The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-11-19
ATLANTIC COAST
IS STORM SWEPT
TELEGRAPH WIRES ARE DOWN
Fra M GrcRtis Imprdcd, and la
h"m" sections Is Completely
suspendcd-IiHhl snowfall
Is General

New York, Nov. H. New York is
entirely cut off from thc south and
west By q fierce hurricane. acyompa-
MED by rain and snow, which is sweep
Ing the Atlantic coast
Starting from Florida. Saturday
night, the storm OF wind and rain has
come mp the coast 1T almost ryclonic
speed. Early Sunday morning 1t was
central off Cape Hatoras, although It's
ever gathering force was felt far Ia the
northward, Rain began failing in New
York at 5 a m, and early in the
morning changed to u wet snow 1ha
wind. which had been blowing mod
orately, vcercd to the southeast. and
shortly assumed hurricane proportions.
At six O'Clock Sunday night the local
weather bureau noted q velocity Of 10
miles an hour. which Increased To tS
miles at $50 O'Clock. That speed kept
up for several hours. At ten O'Clock
the storm center was at Block island,
where the barometer showed a presa-
ure of 2SG2 inches, with tho wind
blowing 7G miles an hour. A Mas
tucket the barometer was a trile higs-
er and the wind 60 miles.
Wire service ont of New York Is tisd
up more elIcctualIy than at any Other
time since tho blizzard OF 1883. The
Western Union and Postal Telegraph
Co.'s have no direct communication
With cities further south than Balti-
more, and all western points are cut
off,
The Postal has been cabling some Of
Its urgent messages TO Canso. N. s.,
from which point they are wired to
Montreal, and thence forwarded To
Chicago over Canadian Pacific 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, tho
repair gangs were notified, but owing
to the day and heavy storm, 1t was
dark before the full force could 10
mustered. Late in the afternoon 1t
vas reported that over one hundred
poles along the Erie railroad had gone
down, putting the New York, Buffalo,
Chicago wires by that route complete
ly out of service. Recourse for a
short time was had to wires via Al
bany and Syracuse, but a few hours
afterWard the pressure of the ice OF
the wires carried them, poles and all.
TO the ground outside Of poughkoepsie.
thereby closing that service, The
Western Union was able to keep open
the way TO Baltimore, Philadelphia.
and most places in New Jersey, but
business for other points, ave New
England, Was only accepted subject 10
delay. Con muElCati0n between Now
York and Boston over all lines was
uninterrupted, The telegraph officials
are unable to state the damage until
they can communicate with the terri
tories affected. Every effort was being
made Sunday night 10 make repairs,
30 that a few wires may be opened up
to the south and west by the time
business opens Monday. Special trains
were engaged on most OF the roads
running out Of Jersey City and Ho-
boken, and dispatched Sunday even
Ing, laden with wire repairing gangs.
The weather bureau Saturday sent
ont warnings advising sea captains to
remain In po"l over SundaJ Some
damage was done In and around Now
York.
Sunday night the ferryboat Port
Morris" running between College
point and Ninety-sixth street Mas
haitian, went ashore on a rocky ledge
In Bowery bay, There were ten pas
sengers and the crew aboard. owing
to the fierce %downpour, the streets Of
New York were practically deserted.
The high wind played havoc with the
street signs, which fell in showers.
Many windows were broken, and a few
passersby we're cut by the slgus and
flying glass. The full force Of ths
gale was felt In the harbor. Several
boats anchored of Staten Island
dragged their anchors.
Late in inc evening, a freight barge,
apparently u%nloaded, was blowA
ashore during the height OF the gale
in Sandy Hook bay, of the old dyna.
mite battery. The vessel lies In q
very bad position, with every sea
sweeping her decks, The life savers
are standing by. but are unable to
board the wreck, Tho fate Of the
crew is unknown.
Later on, a tent occupied by IS tu-
bercul0sis patients was wrecked by tbs
wind, and the suffering people wers
exposed to the elements They were
removed 10 the hospital as soon 40
possible, although most Of them were
drenched TO the skin.
Tobacco PIm nters Organise.
Lyuchburg, Va, Nov. with dele