River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-11-17
DAMAGING STORM.
Wind and Snow Create Havoc Along
Atlantic Coast-Loss of Life
Feared.

Chicago, Nov. 14.-From Maine to
Florida and from the Atlantic coast
as far west as Chicago a terrific storm
ragged Sunday The heaviest damage
was to ocean shipping and to tele-
graphic and telephone service east of
Pittsburg. On the sea heavy loss OF
life is feared Between the great
eastern cities the wires are so general
ly down that communication is next
to impossible and full reports of the
damage wholly out Of the question.
On the great lakes numerous disasters
are reported. Shipping on Lakes Erie
and Huron suffered most heavily.
The storm originated in the north
ern part of Florida and swept up the
Atlantic coast and into the interior.
In Pennsylvania snow fell to a depth
of a foot on the level. Snow fell in
Baltimore, Washington and in Nav
York. In New York and other places
the wind blew Is miles an hour. white
the barometer fell to the lowest point
ever recorded. Enormous damage
was done to telegraph and telephone
lines throughout the storm area. Sew
eral ships were wrecked along the At
lantic and one or more on the great
lakes. Train service was delayed in
some portions of the storm-ridden dis
trict and all trains We're late.
New York. Nov. IA New York is en-
tirely cut off from the south and west
by a fierce hurricane, accompanied by
rain and snow, which is sweeping the At
lantic coast. Starting from Florida
Saturday night, the storm of wind and
rain has come up the coast at almost cy-
clonic speed
Wire service out of New York was tied
up more effectually than at any other
time since the blizzard of '88. The West
ern Union and Postal Telegraph COM
Danies have no direct communication
with cities further south than Baltimore
and all western points are cut off. The
Postal has been cabling some of it's most
urgent messages to .Canso, NJ S., from
which point they are wired to Montreal.
and thence forwarded to Chicago over
Canadian Pacific wires. Shortly after
noon the telegraph companies COM
panies commenced to feel the effects Of
down and city after city was lost, the
repair gangs were notified, but owing to
the day and heavy storm it was long after
dark before the full force could be mus
tered. Late in the afternoon it was re-
ported that over 100 poles along the
Eric railroad had COnn down oonp1oto
ly putting the New York-Buffalo Chi
cago wires by that route out of service.
Recourse for a short time was had to
wires via Albany and Syracuse, but few
hours afterward the pressure of the ice
on the wires carried them, poles and all
to the ground outside of Poughkeepsie,
thereby effectively closing that service
Owing to the fierce downpour, the
streets of New York were practically de-
serted Sunday. The high wind played
havoc with the street signs, which fell
in showers. Many windows were broken
and few passersby were cut by the
signs and flying glass. The full force of
the gale was felt in the harbor. Several
boats anchored off Staten island dragged
their anchors. Late in the evening a
freight barge, apparently unloaded, was
blown during the height of the gale in
Sandy Hook bay, off the old dynamite
battery. The vessel lies in a very bad po-
sition, with every sea sweeping her
decks. The life savers are standing by,
but are unable to board the wreck. The
fate Of the crew is unknown.