New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-13
LIGHTNING PLAYED HAVOC.
A BRILLIANT NIGHT DISPLAY.
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION WROUGHT ~
A TEMPEST


TIoN OF HEAVENS FIREWORKS
People 10 the city and its surrounding towns
who were awakened by the booming Of thunder
In the early hours Of yesterday missed a sight OF
| unequalled grandeur and beauty II they failed
| to get up and look out OF their windows Be-
tween 2 and o'clock yesterday morning there
came up from the southwest a great bank of
black heavy clouds. which was packed full OF
lightning. and long before 1t reached the city It
gave warning Of what might be expected when II
arrived over the town The warning was full.
filed. for suddenly there was a rush OF wind
end a swirl Of rain. and one OF the most destruc-
tive storms OF its kind which has visited this
part Of the country in many years was let loose
on the sleeping city. for more than an hour
the heavens ablaze with lightning which
was so sharp and piercing that the rain which
1t lit up looked more like sheets Of mist than
the steady downpour which It really was. The
thunder beloved and roared and echoed and
crashed among the high buildings In the lower
part of the town. and before every crash OF
the thunder there was binding glare OF vivid
white light which told of the noise to come
The reports Of the damage caused by the light
ming show that the storm widespread in its
effects, and more than usually violent in its ex-
htbitions OF power After the storm left the city
1t passed in a northeasterly direction over Long
Island and then came the beautiful part Of the
display to those In the city who were where they
could watch 1t. The retreatng clouds formed a
background fer the lightning flashes and against
the sombre curtain hung up in the sky were
drawn pictures Of surprising grandeur by the
forks and sheets and zigzags and bolts of the
electric huid. At times II seemed as II the whole
eastern sky was great banner Of living flame
and the cold, blue gleam Of heavens fireworks
lit up the two cities and the river between them
with brilliancy which was A severe strain on
eyes unaccustomeu to such intense light The
East River band Of gttering silver at
one moment. and the next was shrouded in
darkness all the more intense for the contrast
with the glare which had just died out while
the spires and housetops Of Brooklyn stood out
as clear canoes cut by the hand Of the spirit
Of the tempest
The present season has been remarkable for
the number and violence Of the thunderstorms
which have been recorded. not only in and near
the city. but in other parts Of the country, and
L is doubtful If the number of accidents and
amount Of damage caused by lightning in the
ast six months have ever been equaled In
time since record Of these storms
has been kept, and the season for thunder and
lightning in this latitude is not yet over
Only one death by the lightning has so far
'een reported. that Of on Long Island
'ut the number Of cases where damage has
'een caused is extremely large. the lightning
eemingly having taken delight in hitting
wellings, barns and outbuildings in New-Jersey.
vestchester County and Long Island. as well q
I Brooklyn and this city
TELEGRAPH WIRES DOWN.
According to the managers OF the telegraph
nd telephone companies in this city, the damage
he companies suffered by the storm was COM
arativeiy slight and occasioned only little de-
~ in the transmission or receipt Of dispatches
telephone business
Superintendent Humstone OF the Western
MON, said the storm caused only little damage
the telegraph wires. 1t seemed to be the
orst south of Philadelphia between that city
nd Washington. While it lasted the wires
orked badly, and few possibly went down.
ne delay occasioned. however did not last over
! hour, and afterward everything worked
noothly throughout the day.
Assistant Superintendent Usher, Of the Postal
'legraph Company. said that the storm inter-
red with the business of the company but little.
e said, further, that wires had been re-
rted down, and he therefore concluded that
MED by extremely high and steady winds.
ssistant General Manager Meaney, OF the
etropoIitan Telephone Company: tod the re.
rter that with the exception OF the breaking Of
cable at Kingsbridge the company suffered
tie This cable was on the Boston line, but a
e company has a second lin, to Boston ousi-
IS was not nterfered with between this city
d that point. or course during the storm the
htnng burned out the fuses in many of the
Ices and occasioned temporary stoppage 81
siness. But this is always expected In such
rm, and the damage was soon repaired.
LIGHTNING DODGED THE TREES.
n Central Park and the other parks the storm
ised much less injury than was expected. The
htn.ng that played all around the trees does
seem to have struck any Of them. The wind
the tropical downpour OF rain broke off small
lghs and twigs and every dead leaf was
{ sw.rling. until the paths and the grounds
ked II mid-October had come. Men were
" yesterday sweeping up these leaves into
ps and cart!ng them away. Ii was noticed
t almost all Of them had been badly eaten by
ects. and the loss has added charm to the
k for II has seldom looked so freshly green
this time Of year il did yesterday The
did good also in drowning thousands OF IN
pests. and good many sparrows were found
under the trees and in the cutters bordering
drives and bridle- paths. They had evidently
n buffeted by the wind and with their sodden
gs could make no headway. and We're either
own to the ground or dashed against the
PLACES STRUCK IN BROOKLYN
ne lightning played queer pranks In number
laccs in Brooklyn and It's suburbs. The house
august Bederman. at East Twenty -eighth-st.
NewlSlrk-ave.. Vanderveer Park. struck
e. The finst bolt glanced OFF the chimney,
of a part Of the roof. and went into the
md through a fagstone walk which runs
md the house. One Of the stones was broken
small pieces The other bolt went through
roof to the bathroom and out through the
OF the house. where It left a hole big enough
man to crawl through Mr.. i5ederman his
and mothern-law and his three small chill
were all on the second floor. and were sitting
when the house struck.
II hadn't been for open window the elec-
which seemed to fill the room would
killed us ALL" said Mrs Bederman yester-
There was something In the air that made
npossblc for me to breathe. My blood