The evening world., 1909-03-25

a strong southeast wind. approa ching
a gale bringing with It torrents OF cold
rain, made things very uncomtortab BILE
along the waterfront to-day. 1t piled
up an enormous tide, filling cellars and
washing down unprotected roads. 1t
jeopardIzed many vesses at anchor
along the Staten Island shore, where
the brunt OF the storm was felt Extra
anchors were let so and every precau-
ton was taken TO keep the craft from
dragging. In the fleet this morning
were big four-master, another big
Norwegian sailing vessel and several
tramp steamships. Along the Shore
road on Staten Island the water Vas
very threatening, and the foundations
OF many fire residences were In !mm!-
nent danger Of being undermined.
Trains on the Erie and other incom-
ing New Jersey lines were all slightly
delayed this morning, danger OF wash
ont causing the engineers to proceed
with great caution No serious damage
has been reported.
Says Rain viii Turn to Snow.
Forecaster Emory said this morning
that the winds would gradually shift to
the Northwest, which would mean a
sudden change In the temperature. The
thermometer would. he said, fall many
degrees and the rain would turn to
snow.
To-day's storm Is a combination OF
two, one from Lake Superior and the
other from Kansas. that came to-.
gether last night of the Maryland
coast and then moved northward with
great velocity. The rain area to-day
Is very extensive. every State east Of
the Mississippi River having heavy
rainfall. with the exception OF Maine
and New Hampshire.
The heavy rain and high tide made
Pavonla avenue near the Erie ferry
house, Jersey City, impossible. The
lower end Of the thoroughfare was
completely under water. Trolley cars
discharged their passengers u quarter
mile back from the ferry. Heavy
teams, in many instances. found It
impossible to get aboard the ferry
boats. owing to the steep incline OF
the runways leading to the decks.
Along the Coney Island water front
precautions were taken yesterday
as linst the expected high spring tide.
Porches were reinforced and steps lead
ing from hotel verandas to the sand
were removed Old water men on the
island saw signs Of the coming tempest
and made round OF the beach hotels,
warning their proprietors and care-tak-
ers against the incoming high water.
Flood on Coney Island.
To-day the water was higher than at
any time this year. It reached porches
q hundred feet from the normal waters
edge, and many Of them were flooded
and floors were covered with wash two
and three feet deep. II Is estimated
that the water to-day along the Coney
Island front was fourteen feet higher
than during the highest tide In sum.
mer months.
At Dreamland part OF the boardwalk
was carried away.
At Ravenhall's. the Majestic Hotel
and others between Steeplechase Park
and Sea Beach. giant waves smashed
over the porch railings and swept into
the dinnIgs-rooms and kitchens and
then forced their way into the bathing
pavilions and half way back to Surf
avenue. In many places care takers
were imprisoned and unable to reach
the street. No danger is anticipated.
however. as the ocean front hotels are
constructed on foundations solid enough
to Withstand heavier attack than
to-day's rise.
At Bath Beach and Shecpshead Bay
dozens OF small craft dragged their
moorings.