The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-09-17
FIERCE STORM PLAYS HAVOC
THE DAMAGE DONE IN AND NEAR
 NEW HAVEN

Blown Down-TeIegrapa and Trolley
 Wires sunsr-streets in Darkusss--
 Wind Fifty-iva Miles an Hour-LIst
 of Boats Damaged.
 New Haven was yesterday visited with one of the most damaging wind and rain storms in her history. Trees by the hundred were blown down in this city and vicinity, causing much damage, and there were few buildings which suffered from the fury of the terrific wind. This wind at times gained ve- locity of fifty-five miles an hour and many old residents were of the opinion that never in their recollection had there been a more terrific wind and rain storm. l.. ..@
 From all along the shore comes the reports of scores of valuable craft of all kinds blown ashore. sunk and other wise badly damaged, many of them be- yond repair. z-s. ..s.. es
 The barometer began to fall rapidly at 10 a. m. the wind freshening at the same time. At 12:15 p. m. the velocity of the wind was thirty-two miles per hour: it gradually increased to a gale at 2 ?. m. From this time until 7:3O D. m the wind varied from forty to fifty miles an hour; the highest velocity recorded was fifty-five miles per hour at 5:15 ?. m.
 The wind began blowing from the east and gradually changed to south and southwest. The storm then moved east ward. The lowest barometer occurred here at about D. m. The rainfall was .21 inches.
 The maximum velocity of fifty-five miles per hour Is the greatest recorded for September since the station opened in 1873. The highest in any month dur ing this period was sixty miles from the northwest on January 9, 1890.
 storm warnings were displayed along the sound last night. The center of the storm was over the New Jersey coast this morning. It had increased in en- ergy when it arrived here.
 This disturbance of the clements re- suited in the total disabIement of the telephone and telegraph lines from this city in all directions, and the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad were without telegraplnic service for some time. Their trains. however. ran on fairly good schedule time considering the existing conditions and early att tenpts were made to place the wires in good repair. None of the trains coming into the city were very late and in the evening they were all on time. s.
 The telephone and electric light lines sn the city were affectd to consider able extent and 1t was impossible to connect with several sections of the city, and in many places there was total darkness due to the breaking of electric light wires. The company got it's men to work early, however, and it was not long after nightfall till ali the wires were again in working condition and the lights were restored.
 < In all parts of the city trees of all sizes were blown down and more or less damage resulted. Some trees were up- rooted and many old landmarks are gone in consequence. This caused the Fair Haven and Westville company and almost intending lot of trouble and work, but it quickly succeeded in re- pairing the breaks in the trolley and the restoration of their regular service was much more prompt than could have been anticipated considering the amount of damage done.
 The trolley company perhaps suffered more than any other corporation in the city, but their principal loss was on Grand avenue.
 At the corner of Bradley street tel ,,nIo brolyr,, eba,.4 the ground and fell clear across the south trolley wire. It did not fall to the ground by reason of its being sup ported by the hundred or more wires which were fastened to it. The roads engineer, however, considered that traf-5 fic along the line was dangerous and in consequence ordered all traffic stop ped. This was done about five o'clock. It was ordered that all the current be turned off that portion of the line, and as several of the cars were in the cir cult at the time 1t became necessary to haul them away by horses. Thus we had a horse-car service in miniature in New Haven once again.
 Another bad accident was at the crossing of the Consolidated road near the Grand avenue police precinct. There five electric light poles were broken off short at the ground and fell across the trolley wires. They were also broken off about twenty feet from the top and were kept from falling to the ground by the numerous wires which were fast ened to the top. The work crew was promptly sent to the scene and 1t tenn porarily repaired the damage by placing guy wires in the tops of houses and other places. One of the poles was left standing in the middle of the street. f &
 More serious damage was done at Savin Rock There the underpinning of a large portion of the peristyle was carried away and large hole, twelve by twenty feet, was torn out of the back end of the, stage of the theater as neatly as though done by an experience ed carpenter with saw and chisel. The scenery of the theater was also some what damaged, but the amount will not be known until to-day, when time will permit of a thorough examination. A fine launch, the property of MT. Twitch- ell, which has been in service between Savin Rock and Lighthouse Point, was tied up near the peristyle and was knocked to pieces by the waves. Many bath houses which stand along this west shore suffered from the ravages of the storm.
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