davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
The
CYCLONE
Jersey City Swept by
a Destructive Tor
nado Saturday
Afternoon.
VAN WORST PARK RUINED
Giant Trees Uprooted,
Thrown Down and Bro
ken Like Sticks.
st. NARY'S CHURCH DEMOLISHED
Steeple Torn Off and Hurled
Into the Church Through
the Roof.
BdJOU THEATRE WRECKED
Rear Wall Torn Down While
Rehearsal for "The Man
Who Dared" Was in
Progress.
HUNDREDS OF HOUSES UNRooFED
Cars Stopped BY Fallen Tim.
Der and Trains Stalled
for Hours.
The Storm Played Queer
Freaks With All That
Came In Its Way.

For the first time in its history Jersey
City encountered a regular Western cy-
clone on Saturday evening. Fortunately
people had been driven indoors by a
hard and steady downpour of rain ha.f
an hour before the cyclone made its ap-
pearance, otherwise the loss of life or in
5uries to persons would have been in
calculable. AS it was the loss to proper
ty will exceed the s1oe,0OO mark. The cy-
clone lasted but a few minutes and it
cut a swath about an eth of mile wide,
but it left desolatien IN its
tracks. Van vonrst Park was demolished,
one side of the Roof of st. Matthew s
German Evangelical lutheran Church
was ripped up, the belfry of st. Mary S
Church in Second street was blown clear
off the roof; demolished the upper half
of the rear wall Of the Bijou Theatre was
blow nout during rehearsal with lions
in cages on the stage, and roofs OF
houses torn up in the path of the cyclone
from Greenville northeasterly acros the
city OF Hobeken.
Reports frem all sections of the city
showed that the path of the cyclone was
confined to the course indicated, and did
no damage outside of that course. That
no people were killed is regarded as a
miracle. Three men were injured and sent
to the City Hospital. That seems to be
the extent of personal casualties
Jersey City has always been lucky in
this respect said Mayor Hoos this morn
ing "It isn't so very long ago that one
of the greatest fires that of the burning
of ships and docks at Hobcken blazed
stin on one side of US while the great
fire at Caven Point when million gallons
of oil in tanks belonging to the Stand
ard Oil Company blazed way on the
other side of US"
The police signal telegraph system in
the First, Second and Third precincts suf-
fered injury from the storm. Superinten-
dent Foley was out Saturday evening till
midnight and from $50 A. M. yesterday
till P. M. and got the system in thor
ough shape.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26

is a detached building, and hurting it
with great force against the cab of To-
comotive that stood on a track 1G0 feet
beyond. The cab was smashed to splin-
ters, and the engineer, John Grant, WAS
knocked through and out the other side
of the cab He received severe scalp
wound, but was otherwise uninjured.
John Fay. a brakeman. who sat on tile
tender of the engine, was knocked off and
seriously cut abous the face with flying
glass. Both men were taken TO their
homes by friends.
Passing the engine the tornado uplifted
a number of shingles off the Robinson
farm house, demolished the wagonsned
and completely ripped a side of the barn
out. Fortunately no one was injured.
The Robinson family was in the house
when the tornado struck it and decided
to stay there.
Leaving the Robinson farm to its fate
the tornado sped on to the hog slaughter
house. There it playfully ripped an ex-
tension off, with the result that num-
ber of pigs got their freedom. On again
it went until it struck the ship yard at
Black Tom. Here large building about
70x15G feet which happened to be in the
way, was moved about eight feet off of
its foundations, and several small sham
ties were demolished. Then this erratfc
tornado once more changed its course
from northeast to north. 1t passed over
Communipaw and Lafayette without do
ing much damage.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
FIREMAN DUMMIES TROUBLES.

The matrimonial troubles of Foreman
w. B. Dunno were again aired in the
Court of Chaneery this morning, wher
Mrs. Anne Dunno asked for maintenance
Her story told by Lawyer John Weller
was that Dunno didn't support her but
spent his wages on liquor.
Dunno had filed a cross bill in the suit
charging his wife with improper conduct,
naming as correspondents John Williams.
Ezra Mereoun and others. He said thai
she had repeatedly been arrested for dis,
orderly conduct and intoxication. He de-
Dunno was once a keeper at the Snake
Hill penitentiary and has been a member
of the Fire Department for several years
To meet certain accusation in the wife
affidavits Lawyer Thos Noonan secured
an adjournment.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
ON NEWARK AVENUE.
Windows Smashed and
Roofs Torn Off
Stores.

