Daily Republican., 1889-09-12
ATLANTIC CITY'S TRIAL
TWO DAYS AND NIGHTS OF
FEAR AND DESTRUCTION.
Narrow Escapes, but No Loss OF Life
Nearly All the Board walk and Beach
structures.G .Gons-A Scarcity of
Provisions-Thcs Storm In
Delaware Bay.

| PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Sept 12.-Tut sday
nights storm played havoc with fencee
trees and telegraph poles in various parts
OF the city. Tho wind was fiercest In the
vicinity OF Roxborougb, Shawmont and
the lower part of Manayunk. Tfoos and
fences were blown about like chaff and
some Of tho frame buildings lost their
roofs. In that section OF the city familiar
ly called the "Neck" considerable prop.
erty was Inundated, but no serious dam.
age was reported.
Telegraphic commanication was cstab-
llshed last night between PhiladeI phia
and Atlantic City, and the first tic
news from that place was received.
| ATLANTIC CRY. Sept. 1i.-Atlantic
City 10 submerged. The 10000 permanent
residents and more than 10000 hote'
gursts arc panic-stricken at the stead y
encroachnlents Of Tho sea and the awful
hurricane prevailing. Not . train can
reach or leave the -beleaQuered
city. A famine is threatened. There
are no milk, no vegetables, no meat, no
eggs, and ere another day dawns there
will be little left but bread and water.
Luckily the supply OF -four is plentiful.
CROSSING THE MEADOWS.
Tho trip across the meadows, now q
surging sea, wac n most thrilling expert
ence, and was accomplished by John NJ.
Campbell, and number OF companions.
The party left Atlantic City at IL
o'clock, and reached Pleasantvllle, o dis
tance OF seven miles, at 8 O'Clock. They
swan the deep cuts, crept cautiously
over the swaying rails supported only by
the fish plates, forded the rushing
streams, aud, after many wonderful
escapes, arrived at Pleasantville, drench-
cd, bruised aud exhausted, but happy at
reaching tho main land.
"Will Atlantic CITY and all 1t contains
be washed into the raging ocean to-
night?" 10 the anxious irqulry on every
lip this afternoon. To-day Atlantic CITY
can properly be termed the Clty by the
Sea, for 1t is truly city In the sea, aud
were 1t not for the fact that 1t has q
central elevation, that the beach and The
meadow land are far below the level of
the main avenues, there probably wouid
be not house standing at this time, aud
the loss OF life would, In all probability,
have been appalling.
BOOTHS AND PAvILIoNs GONE.
From the moment the mountainous
waves OF last nights 1ood.tide began
spreading devastation along the beach
front, the encroackmrnts Of the eea all
around the island have been steady and
alarming. II dashed up the ocean
avenues and over the open lote, tearing
up aud shattering the boardwalk and
pavilions, uprooting foundation piling
and casting bath houses, restaurants and
other structures Into n confused mass OF
debris. 1t came rushing over lhe mead
ows by way OF the swollen Thoroughfare,
flooding the railroad tracks and the many
dwelling houses OH that exposed area,
carrying terror and desolatlon to the
poor fanilIel who had failed to heed the
warnings of the threatening clouds and
rihing wnters iu tho afternoon, but lin
gered until the jeluge struck their frail
houses, inundated whole rows of houses
on Baltic and Arctic avenues, COM
pelling hasty retreats to upper floors,
and still more hurried escapes In boats
and wagons, ard, In some Instances, rail-
road ears.
When the hotel guests put In an ap-
pearatcc, the women wrapped in shewis
and gos,Amers aud the men clad In storm
coats, gum boots and close fitting capes,
their locks almost without exception ex.
pressed the terror they fslt. Tie storm
scenes had lost their fascination and they
were no longer bent on sight seeing.
Their one great object was 70 get away
from the desolate surroundings 10 their
comfortable city homes aud safely from
the warning elements.
The heavily-laden storm specials" Left
the two dcpots followed by q fervent aud
heartfelt God. speed from the crowds oil
people on the plat orms. There were
four trains in all, three from the Cam
den and Atlantic depot and one from the
Reading. Each had locomotive In the
front and one In the rear, when they
headed for the flooded meadow land they
crept along over the hidden tracks as II |
fearful Of fatal plunge. They all went
out between the hours OF and o In the |
morning, just as the high tide was near
irg its full limit. The hurricane too was |
gainiug In strength, and Its fierce sweep |
ing gusts threw The water In volumes |
against the car windows and made the |
heavy coaches rock to and fro as If In |
momeniary danger OF overturning.
Hardly furlong had been covered,
however, when the free were extin
guishcd by the rushing torrents Of water,
which now dashed against the cars with |
terrible force, breaking the windows and
enveloping the trains In sheets
of spray.
W hcu ~ hoEhHnc huOWu W tub pnsben-
gers that their trains were helpless and at
the mercy CT the rising waters, there was a
scene OF CONSERVATION among them that
beggars description. Women screamed
and tainted, children cried and stout
hearted mea for the once gave way to
the general despair.
THE PLACES DESTROYED.
Ignoring the Inlet diatrict, tie first
notable break was at the Iron Pier. The
inner and outer portions Of this costly
structure were swept away, and all that
remains standing to night 10 the main
pavilion. in the centre. The new switch.
back, which was recently built close to
the pier entrance, was torn into atoms,
as were the shell stores, booths apd the
boardwalk In the vicinity. In the Inter
vening space between this point and
States avenue all the telegraph galleries,
pavilions and stands were promptly
wiped out hy the Irresistible breakers.
The new bath houses and pavillons be-
longing to the United States Hotel,
Adams' and Johnson's bath houses and
-,tl 81. |