The evening times., 1899-06-21
A HUDSON RIVER BOAT
IN A HURRICANE
Thrilling Experience Of the
Steamer Mary Powell.
Her Sm0kesiack Blown Away and
Passengers Panic-Stricken.
Wind md Raia From n Funnel
age In and Around New York.

| New York. June 21.-Passengers on the
Hudson River Steamboat Mary Powell had
! a thrilling experience in the storm yester-
day. As the vessel, bound north. emerged
from Haverstraw Bay she encountered two
storms. one from the southwest and the
! other from the north. Several residents Of
Poughkeepsie. including Mr.. and Mrs.
Smith Heroy and Mr.. and Mrs. Sheldon
Wing. were sitting on the main deck aft
watching the meteorological display. when
they saw funnel-shaped cloud gather on
the west shore.
With incredible swiftness the whirling
mass approached the steamer, and envel-
oped it, They felt the hull strain and
culver, and the whole superstructure
seemed to move upward. In few seconds
the storm released its grasp and the boat
surged downward and careened to star
board. The smokestack ON that side came
down with crash, and smashed in the
upper part Of the wheelhouse After an in
terval the other smoke stack fell across the
upper deck, toward the same side Of the
vessel. and struck, and was held by some
of the iron braces that had not been torn
away.
There was scene OF wild confusion
among the passengers. The storm brought
darkness with il, and was accompanied BIZ
torrents of rain. 1t was expected any mo
ment that the steamer would go TO the
bottom. The electric lights were not
turned on for some time, which added to
the feeling OF uncertainty and alarm
Captain Anderson entered into the cabin
n nd 4
that all danger was past. His words had
a calming effect. and the alertness and
self-possession OF the ether officers and
members of the crew finally had the effect
OF restoring order.
Among the passengers was +. J. Allen of
the As,or House. who has a summer home
in Poughkeepsie. and the Rev. C. w
Writts. OF Fishkill Landing. All the pas
.sengers declared that the women displayed
great courage Not one tainted. and, as
a rule, they were as self-possessed as the
men.
Although New York city felt the storm
but slightly. reports from other portions of
the State and from New Jersey indicate the
fury OF the wind.
In peekskill the storm. which broke over
the town at , o'clock in the afternoon.
caused much destruction Of property in
short time. The wind blew with great We
companied by thunder and lightning con-
tinued half an hour Scores of large trees
we're blown across the streets blockine
traffic. \ horse was killed in Smith Street.
and the nag pole blown off the post
Office building One of the freaks OF the
wind was the lifting Of iorty-five feet of
strong ten foot fence on the New York
Central and Hartford Railroad property
from its position in South Street to the
lawn OF James ". Hustled. considerable
distance away.
Central New York seemed TO be Gi-
rectly in the track of the hurricane, six
barns in the vicinity of Fort Plain being
toppled over and wrecked. Two other
barns were burned by lightning and the
West Shore freight house was also struck
but escaped serious injury. For a time a
night-like darkness hung over this section
and men and women became terrified by
the unusual gloom.
Several houses are reported TO have been
struck by lightning al Mddletown. y Y.
while at Somerville. y. j.. the electric
light system of the town was demoralized
many Of the streets being in total dark
ness. The cars of the Brunswick Traction
Company were stopped for two hours from
the effects of the electricity while in places
the streets of the town were flooded TO the
depth of several feet. While the rain was
of great benefit to the farmers about
Somerville. the hay crop is already ruined |
and many of the farmers are selling their
cows.