New-York tribune., 1905-08-14
CITY SWEPT BY STORM.
Lightning Kills Grl-Accidents to
Pleasure Boats an SquaH.

afternoon. and followed by lightning and heavy
thunder killed several persons. and upset a large
sloop and several smaller craft. endangering
/ the lives OF nearly a score. The storm broke
shortly after 1 o'clock, and at the same time
heavy sqran gathered on the lower bay. A
young was struck and instantly killed
by lightning at the foot OF West 1G3d-st In
| addition to the dead and injured from the storm.
several cases OF heat prostration were reported.
About 1880 o'clock cries for help were heard
on Ellis Island. where the immigrant authorities
were trying to restore confidence among seven
hundred immigrants on Two OF the old barges.
which broke loose just as they were being towed
into their slips. The barges drifted toward the
Erie Basin. the immigrants yelled frantically,
and for five minutes a panic was threatened
The tugs however, got their hawsers attached
before the excitement reached panic stage.
Captain Frank Brannigan sitting in the
pilot box of the transfer steamer John E Moore
when he heard the cry, and at once put off to
the rescue Out In the middle of the bay. In the
thfckest part of the squall. he found seven per-
sons, among them three women, clinging des-
perately to the side of a capsized sloop. They
had been in this position for nearly half an
hour when the John E. Moore reached them.
Captain Brannigan wheeled his vessel in the
face of the storm and planted it's bow against
the sIoop. The crew held a strong ladder against
the yacht and carried its passengers aboard the
John E. Moore The sIoop belonged to William
Allen OF No 13s West 164th-st.. and was on its
maiden trip The party consisted of Allen and
his wife. their young son Edward, Miss Mary
Reilly of No. 23s West 134th-st.. Harold and
Laura Melony. of the same number and Ralph
and Robert Peck. of No. 134 West 1O4th-st
Miss Malony was exhausted when help came.
The others stood the buffeting we'll. All were
taken to the Ellis Island Hospital, where. after
few hours rest. they were able to go home
Their sloop was towed to the island by one OF
the tugs
TELLS OF EXPERIENCE.
"The sloop is one bought few days ago
said Mr. Allen. II haven't even named it, We
left the foot of West 93d-st. about l ocolck.
intending to go far Coney Island. We
were about half a mile off Ellis Island when
the storm swept over the bay. The squall was
so thick that I could scarcely see my finger
before me- 1 saw the storm coming and tried to
beat in under the lee of the island. but couldn't:
Then I started to run down my sails when the
lib stuck I ran forward to haul IT down
when 1t split and became tangled IN the ropes
The wind then swept dowl on us with terrinc
fury I ordered the women and children 10 go
inside the cabin. In moment the wind causht
the big mainsail and capsized the sloop ran
aft AT once and go. there just in time to see
nv wife and her friends swept overheard
swan out for them. Miss Reilly. however, man
aged to cling TO the port side OF the sloop. The
bovs are all young. but showed remarkable grit
NV smallest boy lost his hold and went Gown
once but I got him and held him fast untn heip
came Yes, it was narrow escape. am very
thankful for the timely aid of Captain Brahhl-
gan and his men,"
Two men-WnHam Strangeways and FRANK
Lieber of No. 1S5 West End-ave and NO loo
West 6Oth-st.-were lifted out of the water on
Bay Ridge by the tug Katy D. and were brought
to Manhattan by the revenue cutter Hudson ex-
hausted Their boat, thirty-foot sloop. had
filed with water ard sunk under them. Their
mascot a yellow dog. was saved with them
Miss Jeannette Freer. twenty years old, of No.
As East 132d-st was struck by lightning while
waiting in Andrew Marshalls boathouse, at
163d-st and the Hudson River. More than
dozen persons were knocked unconscious by the
bolt that killed the girl, but escaped serious in
Jury Miss Freer there with Thomas New
dir of No 2,229 Sth-ave., to wait for the arrival
of William F. Ridley. of No SOS West 15Sth-st.,
who had promised to take them out IN his
launch, the Nevis.
When the storm burst several persons rushed
into the boathouse for protection Suddenly
the south wall of the house. tearing hole ten
feet long and then darting through the room to
where Miss Freer sat. Missing dozen persons
between the south wall and the girl. the light
ming struck her on the head and through
her body into the floor.
The building caught fire. George Deckmeyer
10 the house and saw what appeared 10 be a great
heap of dead people the floor. Hastily putting
out the fire that had started in the south wall he
summoned Patrolman Gallagher. who sent a hurry
call for ambulance. DR.. Darling arrived from
the J. Hood Wright Hospital and quickly revived
all except Miss Freer. Her body was removed
to tho West 152d-st. police station
BIG CHIMNEY INJURED.
The big brick chimney OF the New-York Steam
Heating Compauy, at 5sth-st and Avenue A. erect-
ed last May was mt by the lightning. The bolt
struck the top OF the chimney. S25 feet above the
street and made 4 rigzag line downward about
fifteen feet. Then It seemed to lose itself In the
structure Bricks were hurled in every direction
stroke caused a panic among the three hundred
families living IN nearby tenements. The fneigh-
bors were afraid that the big chimney would top
nile over on them, and many families began to
move ont their furniture in the pouring rain
MANY men. women and children, who were wait
ing for cars for Brooklyn. We're thrown into
manic at the Manhattan end OF the williamsburg
Bridge when a bolt OF lightning hit the long shed
between the tracks OF the Brooklyn and Manhattan
cars The platform jammed. There was a
blindlng fash. and every one more less
stunned.
For an instant the people under the shed
too stunned 10 move. but they quickly recovered
and made wild dash to get away from the shed