The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-21
SWEPT BY A GALE.
Heavy Wind and Rain Storm In
the East.
Two Small Cyclones Strike New
Bedford, Mass.
DAMAGE NEAR N. YORK
TObOggan Slide at COney Island
Blown Down.
A Destructive Storm Also Wis
tied Ogden, Utah.

New York. Sept PA furious storm
swept over New England Saturday,
causing great damage. Three states
were swept by tempist of violent
winds. rain and hail.
At New Bedford, Mass, a cyclone
from the northwest struck the city ear
ly In the morning, dealing destruction
on every hand and perhaps death in
one instance. There was, of course
an immense number of minor accidents
out soon after daylight particularly
severe burst caused damage of a more
serious import.
A bolt of lightning descended upon
the big cotton shed of the Bennett mills
The electricity ignited the inhammable
contents and imperiIed nearly 5000
pales OF cotton OF high grade. 1t took
the fireman three hours to get the
main blaze subdued, and in all about
z'5Oo bales, valued at upward of 500 900
were ignited.
In the midst of the mill fire another
cyclone burst, characterized by terrific
wind and a torrent of rain The crowd
near the mill fire ran for shelter, and
ABOUT 20 of them found it in q new
building near by. No sooner had they
assembled than the wind entered the
building, raised the roof bodily and
the whole structure fell with a crash
by a miracle all but one of the crowd
IN the building escaped. He was ZoeI
LeNlgney, French Canadian, aged s.
He was pinned down by heavy timbers
His spine was injured, several ribs were
broken and he was internally injured
Several other houses were unroofed,
ana one, unfinished, was wrecked In
Fa1rhaVen, big, patriarchaI elms were
uproOted and filled the streets, so that
they We're rendered impossible for a
time.
At Fail River, Mass. an extra ordinary
thunderstorm, partaking of the charac-
ter OF a tempest, swept over the city
1t had been raining but the people be
ri crl0f Cd 1Ey+ he
pearance of an immense black cloud
from the west, accompanied by winds
having the force of a hurricane.
The darkness that came upon the
whole section put weird appearance
on everything, and operatives in the
mills stood aghast at the windows as
they watched the cloud settle down
outside. 1t was necessary to turn on
lights in the mills as we'll as in the
houses. The edge of the cloud was
lighted Internationally by lightning and
the thunder pealed heavily. When the
cloud seemed to have reached a point
in the zenith it began to hail terrifcal-
", the stones being as large as mar
bles. Horses ran away in all parts of
the city, and in the middle of the storm
the lightning began striking near by
places.
The hail gradually lessened its force
but was quickly followed by a deluge of
rain. In three quarters of an hour an
inch of rain fell. This great storm was
followed by a series of lesser ones until
the elements spent themselves.
Mary Burns, aged 55, residing on
Short street. became so frightened
that she was stricken with apoplexy
and died.
At Providence a tempest of rain and
lightning passed over the city, and, al
though Of short duration, inflicted a
large amount of damage.
In New York city and its immediate
surroundings the weather was in a fit
full mood all day. Late in the afternoon
there was a heavy dOwnpoUr of rain,
accompanied by a high wind. Consider
able damage is reported from the bay
and the rivers.
There were many accidents to small
but no casualties. A roof so feet long
which was over the pier at the foot of
Seventeenth street, Bath Beach, was
lifted by the wind and carried a dis
lance of 400 feet.
The toboggan slide at Coney island.
the property of J. L. Rankin of Sack
EFT Harbor, n. Y, was destroyed by the
storm. The damage is estimated at
Sc 900
A furious wind storm ragged at Nj
agar falls Saturday night and Sunday
morning. Passengers who came from
Toronto on the steamer Chicora of the
the trip as one of the worst they ever
experienced. The sea ran high and
the waves were constantly dashing over
the boat. The steamer suffered a broken
side and took in lots of water. The
Corona started out from Lewiston, but
was obliged to put back. Fears are
entertained for the safety of some of
the smaller craft known to be on the
lake.