New-York tribune., 1908-07-15
STORM DAMAGES CITY
KILLS TWO; HEAT FIVE.
Hail and Heavy Rain, accom- panied
by Wind, ReIieUe Heat.


afternoon accompanied with lightning which
killed one man instantly, tied up the entire
overhead electric system Of the New Haven
Railroad. deranged the electric system OF at
least one hotel and destroyed much property
The storm was spread over the entire metropolis
tan area. doing damage in many places but
bringing relief from the heat. So fast did the
rain come down that the McAdoo tunnel was
flooded north of Christopher street and only
shuttle trains between HobOken and Chris
topher street could be operated after 8 o'clock
Large sections OF Williamsburg were flooded,
and boat clubs along the Hudson and Harlem
rivers suffered severe losses. but thousands OF
heat stricken persons rejoiced over the relieving
coolness. During the first part Of the storm
there was a fall Of the largest hailstOnes seen
in the city in many years Several fully an
inch in diameter fell around Battery Park The
large stones broke windows in several Il trains
and on tugboats in the harbor. A bunch Of
boys and girls bathing in the uncovered public
baths at the Battery had many sore spot on
their heads before they could reach shelter
1t was even rumored that the horses on the
Belt Line made several rapid strides while
the hail came down. but the report could not be
verified But record breaking number of run
aways was caused in all parts of the city by the
sharp stings of the hailstones on the heads and
bodies of horses.
Considerable damage done by the hail to
and other growing products on farms
within the storm All parts were affected.
the northern and southeastern much more than
the southern part of New Jersey; but the great
est fury of the storm broke the greater
city itself.
THE DEAD.
ATALL. NJ Of No, lss West ssth street killed
by lightning in a launch near Tarrytown-
DALHOFF the Rev Dr. l. c. died the heat at his
home No s6s Springfield avenue. Newark. y J.
ana 'od d2oSne DO during Ruf the storm Pond
ESoE,IrER Catherine sfxtv--one wears old Of No a5
south q stseP ssiH BrookyH @
KoILNER Carl hfty-nine years old. Of No. Meser-
street Brooklyn. died his home from the heat
ford street. Brooklyn his home from heat
:lo 5o usene % eg SP's ro 2 heat f No Nn'n
Between o'clock and Sis the thermometer
fell II degrees. All during the morning high
percentage Of humidity had made moderate
temperature feel something like the CALLING heat
of last Sunday Four deaths from the heat were
reported in Brooklyn and many were prostrated
all over the greater city. But after
o'clock in the afternoon came the rain which
farmers have prayed for since the middle Of
June and the weather bureau had predicted for
week.
During seven minutes of the storm the rain
fell at the rate of s5 inches an hour. In all 16S
O'Clock No more showers predicted for
to-day but brisk westerly winds should keep
the temperature down 70 a comfortable point
The accident 10 the electric system of the
New Haven road occurred just at the beginning
of the rush hours, and thousands Of commuters
bound for westchester and Connecticut towns
were delayed For almost forty-ive minutes no
trains could be moved at all. and it was fully
two hours or more before the regular schedule
rrr,- t.oy+ ,s-I,
caused the trouble struck the overhead wires
near Wakefield where the overhead system be-
gins and ran along the entire system as far
as Stamford. Many steam locomotives which
went out of commission some time ago had to
be pressed into service well as steam switch
ing engines at New Rochelle and Port Chester
The through express service suffered with the
local traffic At o'clock the electricity was
turned on again. an hour and half after the
lightning struck. but it not until much
later that the company caught up with it's
schedule Many trains were over two hours late
in reaching Greenwich
The Hotel Rembrandt. at Amsterdam avenue
and 9Sth street. also suffered from the lightning.
as we'll as Knowlton Court, an apartment house
at Broadway and 15Sth street. Lightning struck
the former Just before the rain came at O'Clock.
breaking up the electric lighting system of the
hotel and knocking down two men who were
ously injured At KnowItcn Court. which stands
on a high point near the Hudson, 3O-foot flag
pole was split into kindling wood, and frightened
every family in the house as it fell into the
court below carrying with it bricks and cor
nices. No one was in the court
The storm extended far out into New Jersey.
and manv points reported a terrific" thunder
storm At East Railway lightning struck a
large barn belonging to Edward Mays, and in a
few minutes benzine tank in the building
ploded and the whole structure was destroyed.
including a $4,000 automobile and the seasons
hay crop.
Nor did Long Island escape. In Williamsburg
the rain fell like a cloudburst. and widespread
damage was done in that part of the city known
as the flood district Streets in some places
were flooded TO the depth of i've feet. cellars
inundated and many buildings endangered Con-
ditions were worst on both sides OF waIlabOut
street from Lee avenue TO Throop and from
Flushing avenue to Rutledge street. All cars
on lines running through the section were tied
up. the flood rising over their floors When
6naIIv the sewers were able 10 carry of the
unusual amount OF a thick coating OF
mud Allied with refuse Of all kinds covered the
streets.
similar conditions prevailed near Graham ave-
r,,a and Fngert street The Ridgewood line cars
we're tied up for some time in the deep cut near
the citv line where the flood reached its great
est depth
Before the storm came five persons had died
from the heat In the metropolitan district and
over sixteen had bccn Frustrated in Manhattan
and Brooklyn. Most of the suffering due.
directly or indirectly. TO the severe heat OF sun
~.