New-York tribune., 1902-07-16
PRICE THREE CENTS. ]
LIGHTNING HITS TAMMANY
NOT THE POLITICAL VARIETY. BUT THE
REAL SMASHING KIND.
SKATERS A FLAG POLE AND RIPS UP THE
ROOF OF THE WIGWAM-SHOwER RE-
LIEvES THE HEAT FOR \ TIME

LIEVES THE HEAT FOR \ TIME
Hot and humid weather made yesterday morn
ing decidedly uncomfortable for New -Yorkers.
The temperature steadily rose from 12 degrees
at q d. m, to S6 degrees at I p. m. BY that
time, however, heavy clouds had been gathering
and shortly before O'Clock a lively and re-
freshing thunderstorm broke The city. 1t
sent pedestrians scurrying to shelter. and kept
passengers in the open busy pulling down
the shades for protection from the drenching
rain. The storm was welcome. it sent the
mercury down seven degrees in about twice as
many minutes. and gave life and freshness to
the air. This condition was of short duration,
however
Soon after Z O'Clock last evening a thunder
storm came out of the west. and about $50 rain
fell in torrents 1t was accompanied by one
Of the heaviest falls of hail seen in this neigh
borhood for some time. Some Of the hall
stones were from one-sixteenth to a quarter ot
an inch in diameter. The fall lasted ive min
utes- The wind reached a velocity of hfty-four
miles an hour. lasting at that speed for ten
minutes. and the rainfall amounted to 81 OF
al inch The lightning was vivid and pict-
uresque. Before the rain at q O'Clock, ths
temperature was 20 degrees and fell eighteen
degrees in fifteen minutes. The Thermometers
recorded 40 degrees at o'clock.
The forecast was fair and warmer to-day.
Thursday increasing cloudiness, with rising tern-
perature. Fresh west Winds becoming south
The 4O-foot fagpoIe on top of Tammany Halt
was hit by the lightning at 7:43 o'clock last
evening when the storm was at its height, and
was shivered from top to bottom A dozen big
splinters fell the sidewalk and into the street.
but owing to the heavy rain. there were mo-
passers-by at the time. The lightning fashet
down the pole darted across the roof, and de-
molished the wooden Indian standing near thes
edge Then il zigzagged over the roof to thfs
rear and flashed downward into the back of thek
stage of Tony Pastors Theatre. ad1onings
where performance was going on The dam
age was slight. ard the audience knew nothing
Of the accident.
Henry Riccer, OF No. 142 East Fourteenth-sts
standing in his doorway. directly opposite.
talking to DR.. Sherry, when the lightning
struck the f1agpole. They were thrown to ths
ground. Riccer was rendered unconscious. and.
with DR.. Sherry, slightly burned Some oci
the splinters of the 1agpoIe were thrown into
the Third-ave. elevated station. hundred
feet distant, and parts of the roofing. which
had been ripped up by the lightning, were sent
flying over into Irving Place. Only the janitOr-
in Tammany Hall when the bolt struck.
At Wulfer's cafe. opposite Tammany Hall.
splinters of the fagpole were gathered as
souvenirs by number of politicians Including
senator MChenZle, OF RenuSylNdnids IT.
Nolan, national organizer of the Brewers As
sOciatiOn of America; ]. Tanning O'Reiy. and
Joseph Wilson, associate leader of the With As
sembly District. Lawrence l. Hart, manager
of the place. said that vibrations were felt on
the marble floor at the time OF the shock
ToUchin' and appeTtainin' To- this here
freak of lightning. remarked wise patron Of
the cafe. lit occurs to me that the bomb that
Chief ''Bill' touched of last night at the Four
Corners Club has just reached Tammany's flag
pole and made il look like a twO-spOt And
that's no joke"
A 30-foot fagpOle the roof Of the Cornell
Medical College building. at First-ave. and
Twenty-eighth-st., was struck by lightning and
shattered. Large splinters hurled from
the roof, piece of the pole being carried
through the air to the doorway of Buffers
saloon at First-ave. and Twenty-ninth-st y
small girl who was passing narrowly escaped
being struck
An immense elm tree at the northeast corner
of Gramercy Park and Irving Place was
struck by bolt and split in two.
\ shower of hailstOnes blown against thes
immense plateglass window on the Beekman-st.
side of the United Cigar Stores Company. at
No. 81 Park Row. and shattered il. The pane
measures about 12 by Is feet. and over one
half Of il was broken out. doing some damage
to the tobacco stock inside the window.