, 1896-12-17

New York, Dec. 16.-The storm which
set in yesterday afternoon and which
developed into a severe storm of snow
and sleet during the evening still con-
tinues.
AT 9 O'Clock this morning Sandy Hook
reported the wind blowing from the
northeast and at the rate of 40 miles an
hour, and very thick of shore. The
telephone line connecting Sandy Hook
with the ~life-saving stations on the
Jersey coast is down, preventing re-
ports from the life-savers.
Telegraphic reports from Long
Branch and Asbury Park say that from
these points nothing has been seen of
schooner Grace. X. Greene, which was
abandoned yesterday after the rescue
Of her crew by the Old Dominion
steamer Yorktown. The last that was
seen OF the schooner last night she had
four sails set and was apparently drift
ing OF heading south.
The thick atmosphere caused by the
snow storm interferes very materially
with the river and harbor navigation
and ferry traffic is very uncertain, the
boats of the different lines running with
very little attention paid to schedule
time.
Only two steamers reached quaran-
tine this morning, the Starlight from
Swansea, and the Asloun from China
ports. No vessels have left the port
this morning. The American line
steamer Noordiand for Antwerp, the
White Star liner Majestic for Liverpool
besides a number Of coasters are sched-
uled to sail today but it is doubtful that
they will venture out in the teeth OF
the gale.
In the city considerable interruption
Of street traffic resulted from the
Storm. Elevated railroad trains ran on
time. but the cable and other surface
lines of street railways were workine
under difficulties. The wind was fierce
and cutting, the snow striking the face
with a singing force. The street rail,
way companies had their sweepers out
all night and during the forenoon and
the full force Of the STRENGTHENING de-
partment, men and teams, were set to
work early in the day to clear the
streets of snow. The telegraph and
telephone wires were but little disturb.
ed by the storm.
LIFE SAVERS.
New York, Dec. 16.-The violent
storm which struck this city last night
was born o. the Gulf Of Mexico. The
storm moved very slowly northward
during the day and in the evening was
central at Norfolk, Va, and still NOV
ing northward. There was rain along
the southern coast, and at Norfolk
there was 100 inches. Hurricane sig
mails ffoated along the greater part Of
the Atlantic coast, for the storm
threatened great danger to shipping.
In this city the temperature was at
the freezing point, Int the wind blew
at SO miles al hour. At Sandy Hook It
was AZ miles and the same at Nam
tucket. while at Black Island, which is
almost always the point on the coast
where the wind is strongest when there
is a big storm, it was blowing 60 miles
an hour.
From Egg Harbor, N. j., it is report
ed that the storm promises to be one
Of the worst ever known here. The
thermometer has fallen "a degrees and
the wind is blowing 40 miles an hour,
and constantly increasing. Constant
furries OF snow fill the air.
Everything along the coast has been
made ready. The ~life-saving patrols
have been doubled in anticipation of
wrecks and every man notified to be on
duty. The only wreck so far reported
Is that Of the coal liner Grace X.
Greene, which was abandoned between
Long Branch and the Highlands. The
crew were taken of by the Old Domin-
ion steamer Yorktown.