The scene in Newark avenue between
Barrow street and Jersey avenue, was one
OF wreckage such as has never been seen
in this city before. The south side of the
street suffered most. No house escaped.
The roofs of all were more or less dam
aged, and in the whole block not more
than dozen windows escaped breaking.
Awnings over store windows ON both
sides of the street were torn away and
they went sailing through the streets.
Telegraph and telephone wires and poles
were blown down, timbers from roofs
were strewnabout the streets, trolley
wires were ripped from the poles, the
wire leading into Fire Headquarters were
so badly torn and twisted that for an
hour the alarm system was almost use
less. Horses and wagons were caught up
in the whirlwind an dtossed about like
so many toys, portions of tin roofs rested
on what wires were not torn from the
poles and the stock of ruit stands and
grocery stores were tossed about in
heaps on the street, on the sidewalks,
everywhere.
The roof of the four story house at No.
185 Newark avenue, opposite the Bijou,
was torn off completely and thrown across
the car tracks. The roofs of the five
houses west of this one were torn from
the walls, but only portions of the tim
bers fell to the street.
The employees of Gilmore and O'Keefes
dry goods store at No. 173 Newark avenue
were thrown into great state of excite
ment. They were in mortal dread of tie
storm even before the DESTRUCTIVE point
was reached. When the roof of the
building was heard ripping away from the
walls they ran to the lower floors for
safety. Hardly had their first feeling of
alarm passed away when huge piece
of timber, torn from an adjoining house,
broke the big show window.
The windows of James Sacks store at
No. 165 Newark avenue were all broken.
His display stock in front of the store
was swept away through the streets. The
destruction in that store was so great
that business was suspended for the rest
Of the day.
A horse and wagon owned by Mr.. Lock
was in front of the store when the crisis
came They were tossed about like paper
The horse attempted to run away, but he
could not battle with the wind and was
finally threwn to the ground. The wagon
was dashed against a pole and one side
crushed to splinters The horse was not
injured beyond some bruises.
a horse and wagon were standing in
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
CYCLONE INCIDENTS.

DR.. Parsons of York street gave the fol-
lowing description of what he saw
"One wind storm came from the north<
west and another from the southeast. il
seemed, and clashed just about over Van
Worst Park. Then it spread due north
with a slight spreading to the south. Tha
tornado must have ridden very high.
i saw a tree opposite my house
swung almost to the ground south. Their
1t swung north and was broken off at the
ground like reed
DIR. Gordon K. Dickinson. whose house
is in Montgomery street opposite the park
said;-'T was sitting at my front window
watching it rain. and suddenly it began
to darken and rain harder. Not person
was in the street as far as I could see
Then saw the cloud bearing down on
the park. 1t seemed to be a mass of va
porish clouds going around and around
but not in funnel shape There were
streaks IN the clouds. The mass hit the
park and it was simply impossible to see
anything. I could hear the trees going.
though, and one report after another as
the roofs of almost every house, including
the Union League Club, were blown on
Il opened my doors to let the wind go
right through my house and in that way
I think I saved it as we were right in tie
path of the tornado"
James Andrews, of No. 291 York street
said that he got a glimpse through the
rain of horse running down the street
with light buggy overturned on its back
The horse stopped near Barrow street, he
said, looked around and waited patiently
until man relieved it of its burden The
rig was owned by DR.. Robert NJ Petrie,
of No. 279 York street. A grocer's wagon
was upsent at the corner of Bright street
and Jersey avenue. The horse was pinned
against an awning post blythe wind and
couldn't run away
John Broadbin, boy 12 years old liv-
ing in the Greenville district, was stand
ing on the bridge over the canal at Lin
den avenue. He was blown over the rail-
ing of the bridge into the canal. He was
not injured and was able to scramble
ont
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
ST. MARY'S WRECKED.
Steeple Torn Off by the Cy-
clone and Hurled Through
the Roof.

The tornado struck st. Mary's Church
square in the front, just under the roof
at one point, the middle steep1e of the
three at the front of the roof. In that
steeple was the great bell that has called
the devout to the masses for years. The
wind circled and whirled about the
steeple. 1t gradually lifted itself toward
the clouds and succeeded in taking the
steeple off its foundation.
Up rose that mass of bricks and tim
bers, whirling and swaying, rising and
falling like cork in a whirlpool. 1t was
carried toward the rear of the church
fully ten feet in the air. The very force
of the circling wind kept it intact until
suddenly it was thown downward, right
made terrific noise.
The roof caved in, it's supporting rafters
were bent and broken, even the strong
iron braces were torn from their fasten-
ings. When the steeple crashed through
the roof, rending great gap, it fell to
pieces. Much of the bricks and wood
work flew into Erie street, littering the
car tracks and sidewalks and blocking
the trolley passage for half an hour.
Other portions flew into the vacant lot to
the east of the church. The bell was
violently thrown against the building to
the east of the church, where the
Brothers of the Institute live and fell into
the emtpy lot.
The hole in the roof is about ten feet
wide and fifteen feet long. Sticking up
from it may be seen many beams that
formed the steeple. In the lot are heaped
numberless bricks and beams and the
fragments of many panes of glass that
were broken by flying beams.
Viewed from the front and the east the
church presents a picture of wreckage
about brick walls. The two corner stee-
pies remain standing with only patches of
the tin roofing torn away. The middle
steeple was cut off as cleanly as if by
skilled mechanics. The gap in the roof
has protruding beams and ragged edges.
To the rear of the church the roof is
slightly torn away fro mthe walls None
of the four walls is broken below the
point where they join the roof.
The falling beams and bricks struck the
stained glass windows in the east wall
and broke them into a thousand pieces.
All these windows were valuable dona-
congregation and their loss is irreparable
because of their associations. The tor
nado did all the destruction at the
church in a very short time two minutes,
it is thought
The wind entered the body of the
church through the hole the steeple
made in the roof and through the win
dows. Many valuable pieces of statuary
were thrown from their arches TO the
floor and broken. The furnishings Of the
altar were piled in a heep in the sane
tuary and bencehs were whirled about in
heap In several parts Of the building.
That no one was in the church at the
time is considered most fortunate cir
cumstance. Confessions are heard on
Saturday afternoons there after four
o'clock AS q usual thing those who att
tend the confessional early arrive an hour
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
BAD ON SHORE FRONT.


