The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-06-12
MASSIVE ELM BLOWN DOWN
TIE TESsRs. TR0WBRTDGE GRAzED
By THE TOPM OST BRANCHES!

1t Was a Narrow Escape--A Sudden Gust
of Wind scatters Debris in Many Parts
of the City-Large Plato Glass Window
Broken.
Messrs. z. Hayes and Winston j.
TroWbridge had a narrow escape from
a serious accident yesterday evening
about $40 o'clock at the corner of Elm
and Temple streets. They were return-
ing to their home in light wagon be-
longing to Mr.. e. Hayes Trowbridge
and when opposite the North church on
Temple street he remarked to his cousin
| that he would drive him to his home.
which is at 73 Grove street.
Neither had noticed that there was
any unusual disturbance in the ele-
ments and they were chatting pleas
antly when suddenly there came a
crashing sound from the rear. 1t was
caused by the uprooting of large elm
| tree which stood on the northeast COR
ner of the intersecting streets in front
of the residence of Attorney Louis H.
| Bristol. The topmost limbs struck the
carriage in which the men were seated.
Mr.. E. Hayes Thowbridge's hat was
knocked off and the back part of the
| buggy was broken. Fortunately the
occupants of the vehicle were not in
jured.
The horse fell to the ground when
the crash came and it is probable that
the animal came in contact with one
of the trolley wires which were thrown
to the street by the falling tree.
One of Mr.. e. Hayes Trowbridge's
sons saw the tree fall and also had
seen his father driving. He called to
the coachnan and they both went to
his assistance. The horse was soon ex-
tricated from his position and was with
the exception of q few cuts uninjured.
Speaking of the occurrence last even-
ing Mr.. e. Hayes Trowbridge said that
he did not see how they escaped and
certainly would not have done SO had
they been second or two later.
| Several friends of Mr.. Trowbridga
who heard the rumors of the accident,
which We're greatly exaggerated, called
at the Trowbridge residence, 80 Tenn
pie street. last evening. They were
much surprised to find him uninjured
and extended their congratulations.
| AS soon as the accident occurred SUI
perintendent of Parks Kelley was noti-
| fled and he Immediately began remov-
| ing the debris
| Traffic on the street railway COM
panies' lines on Elm street was delayed
until about s o'clock.
The electric railway poles were bent
out of plumb for the distance of two
| blocks, the four nearest the tree being
rendered unfit for use and will have to
be removed. The large feed wires at
tached to the poles were torn off.
During the removal of the tree, which
was one of the largest in the city,
| thousands of people visited the scene.
The tree was literally blown off at the
ground. The roots, which were nearly
all decayed, broke off and the small
sound portion of the tree was splintered
for three or four feet and then gave
way. Not more than six inches of the
tree was sound, but this was enough to
furnish sap for the foliage, which was
very heavy and which probably caus-
ed the tree to fall before the strong
wind that suddenly came up.
The accident caused considerable
|
many prominent citizens who express
ed themselves in favor of the board of
public works taking immediate action
to remove all the trees that are a men-
ace to the life and limbs Of the citi-
zens.
The wind came last evening when
the streets were filled with people go
ing to their homes. Branches were
blown down from trees in the different
parts of the city and several persons
narrowly escaped injuries.
Standing at the corner of Elm street
and Temple street where the tree was
blown down one may count many trees
which are much decayed, and it is only
a question of time when they will fall.
At the house of Mr.. Seth H. Moseley
at So Wall street a pane of plate glass
5x314 feet was blown out of the window
and broken.