Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-12
A SEVERE STORM.
Rain, Snow, and Sleet North and
West Of Us.
TELEGRAPH WIRES DOWN.
New York Almost Cut on From the Rest
Of the World-Many Marine
Disasters.

NEW YORK, April u.-One OF the
worst storms OF the season struck this
city last night Rain commenced raining
during the afternoon, finally turning into
snow, sleet, and hail, and accompanied
by terrific wind, which has continued
ever since.
Along the coast the gale stili con-
tinues with unabated fury. and fears are
expressed that many disasters to snip
ping will follow.
The schooner reported ashore on Squan
Beach is the Albert w. Smith, from Phii-
adelphia for Providence, with coal. sne
was driven ashore at o'clock this morn
ing during the storm. All OF her crew
of eight men were drowned. The vessel
has gone to pieces.
Six men went down with the bowsprit'
one swan ashore and stood up In the
undertow but was knocked down anu
carried back into the sea and lost. one
man went down with the mast and heid
on to a rope for nearly half an hour'
when he let 90 and sank.
There is terrible damage done by the
Seabright. At the Normandie Hall there
is a building in the sea going to pieces
The whole beach from Seahright for
four miles north Is under water
Winds have been blowing a gale from
the East. and 1t Is thick and showing.
Telegraph-poles are down.
The observer at the Highlands says that
this is the worst storm he ever saw.
An unknown schooner is reported 10
have been driven ashore at 3 A. NJ. at
Highlands. Twelve men are said to have
been drowned. despite the efforts OF the
Highlands llfe-saving crew. The vessel
is breaking up.
Telegraph and telephone-wres are
down in every direction. and the city IL
almost completely cut Off from all COM
munication with the rest OF the world
A few reports have come I'm from the New
England States and the interior of New
York, and all tell of the violence of the
storm, which has ragged for the last
thirty-eight hours, and shows no signs OF
abatement
The railroads are also sufferers, and
mails are badly delayed.
In the city very few pedestrians are
seen. and the street-car lines are taxed to
their utmost, and are more or less de-
layed.
n L II
1t was a fearful gale that swept the
New Jersey coast last night, and it con-
tnues to-day with almost unabated fury.
The beach OF the Atlantic ocean from
Sandy Hook as far south as Long BrancA
y. j.. Is strewn with wreckage.
This morning a large schooner was no.
ticed In distress a short distance from
the coast at Seabright, n. J. Owing TO
the heavy gale and tremendous surf the
life-boats were useless, and II was i'm
possible to send life-lines. Before assist
ance could reach the vessel it went To
| pieces Six bodies have been lost in the
surf. \ heavy snow-storm prevailed du-
ring the morning hours, and the life
saving crew were unable to locate the sig
nal guns. which could be heard sounding
I at intervals.
A great many handsome cottages at
| Highland Beach. Monmouth Seabright,
and other points have been wrecked.
! Many pavilions at Long Branch have been
damaged, and at many points wharves.
landings, bath-houses. etc, have been
swept away.
Reports received from points south OF
here as far away as Atlantic City state
that the storm has ragged all night, and
Il is feared many vessels have been
wrecked. and probably a great number of
their crews drowned. The telephone
wires connecting the life-saving stations
! have been blown down. and it is i'm
possible to get news of the storm.
COLLIERIES RENDERED IDLE.
POTTSVILLE. PA. April 1.-THE
! storm i'm the Schuylkill country is the
greatest in point OF snowfall in forty
years. At Pottsville there are fifteen
/ inches; at Frankville. on Broad Noun
In ba 10 itrbt
; Not n coal-train has been moved, and
; all the track-laborers and extra hands are
kept busy in digging open the switch
and main tracks, while engines with
snow-plows are at work clearing the
tracks to the mines. The colleries are all
idle.
THE QUAKER CITY.
! PHILADELPHIA, PA, April 1.-THE
snow-storm which began at IL o'clock yes
terday in this city and vicinity still RACES
furiously
Telegraph and telephone-wires are pros
trated in all directions.
Two horses attached to Diamond
street omnibus were Instantly killed at {
o'clock this morning by coming in contact
with telephone-wire which was crossed
with an electric-light wire. Trains on all
roads are delayed from one to three
hours by the storm.
Reports from the mountain regions
state that snow has fallen to a depth OF
from twelve to eighteen inches, and all
trains are delayed.
WORST OF THE SEASON
! LANCASTER, PA, April 1l.-Yester-
days and to-day's snOw-storm Is the
worst of the season, about eighteen
inches of snow having fallen. Electric
light, trolley, fire-aarm. telephone. and
telegraph wires are all down and in an
inextricable tangle. and reports OF horses
being shocked by tramplng on the pros
trate wires are numerous A man who
attempted to assist a horse this morn
ing received a shock which rendered him
/ unconscious.
The electric railways to Mllersville and
! Columbia are blocked with trees broken
down by the weight Of the snow. and the
trolley wires are down at a number of
/ points.
Reports from the country state that the
! roads are impossible. being literally lit
tered with limbs and trunks OF trees.