Along the shore front at Communipau
the cyclone was terrific. especially in the
section south of Communipaw avenue. II
extended about three hundred yards in
land and created havoc among the
numerous shanties and work shops. Ona
small shanty which stood near the
Standard Oil Works was blown away en-
tirely, not even splinter being left. The
small boats which lay upon the beach
We're tossed about like toothpicks and
scattered in every direction
Several freight cars standing on the
National Docks Railway were started on
by the force of the wind, run over
switches and up set blocking traffic to
the National Storage Company's wares
houses at Black Tom. for several hours.
Almost every foot of the high fence wnich
enclosed the Standard Oil Company's
yards was blown down.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26

before the time set for the priests to enter
the confessionals. The downpour of rain
and the wind preceding the tornado kept
indoors all who were not compelled by
most urgent business to go abroad and
not person went to the church until
long after four o'clock. Then of course
admission was not to be had. The police
were on guard and ropes were placed
bout the building all the way across
Second street and along Erie street, re-
straining persons from approaching the
building at any point where there was
danger of loosened material overhead fall
ing on them.
Confessions were heard at night in inn
provised confessionals in Institute Hall.
Services were also held there yesterday
and will be held there for the present
Just what will be done with the church
is not yet known. James Carlin, mem
Der of the parish, a retired builder and
contractor, was among those who viewed
the ruins yesterday. He consulted with
Father Ter Woert and expressed the opin-
ion that it would be impossible to repair
the old building in anything like satis-
factory manner. An entire new structure,
he said, would be necessary Father Ter
Woert did not agree. He has not yet
come to any decision as 70 the steps to
take. He prefers, he says to await a
more careful examination OF the building.
The enormous expense that the building
of new church will burden the parish
with is the chief objection to the plan.
The present church was consecrated only
a short time ago and the idea of assum-
ing new debt burden is most distasteful
to the pastor and to the trustees. AL
ready building fund boxes for the recep-
central points throughout the parish.
A News reporter called at the rectory
to see Father Ter Woert, but he was not
at home and the reporter was told that
the priest did not wish to talk for pub
lication until he had more opportunity to
study the situation and decide what
course to take.
The old building that was formerly used
as the rectory was struck. The rear por-
ton of the roof was torn off and folded
over almost double Some of the flying
pieces of the steeple of the church struck
the windows and broke them, but the
damage here was not very serious.
The Institute Hall roof was torn from
the walls, but not moved from the build
ing. The loss to the old rectory and the
Institute Hall will reach about $1,000 in
the aggregate.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
WEST SIDE FLOODED.

Residents along Wsstside in the vicinity
Of Bentley avenue scarcely had time to
find out what had happened. Suddenly it
became so dark that the gas in several of
the houses had to be lighted. This lasted
about ten minutes, then there was a
transformation. Nothing of street or
sidewalk could be seen, both were COM
pletely merged. especially at the juncture
of West Side and Bentley avenues, where
the water was up to the axle of the troll
ley, and all the traffic on the West Side
avenue line was suspended for abou.
thirty minutes. The water rushed down
Bertley avenue in a cataract, overlooking
the sewer and was forced back up the
hill by the wind only to rush down with
greater force. Pieces of joist and other
timber were afioat in the debris, and the
residents at this juncture had all they
could 10 to save food and other articles
in their cellars. where the water was
from three to four feet deep.
1t was not until Mr. j. Francis Mccoy,
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
GRE[NV|LLE'S RUIN
Narrow Escapes from Death
from the Tornado.

