The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-14
EAST STRUCK BY
TERRIFIC STORM
Came From the South With Al
most CycIOniC Speed.
HURRICANE, RAIN AND SNOW
WIRES FRUSTRATED AND RAIL
WAYS BLOCKED.

RlEw YORK. Nov. 1s.-New York is
IN entirely cut off from the south and
west tonight by a fierce hurricane.
accompanied by rain and snow. which
is sweeping the Atlantic coast.
Starting from Florida last night, the
storm of wind and rain has come up
the coast with almost cyclonic speed.
Early this morning il was central off
Cape Hatteras. although its ever gath
ering force was felt far TO the north
ward
Rain began falling in New York at
. a. m, and early in the morning
changed 10 wet snow. The wind, which
had been blowing moderately. Veered
to the southeast and shortly assumed
hurricane proportions. At 6 O'Clock to-
night the local weather bureau noted
a velocity of ~ miles an hour, which
increased to As miles at $3.50 O'Clock.
That speed kept up for several hours.
At 10 o'clock the storm center was at
Block island, where the barometer
showed a pressure OF 2S.62 inches, with
the wind blowing 76 miles an hour. At
Nantucket the barometer was a trifIe
higher and the wind 80 miles.
Telegraph Paralyzed.
Wire service out of New York is tied
up more effectually tonight than al any
other time since the blizzard of 1888
The Western Union and Postal Tele-
graph companies have no direct COM
munication with cities further south
than Baltimore and ali western points
are cut off. The Postal has been cab
ling some of its most urgent message
to Canso. n. s. from which point they
are wired TO Montreal and thence for
warded TO Chicago over Canadian Pa
cific wires
Shortly after noon the telegraph COM
panies commenced TO feel the effects
of the storm. As wire after wire went
down and city after city was lost the
repair gangs were notified, but owing
to the heavy storm IL was long after
dark before the full force could be
mustered. Late in the afternoon it was
rtNOrted that over 100 poles along the
Erie railway had gone down. putting
the New York Buffalo-ChicagO wires
by that route completely out of service.
Recourse for a short time was had to
wires via Albany and Syracuse. but a
few hours afterward the pressure of
ice on the wires carried them poles
and all. to the ground outside Of Pough-
keepsie. thereby effectively closing that
service.
Subject to Delay.
The Western Union was able to keep
open the way TO Baltimore. Philadel-
phS and most places in New Jersey,
but business for other points save New
England was only accepted subject TO
delay. Communication between New
y 0rk and Boston over all lines was un-
The telegraph officials
are unable TO state the damage until
they can communicate with the terri
tories affected. Every effort is being
made tonight TO make repairs so that
d few wires may be opened up 70 the
south and west by the time business
opens tomorrow. Special trains were,
engaged on most OF the roads running
out of Jersey City and Hoboken and
late this afternoon laden
with wire repairing gangs.
Owing 10 the completeness Of the tie
up the men do not anticipate much pro-
gress OF repairs until daylight enables
them 10 examine thoroughly the extent
of the damage. The long distance tele-
phone company has also been badly
handica pped in its service Many of its
wires are down I'm the storm-swept area,
but as its poles followed highways
rather than railway tracks, they are
not as likely to give way TO wash
outs
The weather bureau yesterday sent
out warnings advising sea captains TO
remain in port over Sunday.
Considerable Damage.
Some damage was done in ana
around New York Tonight the ferry
boat Port Morris. running between Col
lege Point and Ninety-sixth street,
Manhattan, went ashore on a rocky
ledge in Bowery bay. There were ten
pa ssengers and crew aboard. Owing To
the heavy sea il is impossible to send a
wrecking boat to her, but a police boat
has gone TO the rescue.
Owing 10 the fierce dOwnpour the
streets of New York were practically
deserted today. The high wind played
havoc with the street signs. which fell
in showers. Many windows were brok-
en-, and a few passersby were cut by
the signs and flying glass. The full
force of the gale was felt in the har-
Dor Several boats anchored off Staten
Island dragged their anchors. Late in
the evening freight barge. apparent
" unloaded. was blown ashore during
the height of the gale in Sandy Hook
bay. off the old dynamite battery. The
vessel lies in a very bad position. with
every sea sweeping her decks. The life
savers are standing by. but are unable
TO hoard the wreck. The fate Of the
crew is unknown.
Warships Had Steam Up.
Owing to the high seas in the upper
harbor the ferry boats TO Staten Island
were compelled to tie up. The battle
ships Maine and Missouri. which are
lying III the roadstead off Tompkins-
Vile are riding well. but have fun
steam up aud double anchors out.
At Bellevue hospital the storm was
felt severely. One OF the large elms
standing on the campus was blown
down, and half a dozen men narrowly
escaped being crushed.
Later on a tent occupied by eighteen
patients was wrecked by
the wind, and the suffering people were
exposed to the elements. They We're
TO the hospital as soon as pos
sible, although most of them were
drenched TO the skin.
At midnight the local weather bureau
said As inches Of rain and melted snow
had fallen IL was predicted that the
storm would be centered off the prov
inces tomorrow, thence passing out 10
sea.