New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-11
HAVOC BY WIND AND TIDE.
PARTS OF THE CITY FLOODED.
CELLARS FILLED AND STREETS COVERED
WITH WATER.

DIFFICULTY-NO VESSELS LEAVE THE
HARBoR AND ONLY ONE ARRIVES
INCOMING STEAMERS WILL
HAVE ROUGH Ex.
PERIENCEs
For many years no storm so severe that OF
the last few days has prevailed in this neighbor-
! hood. A fierce gale has blown increasingly, and
the tides have risen higher than for years before
and have been ashed into destructive fury. The
northeast wind, veering to northerly, backed the
waters up along the coast and caused great
damage. The wind has continued at high We
locity for u longer period than for a number Of
! years. and exposed points, well as those that
are usually considered comparatively secure, have
suffered from the gale and and the waters. On
the New-Jersey and Long Island shores the de-
structon to property has been great and still
more disastrous times were looked for last night
The general opinion of men competent to judge
was that the force OF the storm would not be
spent for a day or two. New-Yorkers who had
unpleasant experiences or disagreeable trials felt
none of the orst effects of the storm, it
less severe in this city than at of the nearby
points.
The damage 10 shipping has been large. Only
one vessel arrived at this port yesterday, and
her captain reported that he had sighted no
pilot boats. The inference is that they had been
driven to shelter by the severity of the storm.
Several vessels left their piers beginning voyages,
and passed Quarantine. Whether they went 10
sea or not is doubtful question. Mariners were
of the opinion that it would be foOlhardy to
put to sea when such a storm was in progress.
None Of the local excursion boats made trips
Cautionary signals were hOisted all along the
North Atlantic coast. Comparatively little rain
fell, but there was enough to cause much un-
pleasantDcss, it driven about the streets
with great force by the wind.
FLOODED STREETS ALONG TIE RIVERS.
The effects of the storm were seriously felt
along the river fronts Of the city. Flooded cellars
choked sewers, and Streets in some instances with
the water in them running like millraces were
the effects of the phenomenally high tide. There
was practically no ebb tide yesterday. Nearly all
day long the rivers high as at the ordinary
high tide By many persons it was estimated
that the water rose two, three and four feet
higher than ordinarily. 1t IS probable that
three feet was about the excess in rise over the
usual food tide.
The water was highest in the East River. At
Roosevelt-st it was backed up into the sewers
TO such an extent that the streets were flooded
and all the cellars about them were flied. Even
as far from the river as Cherry-st. many persons
complained Of flooded cellars. There was
hardly dry cellar on either river front from
Thrty-fourth-st on the East River 10 Canal-st.
on the North River. The things which attracted
attention most in South and West SITS. were the
number Of hand-pumps at work freeing cellars
of water, while pals used in many places.
In few of the Easements along these streets
are goods subject to damage by water stored as
it is not an uncommon thing to have the water
backed into them But yesterdays flood was
greater than had been known for some years,
and people being unprepared for it, considerable
damage done to goods that had been placed
in cellars at height that was supposed to pre-
cude the possibility of damage. Many cellars
in Wall-st. up as far as Front-st were flooded,
and the result was disastrous. 1t is rare thing
for these cellars to be filled. In Whitehall-st,
too much damage was done to goods stored in |
cellars, most of them being flooded far up as
State-St.
WHERE THE GREATEST DAMAGE WAS CAUSED |
The points on the East River that most |
seriously anicted were at Grand-st, Montgomery |
ST, Peck Slip, Fulton-st and Coentes Slip. AT |
all Of these places the water in the streets was |
more than anllle-deep and ferry passengers from |
Brooklyn had hard time. All got their feet |
wet despite the improvised bridges of boards and |
boxes.
While little no difficulty was experienced by |
the ferryboats in making trips, there was much |
trouble in landing passengers and teams On the /
East River the bridges of the fery-houses are |
short, and, as a result, were raised to an angle |
approaching As degrees. Teams slid down them
at a dangerous rate. The North River ferries
Jared better as they have longer bridges.
The boats of the new Thirty-ninthst. ferry
were running on schedule time. The Bay Ridge
steamers Jared somewhat worse. and their trips
were from ten to fifteen minutes longer than
usual The Staten Island ferryboats did well, and
it was said that no trouble was experienced.
The Thirty -fourth-st. ferryboats had hard time
of it, as the wind and tide veered them around
SO strongly that it was only with difficulty that
they could he kept in their proper course. Almost
dodble the usual time was occupied by these
boats in making trips.
Early in the day the wind caught the shed
which was used as sort of waiting-rOOm on the
Thirty ysecond-st. pier on the East River, and sent
the boards sailing through the air and into the
rigging of the seam-yacht Reva, which was lying
alongside the pier. No was hurt, however,
and little damage was done.
At Fulton and Washington Markets men who
lave spent their lives there said that they had
Tot for years seen such high water. Said one Of
he fsh-dealers at Fulton Market: why even
,ur floats were under water And we loated
baskets OF fish across the street. Business in
he dining-room of Everetts Hotel was seriously
impaired ON account OF its being flooded. The
universal opinion of persons along both rivers was
hat while much damage had been caused, the
torn had not been without its good effects, as
thousands of rats were either drowned or driven
rom their hotels. The canalboats always lying at
,oenties slip were not damaged a bit, and some
urprise was expressed thereat. Many thought
hat it would be found that some of the boats
ad been seriously strained when an examination
vas made
PARTS OF THE ISLAND UNDER WATER
Blackwelps Island. although protected IN a
nnasnrn from the tlll force OF the storm by its