New-York tribune., 1891-08-29
IN THE TRACK OF A TORNADO.
IT CUTS A swATH ACROSS NEWARK.
ROOFS AND UPPER FLOORS TORN FROM MANY
BUILDINGS, BUT FEW PEOPLE INJURED
ONE STRUCTURE CARRIED BODILY
INTO THE AII


INTO THE AII.
A tornado swept through the lower part OF Newark
Yesterday afternoon and in the course Of few min
utes caused considerable destruction. Fortunately
no lives were lost. Houses and factories were un-
rooted trees blown down. telegraph pclcs and fences
prostrted and other damage DONE There was general
terror in the district tayerscd by the windstorm, It's
path being not than fifty yards wide' and the
terror was heightened by a peculiar darkness that
prevailed.
The tornado first seen in the Fourteenth Ward
at Elzabethave. 1t presented the appearance OF
black rolling cloud larger than an ordinary house,
bounding up and down; new touching the earth and
then ascending above the houses a strong wind blew
at its edges 1t swept along Elizabeth-ave without
doing other damage than breaking trees and sending
portable objects scurrylng before IT, Passing through
into the Tenth, Fifth and Twelfth Wards the tornado
began its work of destruction. Those who saw 1t
approach rushed into their houses for shelter There
was roaring sound as ID passed and clouds OF dust
we're raised. In all other parts of the city the Sky
@Reear and the atmosphere still.
TIE first place struck by the tornado after crossing
the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad tracks was the Tonlinson
Spring Works. in Chestnutst The skylight was
smashed and heavy wooden gate torn from its fasten
ngs and carried through the air Then bounded over
vacant space and struck the large patent
leather factory of Mccormick Connolly Co
The building unOccupied 1t is Of brick. three
stories height. thirty leeJ OF tle was
crushed in like an egg she'll. and the massive roof
was lifted off and hurled down upon the roof OF Reuben
Trer's leather factory adjoining, in which many men
were at work. The second floor was also wrenched
away and wrecked the heavy josts snapped in two
The wOrmen In Triers factory rushed into the street
In q panic, and one man was lifted up ana oroppeu cear
across the street.
The scene in the neighborlood one Of extraord
nary excitement and terror, with men shouting and
women and children screaming The tornado passea
on. apparently bounding over houses, and then de-
scended with tremendous effect upon Ferry and Barney
sts The first warning the people in these streets re
oeved the flying Of slylights and shutters through
the air few seconds later the full force Of the
tornado was developed. The tin roof Of Cashion's
tannery In Chnpelst. lifted high in the air and
deposited 100 yards away, and part OF the building
was wrecked. large double house near Passaicave.
was unroofed and long shed attachment carried 800
feet away. The roof Of double tenementhouse No.
1l5 Barney-st was torn off, and the windows OF the
house shattered no Isl Barneyst also lost It's roof
and a little child badly hurt. The roof OF double
house Nos. 143 ard las Barneyst., was torn away
and left dangling the street At. Nos AZ and "A
Barney st. the tin roof wrenched of and carried
two blocks The chmneys were all blown down over
the walls and a part of the top floor fell. There were
no casualties.
lin roof of a barn in Mottst. ripped of and
fell into the street The brick glass factory OF NJ. A.
Smith Nos 6s 20 and 72 Chambersst was struck
seventy-fve yards away. At Providence and BOhny
SIS the roof of a new building in of erection
was torn of and carried some distance. On Ferry-st
the destruction was less, but the tornado exhibited
terrific force. Along its whole route electric light
wires were thrown down and Uttered the streets
Small dwellings more or less damaged gardens
ruined awnings torn 10 tatters and the wires ID the
electric street railroad company and the telephone
electric light and telegraph companies prostrated
When the tornado passed IL seemed to dssipate itself
Ip the Harrison meadows, below the city. There are
many factories In the district and in some of them
the excitement approached the dimensions OF panic
number Of persons injured by flying objects
Thomas Slavn, a truckdHyer, was struck in the
head in Bowery-st, by falling skylight and seriously
Injured During its prevalence people living two
blocks away from its path were entirely unconscious
Of it and could perceive no change in the weather
and no unusual wind
"Popo Gregory was, until the tornado came along
proprietor OF little frame candy and fruit shop at
Ferry and Bonney sts. "Pop" felt warm in his shop
and. seeing breeze stirring up outside, lie walked
out the door 10 get cooled or lie stood talking with
two men short distance from his shop whsn they
were astOnished 10 see a large black whiring ball
that looked like funnel Of smoke rolling down upon
them. They rushed into the middle Of the street in
consternaIi0n The next instant they were stll more
nstonlshed and filed with awe when they saw Pop
Gregorys candy and toy shop lifted from the ground
and carried straight up the air distance of be
tween fifty and hundred feet. There 1t remained
for ave seconds and crcled gracefully around Pres
emily the apples and candy and cake began to shoot
out in different directions, and then the shop was
ycIenty rent asundcr and the fragments tossed about
In the air aud finally scattered around for several
blocks When The Tribune reporter visited the site
If Pop Gregory's candy yshop there was not q,
vestlge Of 1t left. The spectators of this incident
described il as the most remarkable sight they had
witnessed.
In many houses men who work on night shifts in
the numerous factories taking their daily sleep
They were awakened by the strange noise of the tor
nado the crash Of falling roofs and the cries OF women
and children. without waiting 70 dress scores OF
these rushed into the streets clad only IN Their
shirts, but found themselves helpless 10 do anything
bat witness the tornados awful power.
Tribune reporter went over the wrecked district
last night and ruin. and devastation were plainly
visible all sides, Hundreds OF trees that had
been uprOOted blocked the cosssreets cr an area OF
The roofs and beams of the wrecked houses in the
district scattered about pr0nscuouSiy and debris
OF all kinds piled here and there in every street.
In tho rear of Baantnes big beer brewery, at Free
man aud Ferry sts, where the cloud had swept be-
tween the TWO buildings there was of destrnc-
ti0n. Three large willows nearly five feet In diameter
had been snapped OF at the trunks like plpestens and
carried about 100 feet through orchard OF peach
and pear frees sweeping the small fruit laden trees
before them as though they straws.
Another picture OF wreck was visible at the house
OF Eiail Waldman at No. 50 Bowery-st Tie front
door OF the house open when the tJFnado reached
this point and II swept through the hallway smashing
tic hal furniture and plate glass Windows. Entering
but short time before tie wind lifted tahl, dishes
and everything mp and almost drove them thrprh the
wall. Everything % The shape Of cr rr or
glassware smashed 10 atoms. and III,
twisted out Of shape.
Lockwood-st. bridge. crossing the Morris Canal,
In atsd wat