Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-10-27
A GREAT CYlON|C COAST STORM.
The Wind of Hurricane Velocity
and Power.
THE HIGHEST TIDE EVFR KNOWN IN THIS VICINITY.
Railroads Washed Out and Communication with Atlantic
City Cut of.-A Rough Storm in the Bay.-Many
Boats Adrift or Sunk, and Much Damage Done All
Along the Shore.

Not since the great storm of 1889, has
there been such night along the shore
as that of Sunday. The weather had
been cloudy or rainy for day or two
previous, and rainy nearly all day Sun
day with moderate bretz ze gradually
increasing during the afternoon. With
nightfall, however, it began to rapidly
increase in violence with the nOrthward
advance of the cyclone which was sweep
ing the Atlantic coast. The wind rOared
aud howled all night, the houses rocked,
aud not much sleep came to the eyes OF
those who were at all timid in storm.
When day broke the wind had been
blowing for several hours with hurricane
velocity, and the tide was rapidly rising
in the bay. 1t was apporent, at that
early hour, that the tide would probably
rise higher than ever before, for the wind
was blowing fearfully, and driving the
waters of the bay shOreward at an
alarming rate. At high water-about
10 o'clock in the forenOOI-the entire
stretch of meadows to Atlantic City was
an inland sea lashed into whitecaps by
the fury of the storm, and breaking
across the railroad banks that were
several feet under water. The rising
tide had long before cut deep channels
beneath the tracks, under which rivers
of water poured through and washed
the gravelled roadbeds out upon the
meadows. All railroad traffic with At
lantic City is completely cut off and no
trains have gone through since Sunday
evening. The rOadbeds are very badly
damaged and it may be two or three
days or more before communication can
be restored.
The tide in Absecon and Lakes Bays,
in many places was the highest ever
known. At Mathis oyster house the
water level was four inches above that
of 1899, and the sea broke over the
root.
At the inlets along Smiths Landing
the tide was foot higher, and at the
tOlIgate six inches lower.
At SOmers' Point the tide rose
eight inches above the great tide of
1899, and all the wharvcs and land
ings were deeply submerged. The
tide covered the grounds OF Albert
Barber and Mr.. Holmes, Of Philadel-
phia, on Bay avenue. The yacht
Mohican, belonging to Mr.. Barber,
was washed from her ways and
badly wrecked.
The tide was around the Bay View
House of Townsend 4 Nansant, and
extended to the lawn of the Bradford
House.
All along Shore the same story of
drifting, damaged or sunken boats
comes from every quarter.
In Lakes Bay the boats Jared
badly. Capt John York's schooner
went ashore near r. l. Risley' s
oyster house, and Capt. John w.
COnover's schooner went further up
high and dry on the meadows.
w. l. Newell's yacht Edith
drifted from her mOorings and went
ashore but was not damaged.
Captain John Aliens boat dragged
down upon another boat and was
considerably damaged.
Martin l. Hilton S and John Shaw s
boat both went ashore, and many
others shared the same fate.
Captain Richard |. RisIey's oyster
house was much injured and may
have to be rebuilt.
No railroad communication being
possible with Atlantic City boats
with daring captains were in de-
mand, for it was anything but a
pleasure trip across the bay in such
weather. Those most anxious to
''get there" first were those who had
charge of the Philadelphia morning
papers. In the race for supremacy
the Philadelphia Inquirer beat all oi
| it's rivals,
Mr.. Sheldon, one of the circulation
managers. took passage in a small boat
Monday and padded over on the line o.
| the Turnpike and delivered his papers
ahead of all competitors about O'Clock
D. m. On Tuesday he had them on sale
in Atlantic City shortly before noon
again beating all rivals by two or three
hours. The Tuesdays trip was made il
ex- Senator Newell's staunch yacht, the
Edith" in company with Mr.. BlackmaT
| the Inquirer's chief circulation manager
| the Editor of the Pleasantville Press
W. 1. Newell Jr. and Capt. Japhet Risley
| The trip was rough one and all handt
| were drenched to the skin in a few
minutes after starting. The return triI
| was made in 4S minutes, the yacht
| fairly flying before a rattling breeze
under dOuble-reefed sail.
Capt. George J,ffries made two trips
in his yacht, Tuesday, to carry meat
milk, and other supplies to Atlantic
City.
At Mays Landing with the wind blow
ing hurricane the occupants of man!
houses stayed up all night, fearful that
their dwellings would be blown down
The Great Egg Harbor River overfowe(
it's banks early Monday morning ant
the lowlands were submerged.
Monday morning water began
pouring into the first floor Of WoOd'l
cotton mill, covering it to a depth o
six inches. Employees were at one
ordered to bank up the large weav
room to prevent the water from run
ming in this department. The tide il
the river was the highest ever know
and several small houses on Waite
street were completely surrounded
water standing on the first floor t.
the depth of thirteen inches.
On the shore the chief interest was t,
find out what had happened in AT
lantic City. The eXtraOrdinar,
height of the tide made it seem likel
that a great amount of damage ha
been done, for it was certain that
considerable section OF the city wa
under water. No very seriOu
damage has been done except in tn
Inlel district. The new wharf bull
by the yachtsmen last Spring wa
seriously damaged and may have t
be rebuilt. The two wings on tn
] outer end were carried away and tn