The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-31
A TORNADO IN THE EAST.
Swept DestructiveIy Over New Jersey,
Harlem and Long Island,
SEVERAL VILLAGES WRECKED.

Long Island and Hudson River Towns
in the Path of the Cyclone.
A tornado that, it seems. originated In
New Jersey, east of Trenton. passed over the
upper part Of New York City at p. m,
swept over Long Island, passing through the
town OF Woodhaven, and then went out
into the sea via Jamaica Bay. 1t car
ried death and destruction in its path.
The first fatal result OF the terrific
vindstorm was the almost total destruction
OF the town OF Cherry Hill. near Hackensack,
NJ. Three persons were killed there, and
the homes of twenty families blown into
kindling wood. At Asbury Park, Long
Branch and other seaside resorts the effects
Of the storm were disastrous. In the Harlem
part OF New York City no fatalities occurred.
The air was black and thick. Haistones as
large rs walnuts fell, smashing many Panes
Of glass. and the wind blew away awnings
and signs. Bicyclists were blown from their
machines. and panic prevailed among the
women. Horses took to flight, ard trees that
blast. The tornado visited Long Island,
scattering destruction in many places. but
worst of all at Woodhaven, where fifty
houses were demolished. One woman was
killed and twenty persons were Injured. The
force of the wind then passed out to sea. and
its last manifestation was waterspout III
Jamaica Bay. About twenty minutes elapsed
from the time when the tornado made its ap-
nearance until il went out to sea.
The tornado first visited Cherry Hill, n.
j., small village two miles north OF Hack
ensack, and it was almost completely oblit-
Grated. Not an entire building remained
standing after the storm had spent its fury.
At this place three persons were killed and
twenty badly hurt by flying timbers. crash
ing houses or uprooted trees. The wind
currents were violent enough to raise
huge houses and carry them some distance.
One man was drawn through a window and
hurled to the ground. and the railroad sta
tion, with the agent in it, was moved one
hundred feet up the track. It's inmate
was uniniured. Many aver that the
cloud was funnel shaped; Others add inter-
esting variations in the way OF red spots
Pickering like jack O. lanterns in the
centre OF it. Still others say that it
was simple blow, and that there was
nothing cyclonic about it. However it
was. the result is the same. The killed IN
Cherry Hill were Baby Ahrens. eight months
dead in the road; killed by the hail and the
fying debris Of wrecked buildings. Corral
Friedman. hotel keeper, drawn by the
wind from second-story win.
dow: he fell on his head. fract uring his skull
and died almost instantly. Anton Boleski,
EMPLOYED as a hostler by August Mund,
crushed to death when the barn y which he
was at work collapsed. The raost seriously
injured are: Eugene Chinook, skull
fractured ~ and potheson Otherwise '4lurse; sa
verely wounded on the head. and eyes so
badly hurt by hail that he will probably lose
the sight of one eye. William Ely, Squire OF
the village: several ribs fractured. Anto-
nio Hosfman. several ribs fractured and in
ternally injured. William Suttle. nose, arm
and one leg broken and injured internally.
Andrew Santel, one arm. leg and nose broken.
Between forty and fifty thousand persons
visited the scene of the ruin and devastation
at Cherry Hill on the day after the storm.
Some of the unfortunate people whose homes
were wrecked sat around during the day
wondering what was in store for them.
Nearly every visitor contributed toward the
relief fund and several thousand dollars were
raised. Hacsensack and the other towns
responded promptly to tine call for aid. At
Cherry Hill the Rev. A. Duryea, pastor
of the Reformed Church. conducted services
In the lot back Of the damaged church. He
used the ruins OF the rear porch as the pull
pit platform. Three thousand people were
present. The choir was seated under an
apple tree. An organ had peen OBTAINED
and young lady played it.
After the tornado HAD completed its work
at Cherry Hill it swept on toward the Hud-
son River. Fences and crops were cut down
for three miles more until Teaneck, the
magnificent estate Of william Walter Phelps.
was struck. A hundred trees were blown
down and part OF the greenhouses wrecked,
but none Of the buildings was damaged.
The tornado sailed over the Palisades and
passed above Harlem, just touching New
York City with its lower stratum.
In the northern part OF New York City, next
visited by the storm, considerable damage
resulted from the fierce shower OF hall, and
a number of accidents were reported. The
hailstone feature Of 1t was so severe that it Is
difficult to remember a worse one. The
damage it caused will run into many thou
sands of dollars. Considerable damage was
done to the upper end OF Central Park and
neighboring streets.
Leaving Harlem, straight over Cypress
Hill. Long Island, swept the storm, wreck
Ing the numberleSS gravestoneS IN the cem-
etery and tearing down trees by the dozen.
At Crescent street the fury OF the gale seemed
to veer along Jamaica avenue for hall
mile or so, and in this distance there
were but few telephone, telegraph and
trolley wires left standing. Persons. fright
ened out OF their wits. ran hither and
thither, shriekins aud seeking places OF
shelter. Two cars Of the Brooklyn and SUB
urban Railroad were derailed. They were
filled with passengers at the time, but no.
BODY was seriously hurt. The cars were
saved from the full fury OF the gale by the
surrounding houses. -,
Woodhaven. Long Island, was directly IN
the path Of the tempest. and here great
deal of damage was done to houses. Many
were badly tipped and twisted, and here
again the scene OF fright and CONFUSION
were re-enacted. A heavy hailial audeo
to the general dismay. The approx
mate dimensions Of the cloud at this time
was about that Of two city blocks. The
wind did not seem to have whirl. as Is
the case with true cyclones, but nit rlgnt
straight out in tho direction 1t was travelling.
MANY residents Of Woodhaven and its vicin-
1ty were injured by flying missiles and fall
ing objects. The air was full Of them, and
almost everybody caught in the blow sus-
tanned a bruise or confusion. The only per-
son'killed at Woodhaven was Mrs. Louise
Petrocuien. Seventeen persons were badly
injured.
strip OF country about twelve miles wide in
the tobacco-growingr region OF Connecticut
Tho hail riddled the plants ahd the entire
crop OF the Suffleld region is reported ruined,
causing loss to Connecticut farmers Oh not
less than 5200,000.
At Asbury Park. y. j.. the race track
was flooded aud drenched with hail,
and the bicycle races were abandoned:
The storm evidently spent great deal OF
its forca hefora il struck Sandy HOOK. 1t