New-York tribune., 1902-08-04
MANY CAUGHT IN STORM.
EXCITEMENT AT BELLEVUE HOSPITAL
LIONS IN CENTRAL PARK ROAR
AT THUNDER.

thunderstorm Of particular intensity broke
over the city just before noon yesterday, ac-
companied by inky darkness, which made gas
and electric lights welcome in churches and
wherever else people were gathered The dis
comfort of the morning, owing to the high de-
gree Of humidity, was scarcely relieved by any
breeze. while the fog which has hung over the
city for the last few days seemed to grow
denser. Just before noon the rain clouds which
had been gathering in the west swept in, and
poured a deluge into the streets. With the
downpour came vivid lightning and heavy thun-
der crashes.
The storm appeared to be local. and lasted
only about half an hour. Many recreation seek
ers who were caught unprepared in the down.
pour. returned back in disgust for dry clothing.
No damage of serious nature was reported
Unlike its predecessor on Monday night. the
storm yesterday gave ample warning OF It's
coming. A preliminary sprinkle about III o'clock
hurried the crowds who had braved the threat
ening skies to seek cover. The darkness came
on slowly: but not drop of rain fell for some
time from the saturated clouds.
People bound for Coney Island by trolley car
swarrned into the Brooklyn Bridge entrance in
Manhattan. and most of them remained there
until the rain over, not caring to take
chances on overcrowded cars, with lightning
playing about them
In the churches late services were being held.
the congregations escaped being caught IN
the downpour. With the breaking Of the storm
the lights were turned on, il was impossible
for the members of the choirs 10 see the music
in front of them. for the preachers to see
their manuscript
As the storm not accompanied by a hlgn
wind the shipping in the harbor suffered little
or no damage The Sirius of the Coney Island
line. left her pier the Battery at IL O'Clock
She had about two thousand persons on board.
who crowded the decks and cabins to overflow
ing When the rain came there was a wild
scramble for the main saloon. but IT was al
ready full more than half the passengers had to
take drenching- The steamer General SlocuT.
of the Rockaway Beach line, was on her return
trip when the storm started.
LIGHTS LIT IN CHURCHES
At the Church of St Paul the Apostle. where
so much excitement resulted from the storm Of
Monday night when lightning struck a cross.
scme Of The woT-E i: tn" congregation VINO
:lad been through the e&f erieIce of that night.
showed signs of becoming hystericaI. but ser
vices not interrupted
In the dining rooms OF all the hotels the lights
were burning as brightly as in the evening.
Even on the ferryboats both rivers it was
necessary to turn the lights in the cabins
where the passengers we're wedged in tightly,
deserting the decks.
way Company the lights shone as brightly as at
midnight. The headlights on the overhead troll
ley cars in The Bronx flashed out through the
darkness
On the trains of the elevated roads every in
candescent light was burning as brightly as if it
was night. None of the lines shut off the
power however. as the electrical disturbance
did not seem to he of sufficient intensity to war
rant il.
In all rbe usual heavy
Sunday aggregation of prisoners being
arrafgned il became necessary TO light every
gas jet in order TO dispose of the cases.
In Central Park the ordinary Sunday crowd
was gathered about the menagerie and in the
Mall When the storm came it caught many
hurrying to shelter. Some of those on the Mall
sought the shelter of the arched bridge Of the
Sixty-fifth-st. transverse road They hurried TO
some other place of refuge when Policeman Daily
pointed out TO them the marks left by the food
which rushed through there in the storm last
week when the water rose almost breast high.
Others sought shelter in the animal houses.
which soon were crowded almost to sufocation-
In the lion house the lions answered every crash
of thunder with responsive roars-
HARLEMITEs FRIGHTENED.
In Harlem the storm came surprise to the
residents of that section. Not only were lights
burning in private houses. but in front of some
ST the big ar, lights turned on until the
pail of blacknass lifted. Thousands Of people.
especially women and children were thoroughly
frightened many thinking that a tornado or
cyclone was about to strike the city
A bolt of lightning struck a tall hagstan IN
the little park at West One-hundred-and-forty-
fftr-st Edsecombe and Bradhurst aves- The
bolt sh,.t down the staff in spiral leaving
traCk resembling the thread OF screw 80
badly srI.t Was the big timber that the ponce
sta toned men in the park which on the map Is
known as Colonial Parh. until II could oe taken
down.
All the wards Of Bellevue Hospital had 70 be
lighted Many Of the patients became fright
ened and excited. and it was necessary FOR the
physicians and attendants 10 go among tnehl
and TeaSSU them
The yachts i'm the East River between Twenty
sixth and Tventy-Seventh SITS. strung up lgnts
10 prevent other craft from running into tnen-
After the storm couple OF hundred dead spar
rows we're found scattered about the lawn IN
front of Bellevue Hospital. 1t is supposed they
were killed by the force of the rain.
MORE THUNDERSTORMS PROMISED
Regarding the features of the storm. Local
Forecaster Emery said yesterday;
Every thunderstorm has heavy. dark clouds Sc
companying it, but in addition To that MS HoLnllls
The atmosnhere was very heavy, ard the trans
na renrv If il was affected by the mixture or
smoke and fog. The thunderstorm coming UP
when there were smoke and fog the city pro-
duced a darkness which had an omlnouS appear
anse There Was a similar storm in this city five
or six wears ago. when in the Office buildings al
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