Helena weekly herald., 1889-09-12
Caught in the Tidal Wave.

ROCKAwAY BEACH, September Sat
about 43O this afternoon great consterna-
tion was caused by a tidal wave which
rolled seventy feet up the beach and broke
over two or three thousand persons-men,
women and children-who were on the
sands. It came without warning, and
though a rush was made for shelter, few
escaped being drenched. A large number
of small buildings, stands, etc, were
washed away.
NEW YORK, September 8.-The Tribune
to morrow will say: The tidal wave at
Coney Island was the heaviest this year,
and did considerable damage. The big
waves from the ocean dashed over the
breakwaters at Manhattan! !Oriental and
Brighton Beach, carrying everything be-
fore them. The most serious damage was
done at Manhattan Beach, particularly in
front of the Oriental Hotel. The guard
rails on the bank of the beach were
washed away and also part of the bulk
head at the end of the Oriental. Part of
the new breakwater built in front of the
Brighton Beach Hotel, to prevent the
waves from coming on the promenade, was
washed away.
WASHINGTON, September 10.-The Hy-
geographic Office has prepareda statement to
the effect that tidal marks along the coast of
New Jersey and Long Island for the past few
days, are caused by hurricane coming up
the coast from the west Indias, and disas-
ters at sea are feared. The necessity for
telegraphic communication with Ber-
muda and Nassua, that warning to
shipping may be given, is pointed out.
This is the hurricane season and grave
fears OF disasters to shipping is entertained.
NEW YORK, September 10.-The incom-
ing vessels are anxiously awaited for
news of the great storm at sea which has
been raging during the past few days, and
that it has not been worse in recent years is
made evident by the high tides and storms
which have done so much damage along
the coast. In this city the eel
lars and first floors of buildings
along the water front are all flooded.
This morning the ferry boats having diff
Guilty in getting into the slips Reports of
the great damage done by the storm at
high tide last night all along the coast are
coming in and as the tide this morning is
higher than last night it is evident that
an enormous amount of property has been
destroyed.
Along the New Jersey coast low beaches
are submerged and railroad tracks injured.
Thousands of spectators watched the surf,
which was the widest and highest known
in years.
Atlantic City is completely cut off fEom
the main land, many bathing houses were
ground up into kindling wood and several
pavalions were lifted bodily from there
pilings and destroyed.
Reports from Coney Island show this
storm the worst known, there all night long
the waves dashed over the break
water at Manhattan and Brighton
Beach with tremendous roar. The ma
rine railway between the two places is en-
tirely swept away. This morning not q
vestige il left of the esplanade in front of
the Manhattan Hotel and the tide flows in
and out of the basement of the building.
The concourse is swept away and commu.
nication between the east and west ends is
rendered impossible.
In this city some of the piers are entirely
covered by the tide. Some, usually twelve
feet above high water, have their decks
licked by the angry waves. The bay and
rivers are exceedingly turbulent. owing to
the high winds. The sailors say it is the
greatest flood in twenty five years.