1T was about 3:40 P. M. when the tor
nado burst over Greenville. 1t raced
across the farmlands from Bayonne and
began its work of destruction in Green
vile by ripping off the roofs Of four brick
houses On Princeton avenue, near Win
field avenue. The rafters flew in all direc-
tions and the tin was rolled up and car
ried 100 feet end dropped into the street.
The inmates of the houses were stricken
with terror, and they fed to the street
for safety. The rain began to porr into
the unroofed houses and in few MIN
utes hundreds Of dollars worth of dam
age was done When the tornado had
spent its force the people went into their
homes again to ascertain the damage to
their property.
The homes of Messrs. Richard BeWden
and James Bruce were the mosi dam
aged. Captain Nugent examined these
two houses later and pronounced them
,lnsafe The walls appeared to be tot
tering and he advised the families TO seek
other apartments. This they did satur-
day night
After striking the four brick houses the
tornado pursued its course northeasterly.
uprooting 4 few trees on Princeton avenue
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26

front of the New York and Chicago Beef
Company's store in the triangle opposite
Fire Headquarters. They were picked up
in the wind and thrown to the opposite
side of the street. The horse was cut
about the head and the shafts and cover
of the wagon were broken.
Two trolley cars were in the street at
the moment the storm was at its iercesr.
The condensers of both blew out and
flashes of fame shot through the car
frightening the passengers but causing
no injury to anyone.
A telegraph pole that stood at the juno
tion Of Newark avenue and Bay street
was uprooted and fell across Bay street,
breaking window at No. 24S.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
LITTLE TROLLEY DELAY
Erie Street Line Suffered Most
But Traffic Was Free BY
Seven O'Clock.

Strange to cay the storm did not do
much serious damage to the trolley sys-
tenn. The wires were down on Montgom-
cry street for about one hour and a half
On, York street traffic was delayed for thu
same reason for two hours and half.
On Erie street the delay was the greatest.
No cars ran until seven o'clock The
North Jersey Street Railway Company
had force of men out Immediately after
the damage was done and they lost ne
time in clearing the wreckage and bend.
ing on new wires. BY a few minutes
after seven o'clock every line in the city
was free and traffic went on just as Il
there had been no undesirable visitor In
town during the afternoon.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
Mr. STEIRBEReER GOES BAIL
Case Against John H. Walsh for
Embe7 Il ement TO Be Dropped

John H. Walsh, of SO Oakland avenue,
was before Judge Murphy in the Second
Criminal Court, charged by SteinbergeI
& Hoos, by whom he was employed with
having embezzled $50. He admitted his
guilt and was held in $500 bail to await
the action of the Grand Jury.
Later Mr.. Steinberger appeared and
qualified as surety on the desired bali
bond. 1t was stated that restitution had
been made and that the case would prob.
ably be dropped.
Walsh is well known, having been ems
ployed as stenographer for Erwin & Kel.
lar, and afterwards at the Court House
under Prosecutor Erwin.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26

who occupies the corner house, appeared
with hoe and raked the mud from the
gutter shat the food subsided. The greats
er pert of yesterday morning was spent il
removing mud from the cellars of rhs
houses occupied by Messrs. Mccoy, F.
Chiffon and Hgginbotham at lne corner
of Westside and Bentley avenues.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
LEATHER COMPANY IN TROUBLE

Vice Chancellor Stevenson this morning
appointed Lawyer Charles Henderson re.
ceiver OF the Dwyer Leather Co of this
city. The liabilities are $4,000 and the as
sets about &. 900.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-26
Hartnett's Thermometrieal Report
MATTERS OF FACT.

Pavonia Brand of Canned Tomatoes. extra
large cans. and filed with red ripe tomatoes
wholesale at D. z. Cleary Co.'S storeA All
your grocer for en-.
The Grit-advocate., 1901-02-01
Masters of Men.

The Saturday Evening Post announ-
ces for early publication twelve-part
serial story of love and adventure by
Morgan Robertson. Masters of Men
is powerful tale of the new navy
The central figures in the story are
Il rich orphan. who has entered the
navy as an apprentice, and young en-
sign, fresh from the naval academy.
The author leads his two heroes
through Il maze of adventures by land
and sea
This romance may fairly be called
the best work of the best writer of sea
stories in the country.
The Grit-advocate., 1901-02-01

After leaving the White House Mr..
Moran said: "The farmers are going
to take more interest in politics. We
have Just elected senator from Min
nesota. Everybody thought there
was no hope for him, but when it was
known that he was supported by the
farmers he was elected Mr.. Moran
is not at all worried by the ccmbina-
ton of circumstances which have
made it improbable chat the Nicarag-
ia canal bill will be acted upon by the
senate at this session. His organiza-
ton opposes the canal, of which he
said: I'VE are opposed to the Near
aqua canal because it will open to
other countries the markets of the
east that are now rightfully ours.
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