Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-10-23
STORMS HAVOC.
Miles Of New Jersey Beach
StreVn With Wreckage.
RUIN At CONEY ISLAND.
Reimbursement Structures Sweep
Away-Topography Of the Shore
Completely Altefeo~Hetei
at Sea Isle Citv Falls In,

A despatch from New York says:-The
great storm OF 1896 has snot been relegated 70
the annals Of the past and the story has not
half been told. No one has so far been able
to estimate the damage wrought by the winu
and the wav, 3. nor to say how far-reacning
was the fury OF the gale. But rs far as the
eve can see. firm any point along the shores
OF Long Island. along the Jersey coast, IN
over the lowlands, aud In some instances
over the highlands, wherever one may turn
there are evidences that hurricane has peen
rassing through this section OF the country.
It was the tail Of storm that came from tue
Indies. broad and destructivei lifted tne
SECS to giant height, and forced in the
waters with sweep that carried them high
ger the land to beg the work the wind ana
rain would hIi5h
For wo days and night the gale blew
with ever-incr5 asng fury. and thore was
steady downpour OF rah to complete the
miserable devastation already well done.
One Hotel Swept Away.
At Brighton Beach and at Manhattan, at
Edgemere, at Far Rockaway, and at dozen
other points along the sea line the fast In
coming waters swept under the very founda-
tions OF the buildings, and more than once
they shook and shivered under the terrific
pounding OF the seas. One hotel did 20
down. unable to stand the forces turned
against II. That was the Brunswick ut Sea
Isle City, the finest structure OF its kind III
that section. How many smaller buildings
were caught up by the wind and wreexage
or inundated Is up to the present time an
unknown quantity. 1t is certain, however,
that the number is large, II for no othef
reason than the reports that have already
come in are to the effect that In some sec
tions whole districts on the coast were clean
swept OF the frame buildings that for years
have served for every purpose from bath
house to home.
Nor was it along the coast alone that the
fury Of the gale manifested itself. Jersey
City was In places practically Inundated.
Boats were a valuable acquisition, both for
purposes Of removal and for purposes Oh
locomotion. The railroads Ia that section
OF New Jersey were sufferers to the extent OF
q suspending OF business for period, ana
many towns in tn State had to DO content
with a lonesome existence.
At Asbury Park and Long Island.
The wires OF Sandy Hook were down for
many hours, and when communication was
again established, it was only to learn that
never before had such hurricane been ex-
perienced. Fortunately, people and dwell
lngs alike at the old hook, were built for
storms. and the damage there was slight, II
the scare was great. Householders at AS
bury Park and Long Branch, for the sum-
mer visitors had long since taken their de-
parture, gathered to watch the fury OF the
seas. wonder-stricken and amazed at the
greatness OF the waters.
But Coney Island, that land that has OF
late been plagued by fire and storm above
all others, was the greatest sufferer. The
light and airy beer gardens that stood upon
the shore, and the bathing-houses and floats,
from the farthermost corner Of Manhattan to
way beyond the end Of the Bowery, at West
Brighton, a point that marks the end OF
long line Of anus ment places to native and
visitor alike, one and all have fallen. And
with those that were bad, those that were
good, have also gone down. Seidit2's con-
cert hall. ut Brighton, is among the latter
The ruins OF two walls are all that mark the
huge structure, which crashed in under th|
terrific force Of water hurled against 1t. II
is believed that several hundred thousand
dollars would not cover the value OF the
places thus destroyed