Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-03
storm ON TIE COAST
Severe Wind Storms Sweep the
Coast From Florida to New
Jersey.
Heavy Loss of Life Feared, Espe-
cially In the south-Reports
Are Meager.
Devastation Begun on the Gulf and
Extends Northward-Damage
To Crops.

New York. Aug. 3.-The Atlantic
coast from New England to the Gulf of
Mexico has been swept by devastating
windstorms. Starting in the gulf Tues
day noon, the storm travelled rapidly
northward, leaving ruin in its wake.
concerned, was in a tornado this after
noon at Elizabeth, N. j., though points
along the New England coast report
unusually sever weather.
No loss of life has been reported ex-
cept in the gulf, but for several hours
yesterday there We're grave fears that
Washington and Baltimore had been
visited with great disaster. For several
hours New York was cut off from tele-
graphic communication with those cit
lies and many others, but late reports
indicate that interruption to business
was practically the only damage in that
section.
The tornado which visited Elizabeth
swept through the heart of the city
Ii demolished three church steeples, I'M
of other buildings, uprooted and cut
down hundreds of trees and inflicted
damage to the extent of at least $780,
900. L. spent its force in an area about
one-third of a mile long and varying in
width from 200 to 400 feet Wlthn
these limits streets We're blockaded by
fallen trees, the wreckage OF roofs ana
spires and an extricab BILE tangle of cleo
| trio light and telegraph wires Ionight
! the storm-swept district was plunged
| in darkness. owing TO the shutting OH
of the electric current.
First to meet the fury OF the Storm
was the historic First church. in Broad
street. Its spire. 100 feet in height, was
| sent crashing to the street AT the same
moment several large trees in the
| churchyard We're torn up by the roots,
| exposing several graves and crushing
many of the gravestones in their faii.
| Crossing Broad street, the tornado
lunroofed the Lyceum theater ana the
Star Opera house. Continuing us
course down East Jersey street, IT de-
| molished the spires of the Central bap-
/ list and Third Presbyterian churches
land unroofed Christ church Then IT
/ whirled along Cathrine, William and
Grand streets to the corner of Grand
and Spring streets, where it SCARED
/ skyward and vanished after almost
/ blowing from the track train from
New York at the Spring street crossing
i Nearly opposite Christ church stands
the historic Boudinot mansion. former
Ily the residence of Elisa Boudlnot, this
first speaker of the continental con-
gress and now home for the aget
women. A tree in front of the house
Il was uprooted and fell against th'
building, breaking many windows Tn
4 aead occupants We're seized with panic
land many of them ran TO the street, be,
lieving the house was about TO fall.
For two hours in the afternoon New
! York city was atioat. From a sky blacl
as night which spread unbroken from
horizon to horizon, there poured dowf
from 3 o'clock until deluge OF rail-
i which speedily transformed sidewalk:
Unto turgid torrents and roadways int
\ rushing floods The rain was preceded
and accompanied by a gale of consider
able force.
The wind seemed to bank up the rain
clouds, rolling them together from eY
cry quarter. AT length the entire heave'
was leaden grey. and in the uppe
part of Manhattan island the wind blev
with almost hurricane fury. Then whe
gas and electric lights were burning J
homes and offices TO relieve the dark
ness the clouds opened and the foo
descended. 1t fell in what seemed
solid sheet of water
At Coney Island, Rockaway and tn
near by resorts the storm caught thou
sands of excursionists who had bee
driven to the seaside by the heat of tn
morning and the promise of a pleasar
day held o1t by clear skies. Much dis
comfort, though, was the only result.
Loss CT Life in Florida.