fifteen minutes the wind
blew with rapidly increasing force. The
clouds of dust swept up the streets
into windows and doorways, and
ruined everything that was exposed. Horses
were frightened, vehicles overturned, show
cases broken and windows smashed. Barrels
we're lifted up. boxes tumbled into the street:
and hats and bonnets that once got started
were as good as lost. At $50 o'clock
the full height of the storm was
reached, at which time the wind was blowing
at the rate of forty-five miles an hour. IL
then gradually began to decrease IN force,
and with the dying away of the wind the
rain began to fall, accompanied with thun-
der and lightning. By $50 the ram ceased.
Prior to the storm the humidity OF the at
unosphere was IS degrees, but Immediately
after it was but so degrees.
The steamer Fletcher. the barge Harvest
Home, the Hoboken and Erie ferryboats had
a narrow escape from collision that would
have resulted in serious loss of life. when
the storm came on their engines were stopped
and the boats allowed to drift.
In Brooklyn at sis the wind blew gale
and the sky was darkened by clouds of smoke
like dust. Buildings were rocked in many
portions of the city. and those who We're
abroad had to dodge flying boards and pieces
of roof slate. Quite a number Of stately
trees were blown down.
Harry Buchanan, seven-year-old boy,
was swept from the pier at the foot of Dock
street, Brooklyn, by the wind, in the height
of the gale.
For an hour the wind ragged over the water
&Io of ~,
The ferry boats experienced no little dlfh-
Guilty in making headway against 1t. and
they were delayed considerably on the trips at
that time.
The storm in New Jersey was unusually Sc
vere At Chadwick, near Manasquan, the
lightning struck the house Of Benjamin IruaS
and instantly killed his daughter Annie, aged
nine years. The entire family were more or
less injured
The wind blew terrifcally in Newark for
fifteen minutes after 5 o'clock and consldera-
bic damage was done.
Trees were blown down In the oranges,
and, as in Newark, houses in course OF erec-
tion were badly damaged.
The wind was followed By a driving rain
storm Of forty minutes duration accom-
panied by violent thunder claps
At Philadelphia huge dark cloud came
sailing swiftly southward, carrying de-
struction in its wake. 1t complete
iy observed every portion OF the
sky, and was composed OF sand and
dust. No rain accompanied the cloud,
although the rumbling of distant thunder was
heard and an occasional flash or lightning
was seen. The storm struck the central and
western portions of the city with terrific
force, binding pedestrians and stopping an
the street cars. The police reported fifty ODD
buildings unroofed. Still no rain fell:
When the storm struck the grand stand On
the Philadelphia's club base ball grounds a
terrible scene of excitement was witnessed.
The building shook from side to side and the
1000 spectators made a rush to escape.
Players, umpires, telegraph operators and
other employees joined in the rush, Whlch
was made madder when the dust filed the
eyes of the struggling mob. =.
At West Chester, Penn, a gigantic oak
tree was hurled across the engine OF pas
had to be drawn and the train abandoned.
In suddenness and violence the storm has no
parallel for years.
Reports came in from the country dis
tricts about Reading, Penn, that the storm
was of short duration, but fearful IN lts
power of destruction in that city. -Four OF
handsome row Of houses covering an enClre
block ON Eleventh, from Center TO douglass
streets, had their roofs torn of.
on q church building in course of erection at
Geneso, N. Y, a sudden gust Of wind struck
them with great force, knocking them to the
ground, dis tance of forty feet. Two of the
men escaped serious injury, but the third,
named Reed, of Rochester, was fatally
crushed, and he died shortly afterward.
A sudden wind and rain storm, resembling
q cyclone, swept over the Potomac Valley
near Point of Rocks, seventy miles above
- ,{,yG Gx-a
a railroad trestle spanning the river were
blown off into the water sixty feet below.
In the country adjoining Easton, Penn.
trees were uprooted, fences blown down and
barns unroofed.
The tornado struck the tents of Barnum &
Bailey's show at Wlliamsport, Penn. The
performance was about half over, and at
least 5000 people were present, All the I'M,
mense canvas was prostrated to the ground
except the large hippodrone tent tent where where
containing the animals were overthrown,
and the dr. Ssing-room was blown 20O
yards away Several performers were
injured by flying poles and stakes. An
antelope was killed and several horses in.
jured, among them the famous stallion Fire.
brand, formerly owned by the King OF
Hanover. The, excellent discipline OF
employees saved the audience from injury.
Mr. Bailey estimates the loss at ego, 600.
Ichatoo, a japanese; Nellie Flynn, Mollie
Thompson, Lille Deacon, Eric French, and
George Marks, performers, were severely
wounded.
In some places in the Housatonic Valley, at
Connecticut, hailstones as large as hickory
nuts fell, causing considerable damage.
At Susquehanna, Penn, William Clapper,
of Gulf Summit, N. Y, was struck by light
ming during the storm and instantly killed.