Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-07-03
AIegaforia Gazefte.
Entered at the Postoffice Of Alexandria, Vir-
ginia, as secOnd-class matter.
HEAT AND STORMS.


A terrific storm in New York yester-
day followed a period of most intense
heat There were four deaths from the
heat yesterday and score or more OF
prostrations. AIread three deaths, direct
" traceable to the storm, have been re-
ported and many persons caught in the
fury of the wind were injured. AT one
time the gale blew at the rate of ~ miles
an hour in the upper part of New York,
according to the Weather Bureau. Many
places we're struck by lightning, which
played continuously for an hour or more.
A great section of the Manhattan Field
fence was blown down, and there was al
most panic among the l, 900 men and
women who had gathered at the Polo
grounds adjoining to witness the New
York-St. Louis game The Polo Grounds
were flooded with foot of water, the
game was off and the attention of the Of
ficials and police was directed to getting
the half-panicstricken baseball enthusi-
asts to place of safety, There were in
reality two storms, but they blended into
one. The Bronx was the first to feel its
effects, and the lower portion of that bor-
ough suffered most. A wind of extreme
ly high velocity swept from west to east,
uprooting trees, smashing plate-glass
windows, blowing pedestrians from their
footing and doing all kinds of damage
Apparently, the storm was in two divis-
ions, one advancing down the valley OF
the Hudson river and the other ap-
preaching from Long Island Sound,
which was torn into a fury by the force
of the wind. These two divisions met
over the lower Bronx with dazzling dis
plays of electricity. The firstwindstorm
was followed by a heavy fall of rain,
like a cloudbnrst in character, and a
shower of large hailstones. Five per
sons were rescued from a dismasted yacht
by Sir Thomas Lipton's crews, after
squall had wrecked their craft. Three
of the party in the wreck were women.
Aboard the Erin, Sir Thomas Upton,
who had been watching the gathering
storm, saw the mishap. 1t seemed to
him at first as though the yacht haG
been struck by lightning. Almost be
fore the mast had fairly toppled into
the sea. Sir Thomas had ordered tho
Erin's two launches cleared from the
davits and lowered away. Both Launches
were manned as they fell and wert
quickly headed for the wreck. The
party were taken off to Sir Thomas's flag
ship. They we're thoroughly drenched
and were weak and faint and exhausted.
Sir Thomas made his impromptu guest
welcome and there was every effort t.
make them feel comfortable and at home.
A cloudburst visited the southwestern
section of Texas, yesterday, causing the
death of several persons and heavy
property loss. No accurate reports OF
the loss of life can be obtained, as the
telegraph wires are down in the storm
swept section, but enough is known tc
warrant the belief that at least 70
people, mostly Mexican labOrers and
iarmhands, perished in the flood. AT
Beeville one Mexican was swept away.
Near Normana 10 Mexican farmhands
are reported drowned, and II more are
said to have been drowned at Pettus.
The heaviest damage was sustained by
the San; Antonio and Arkansas Pass
Railroad. Several thousand feet of Its
track and one large bridge were swept |
away. Train service has been sus-
pended in the affected district.