New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-01
A TWENTY-MINUTE DELUGE.
DAMAGE BY WIND AND RAIN THROUGH
OUT THE CITY.

AN INCH OF RAIN FELL IN TWENTY-FIVE MIN
UrEs YESTERDAY AFTERNooN-A GALE BLOW
ING THIRTY MILES AN HOUR SMASHED
WINDOWS. BLEW DOWN WALL
AND LIFTED SEVERAL ROOFS
SEVERAL. PERSONS HURT
LIGHTNING STRIKES
IN VARIOUS
PLACES.
The ancient saying about the flood gates OF
Heaven opening is entirely inadequate when ap-
plied TO the ranstorm which visited this town
yesterday afternoon. Not only were the flood
gates opened but the bottom fell out Of the whole
heavenly storage reservoir. The water came
down not in drops nor sheets but in solid streams
and swirling columns. An inch Of rain fell In
twenty-five minutes. and small hurricane,
speeded at thirty miles hour. drove 1t into
every crevice crack and Granny Of architectural
or sattora origin.
The sky was OF the threatening aspect all the
latter part Of the afternoon. At o'clock thunder
and lightning added their portents to the array
OF lowering clouds. The rain batteries hung fire
SO long however, that the average wayfarer In
clined to the belief that 1t was all bluff" But
1.
a rush. Plateglass windows were smashed by the
combined onslaught of the wind and rain. AVN
ings were wrecked. Trees were blown down. roofs
lifted and the walls Of unfinished buildings sent
crashing into the streets.
HALF FINISHED WALLS BLOWN DOWN.
While the storm was raging fercest the upper
portion OF rev building in course Of construc-
ton at No. sos Third-ave. was blown down oy
the wind. It fell upon the roof Of small tene-
ment adjonng IL on the north. which ca'eo III
The building is four stories In height ana Is
intended TO be two stories taller. 1t marks the
scene of fire which occurred two years ago.
Only a small portion Of the wall blown
down but 1t was sufficient to wreck the roof OF
the adjoining building and to considerable
excitement among the occupants. The famiiy Oh
James Heige occupied the top floor Their
apartments were damaged to the extent OF sew
era hundred dollars. The shock also bulged
slightly the wall Of a tenement-house which Is
owned by Mrs Just. OF Fffty-second-st and Mad
ison-aye. After the accident occurred the police
promptly notified Superintendent Constable OK
the Building Department Precautions were also
taken by the police to prevent any further acci-
dent Lines were spread around the buildings 10
prevent people from passing too close TO 1t until
such time as the safety Of its condition might be
determined by the Building Department Tne
accident was attributed entirely to the high wind
which prevailed.
The cupola OF A house at No. 2,f2l Baths-te-
ave was struck r., lightning and somewhat DAM
aged The house IS occupied by the family or
H. A. Olenger TIA inmates were badly scared,
| but no one was injured.
Louisa Wilhelm, domestic servant. OF No. %
| Washington-ave., shocked by the lightning
during the Storm but recovered in short while
| without requiring medical aid.
| AWNINGS BLOWN THROUGH THE WINDOWS.
! Charles Fisher, a grocer, of Seventy -eighth-st
and Amsterdam-ave, was in the act OF raising
his awning when the storm came up. He had
hold on the ropes and had just started to pull,
when a gale Of wind struck the awning, tore II
from it's iron supports and blew the frame
through $500 plate-glass window. The wind
was of such velocity that the iron awning frames
were bent like pins.
There were many similar accidents on the west
side of town in many localities where trees were
| blown down and windows shattered The storm
| caused considerable damage in Harlem: At One
| hundred-and-eighth-st and Manhattan-ave a
large board fence. 200 feet long, was blown down
| and two children were slightly injured
Several trees were blown down at Lion Park
| One-hundred -and-ninth-st. and Columous-aver
and a great deal Of the fence that surrounds the
| park was blown down.
| Many Of the glass roofs to Charles Annen's
hothouses on the block between Seventh ana ST.
Nicholas aves and e-hundred-and- nd-nineteenth
and One-hundred-and-twentie SITS. were blown
! into fragments.
STRUCK BY FLYING TIMBER.
A victim of the storm julius kvich. twen-
ty-two years Old an expressman, VINO lives AT
! Sixty-fifth-st. and Amsterdam-ave lie was pass
! ing a vacant lot at No 3l6 West Sixty-hlth-st'
when the storm broke. The man became con-
! fused and started in the direction OF some uh-
her In the vacant ,ot and was struck by flying
wreckage which is believed to have been part OF
| the roof of q neighbDrIng building. he was
knocked down and when found was unconscious
| An ambulance called ana hVich was re-
moved to Roosevelt Hospital where II was louno
| that In addition 10 some slignt injuries he Was
suffering from shock - - -
Michael Reilly, of No. 246 Amstefdam-ave.. ana
| Alfred Krauss Of No 247 West Sixty-nrst-st.'
witnessed Kvichs accident and when the storm
was over went to his assistance
Part OF the roof Of a three-story cabinet rae
tory at Nos 3l9 TO 32l West SiXty-fourth-st.. was
| torn or nv the gale and vent through the air,
| landing on a small stable in ot turther down
| the street Part of II fell o. the ROOF or shan'y
| in which Patrick Grath lives. His famly, wnich
! includes three children, were at supper when tne
door was burst open by the force OF the wind
| and the kerosene lamp was blown out Al the
same moment the piece Of roof crashed on top OF
| tho Crath abode The children screamed and hid
under the table The shant'. which was fiimsy
affair was demolished.
| Stores at No 81 and No. s5 Amsterdam-ave
| bad tbeir awnings wrecked and windows
| snoaehed The plate glass front Of the store at
No 70 Amsterdam-ave. was blown In and the
! fragments scattered over the ;ioor. Many other
show windows along the avenue were demo.-
ished The chimney the fathouse at No 229
Ansterdam-ave was toppled over. Twenty feet
! of the cornice Of Grammar School NO. ". at
| Eyftv-eighth-st and Amsterdam-ave, was torn
off and sent crashing 10 the street below. A
tree standing in front Of No 200 Amsterdam
ave was stripped of I'll its branches. which IN
falag narrowly missed striking passing cao'
HE THOUGHT 1T POOR JOKE.
man wandered down Broadway yesterday
afternoon Just before the storm struck the town.