The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-13
KILLED BY A TORNADO.
JAMES CLARKE CRUSHED UNDER
Il wan ~ ELIZIBETH.

"o nan TO mn Unfinished House FOR shelter
from IN" storm nnd Was caught In tue
Ruins when the building oIinpard-Muc
Damage by WIND Flood In BrooLiSn.
ELIZABETH, n. j.. Oct. ia tornado passed
over this city about noon to-day, and after blow
ing down u house on Rankin street and
killing n man, seemed to rise in tho
SKY and pass away TO the north. Its
path was marked by uprooted and broken
trees lcVcllod fences and damaged buildings
extending in a tortuous line for nearly three
miles from the lowlands in the manufacturing
district to the higher territory of the residential
section in the northwest. The greatest damage
was In the !owlRnds, where the wind had an un.
broken sweep across miles OF salt meadows.
When the storm WAS first noticed by the citi.
zens 1t appeared to be only a severe shower APP
preaching, and merchants who had goods dis.
played in front Of their stores began to take
them In. Before they had time to make half a
dozen trips into their stores tho storm burst
over the city In fearful violence.
Many persons had narrow escapes from being
hit by signs that were torn from their fastenings,
ana big limbs OF trees that were snapped Off
were carried yards before reaching the ground.
James Clarke. a hod carrier living in Bayonno,
was caught under tho falling walls of a build.
ing that was lovelled by tho tornado. and was
bic W uchlH. no was III inc employ OF J..
J: Higgins and was working on the foundation
OF a house on the east side of Rankin street,
near Third avenue.
Diaeonally across the street from where Clarke
was working stooi another house in course OF
construction. 1t was a two.story.and-attic frame
s WaTG IN tbs nearly MiIF COMPLETED Nobody was at
had been laid on the house.
With the approach of the tornado came a
heavy downpour OF rain. There was no shelter
from the driving storm Mt the place where
Clarke and several other laborcrs were at work,
companion named Hague started for tho new
house and gained the lee side of It just as the tor
nado came along. They stopped outside he house
a window into the celia Clarke had just
turned to follow him through the window when
the tornado struck the house. According to
some persons who saw it, the tornado seemed to
or two of the Foundations and then
dash II back with such force that the build ng
was smashed Hat. The heav Wy slate roof crashed
down upon the upper floor and. the north wall
bulRed out, letting the whole building down into
a heap just over the north foundation wall.
Clarke was caught between the brick founda-
tioa sIma some %i, hEsav Eyof floor tin thinner re Hague. who
capped, without n scratch. Several of the largest
floor beams happened to be over him, and he
found a passage, to the south side Of the
cellar and crawled out OF a hole Just as half a
dozen men came running up; A search was at
covered under tons Of debris. ~ Its 'T position imdi.
Gated that Clarke had been hNlt way through
the cellar window, when a timber pinned him
~ Nv hA'a ~ A'N' " " W SN'olilS llolt iS "oulN
have been safe when the crash came.
The lody was SO tightly pinned under the
an hour to release it; 1t was found that Clarke's
neck and legs had been broken and his ches,
had been crushed in. The body was remov1d &c
wood. the County Physician, was notified. He
Will inyestigate the case and may, order 4
SS9Ton"r 8 INQUEST. me loss oil the building VIII
1--WE public 5 hooI buildings lay in tn track OF
the E tcInn .4sc 3; on His4 street; and No; !
structure, and when the storm struck it there
was almost a panic. The building shook, sc
came badly frightened. Then n shower OF hal
was driven against the. windows. breaking
many OF the glasses. which n dcd greatly to tn,
fright OF the scholars, The teachers succeeded
In keeping good order. however, until the storm
passed over.
tore Il skylight from its fastenings and dropped
II to the ground with a great crash. II barrel,
missed several persons who wcr. passing. The
tearing away Of the skylight. together with the
terrific roar OF the storm. created great excite
ment among the scholars in the building. but ne
panic occurred.
Three small children were caught out In tn,
storm on Elizabeth avenue. The wind nearl!
exhausted. They were half drowned when Let
ter Carriers 7. r., Trimble and 7. A. Baker res
cued them and took them TO a place of safety.
In me eastern section OF the city; along the
water front. a heavy shower of hail accompa
nied the storm. some Of the hnilstones being, a:
large as marbles. In this section, on the edge
OF the tornado. outhouses were overturned
fences leyellcd. shutters torn from buildings, and
thousands OF w~innowpanes were smashed. Tht
shipping escaped !amage. In the northern part
OF the city. where there are many fine residences
the lawns and grounds were badly damaged by
the uprooting Of handsome shade trees. The
storm was the worst by far that has passed ovei
this section in q great many years.
MATAwAN. n. j.. Oct. 1.-the storm thi,
afternoon struck thu barn on the farm of Eben
eZer BOVINE Mt Jacksonville. west of here, and
almost completely demolished it. One side O
the barn was torn fro y its foundation and car
ried 200 yards away. One horse was in thu
barn at the time, but escaped injury.