Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-02-26
WesterIy's Experience With The Gale
Hundred Year Old Elm Blown Over, Blocking Traffic
and Damaging Lighting Observation-Disclosures, N. l.
Man After Arthur Fuller-North Stonington-W esterly
Road to be Completed by Private individuals.

ers will give cash. ana oIlerS laDol
and filing material. and 1t is proposed
to have the short route from North
Stonington to Westerly open 10 We
hicuIar traffic at an early date.
Richard B. Wheeler of North Ston-
ington and Horace Vose OF westerly
have taken the matter up and propose
to raise the funds required by popular
subscription
The northwest gale Of Thursday
caused general Inconvenience to Pc
destrians, especially to ladies' VINO
feared bodily harm as they walked
under the squeaking swinging signs
overs the sidewalks. There are many
of these signs in Westerly, too many
for public safety.
The dead branches of many trees
were snapped off and covered the
ground Guy ropes were made fast
to some of the trees in front OF the
w. d. Hoxie summer residence In Elm
street, to prevent them from being
blown down, the trees being weakened
BY cutting away the roots in laying
the granolithic walks last summer
But later in the afternoon three Of
these trees were blown down.
The gale tended to beat down the
sea along the east beach, causing the
action of the water to be chOppy and
churly and severed with whitecaps. 1t
is a peculiar and almost inexplainable
fact that a strong Northwestern al
ways lands large quantities of sea-
weed on the east beach, and therefore
is the i'll wind that blows good to the
farmers along the beach.
While the wind storm was at its
heighA just before noon, there was n
loud cNal1ing noise, then crash that
caused, CONSERVATION among those who
happened to be in the vicinity of West
Broad and Liberty streets. The great
elm that stood at the corner in the
yard of what is known as the George
Gavitt place. was split almost the en-
tire length of the trunk, and that por-
ton that was loosened fell towards
Liberty street, and was held from
falling to the street by a large and
strong pole of the Westerly Light &
Power Co.
The pole holds the telephone and
fire alarm wires as well as those
charged with electricity, and as soon
as possible guards were posted to
warn people to keep beyond the dam
ger zone. as there was liability of the
giving way to the great weight Of the
fallen tree. When the falling portion
of the tree came in contact with the
pole, the arms bearing the long dis
lance telephone and fire alarm wires
were smashed and that service put out
of business.
This tree is said to be the oldest in
this section The trunk was compar-
atively short and about twenty feet in
circumference, with many branches
as large as the ordinary elm tree,
and it is believed that its spread was
larger than any two trees in West
erly 1t was transplanted by George
Stillman one hundred years ago.
The big electric light pole bent un-
derneath the great weight of the tree,
and all the wires usually on a corner
pole were cut, which meant a cut out
of the electric light and power service
in StOningtOn. Mystic and Noank. as
well as in Pawcatuck.
Just after two O'Clock there came
momentary increase in the gale, the
electric light pole snapped in two near
the sidewalk, and the almost severed
portion of the big tree came to the
road with a crash, blocking West
Broad and Liberty streets. The ends
Of the branches struck the building
on the opposite corner owned by Pat
rick Mcnamara, carrying away
chimney damaging the roof and
smashing windows in the Liberty
street side. of the building.
Selectman Stable took charge and in
a short time the branches that covered
the sidewalks were cut away, and the
walks made passable. Then the wood
choppers chopped away and in a short
time vehicular traffic was made pos
sible.
The wind storm did considerable
damage to trees, all over westerly and
several Of the swinging signs that be-
came lOOsened were taken down be-
fore any injury resulted. An elm tree
in front of Calvary Baptist church
also succumbed TO the gale Thursday
afternoon.
H. v. o'Malley of Middletown, N. ",