The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-09-25
A DEVASTATING GALE.
The North Atlantic Coast Swept
by a Furious Cyclone.
Great Damage Done at Noted Sea.
side Resorts.

A tidal wave which swept the Atlantic
Coast Sunday, evening, causing damage and
injury to life at various points, appears to
have been merely q preliminary skirmish.
Itwas followed by series of disturbances in
the elements calculated to make memorable
themonth Of September and the fag end Of the
seaside resort season of 1889.
The weather all along the coast, followinga
period of delightful atmospheric conditions,
was rainy, cold and windy. Finally furious
storm Of wind and rain brought about the
worst mixture of the disagreeable season, and
put summary end to the season at all the
popular places by the ocean in the vicinity Of
New York
Stories Of the severity of this storm came
from many points and stamped it as one
that will probably prove historical. It was
peculiar in its large sweep Of territory, in
the prolonged character Of the disturbance,
rainfall, and in the destruction to coast
line property by tides Of extraordinary
height activity, and volume. Tho water
along the New York city front reached the
highest point this year. ~
Not for long time had the Atlantic Ocean
been more turbulent. Like huge monster
with an Unsuitable appetite, it bit
huge pieces out of the coast line
along New Jersey, Coney Island, Long
Island, Staten Island and other exposed
points. Old landmarks were washed away
nifcent seashore hotels sLcd improved proper
ties that were supposed to be beyond the
reach Of the devastating elements are no
longer picturesque places.
Nowhere was there better evidence Of the
havoc caused than at New Yorks most popu-
lar summer resort-Coney Island, particu-
larly Manhattan Beach and Brighton. A
large part Of the island was inundated, and
the two principal hotels were in dam
ger of destruction. The sea had
made such a sweep at and around Man
only an island, and dangerous one for those
who had the courage to remain on it, by it
self, but oneso isolated that the inhabitants
were cut OFF from escape and entire COM
munication. The Coney Island season was
suunmarily ended.
On the southern shore Of Long Island the
wind assumed the character Of cyclonic
hurricane, its speed varying from thirty to
sixty-five miles an hour. AT Long Beach,
Fire Island, Arverne, Rockaway,
Point Lookout, Far Rockaway and other
summer resorts the tide rose so high that
many hotels and cottages were in danger
Of being foated from their foundations, while
outhouses and pavilions have already been car
ried away at all these points. Wide channels
appear in nearly all the beaches and swift
currents sweep inward to the low grounds.
The damage on Staten Island was very
serious, while all along the New Jersey coast,
from Sandy Hook to Cape May, the same
condition Of affairs. existed. The cliffs at
Long Branch were crumbling, and the sea
surged through the streets and avenues
of Asbury Park, Ocean Grove
and other places in that neighborhood
Atlantic City was cut Off from the main land.
On Long Island Sound the tide caused havoc
to the wharves at Greenwich, Stamford,
Bridgeport, and towns on the Connecticut
coast were over1owed and the streets flooded
New Rochelle, Willett's Point and all the
islands lying in the neck Of the Sound ex-
perienced the full vigor of the storm,
for the tide rose to an unpreceden-
ted height and poured immense vol
unes of water over what has always been
considered high land. Nowhere could the
storm and tide be combated, only temporary
makeshifts being possible toward saving
threatened property.
Measured by dollars and cents, the storm
caused more damage along the coast at sea-
side resorts than could be approximately esti-
mated.