Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1909-12-14
TERRIFIC RAIN DRENCHES CITY
AND WIND ADDS TO THE HAVOC
Much Discomfort
And Damage
in Storm.
ALONG COAST

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Considerable damage was done by
the storm in this city and vicinity
last night. Rain fell in torrents and
a heavy wind accompanied 1t, Old
settlers declare that they never saw
1t rain harder So much water fell
that the sewers were unable to carry
1t away fast enough and, as a result,
the streets were flooded in places.
The wind beat the rain with such
force that embankments were wash
ed away and, along the shore, some
of the bulkheads were barred.
Few cared to venture out last
night as the streets were deserted
and many of the stores closed early
for lack of customers. The theatres
drew very small audiences to the
first performance and at the second
show there was only handful of
people present. Those who did ven-
ture out received a good drenching
from head to foot and not few um-
brellas were bfoken by the wind.
The storm played havoc with the
wires of the Public Service Corpora
tion and there was trouble with the
fire alarm system all the evening.
Superintendent Hufnagle stated this
morning that the wind put the fire
whistle at the New Jersey Terra
Gotta Works out of commission but
that men were working on 1t and
would have 1t in operation again to-
day. Mr.. Hufnagle said that wires
were blown down all over the city
and that from o'clock yesterday
afternoon until o'clock last night
Sewaren, Woodbridge and Carteret
were without light. A gang of line
men worked all night and every time
the fire alarm went out of order the
trouble was found and remedied inn
mediately.
The damage along the shore was
considerable, but not as great as was
expected. Patrick Lyons's launch,
Marion, which was moored in Van
Pelt's slip, broke loose during the
evening and was pounded against
the dock. The boat was considera-
bly, damaged as an investigation this
morning showed that several holes
had been made in 1t. A two-masted
sch ooner which was anchored off the
boat house also broke its mooring
and was blown against Wogloms s
dock, but was only slightly damaged.
The tide was very high and the
heavy blow caused washouts along
the bulkheads. especially at the Rar-
itan Yacht Club. The bulkhead at
the side of the club was being re-
paired, but now some of the walk is
gone Garret v. Evans's- sailboat
also had trouble.
AS the ferryboat Perth Amboy left
this city for Tottenvilley on the 8
o'clock trip last night~4t had to stop
Immediately aftef leaving, as a
schooner -Masrfast In the cable i'm
mediG Fl its way BY the use of
"a ser on Bunten's dock the ferry
boat finally got out.
While Patrolman Martin was ring
ing In from the police call box at
Smith street and the Central rail-
road at 9:45 o'clock, he received a
severe shock Of electricity.
On Kearny avenue, near the West
minister, the rain caused washout
and this morning the new asphalt
block pavement was covered with
clay and dirt.
Staten Island Damage.
A large part of Richmond borough
was In darkness last night, owing to
the blowing down of electric wires,
and before i o'clock 1875 separate
broken and hanging wires had been
reported. The east shore was all
most entirely without electric SER
vice, and most of the stores there
had to close early because they had
no means of lighting except candles
Some of the storekeepers resurrect-
ed oil lamps and managed to light
up. Along the waterfront the tide
was exceedingly high, and Front
street, in Stapleton, was under water
for the first time in many years. At
ST. George the ferryboats HAD great
difficulty In making landings, owing
to the high tide and the rough sea.
The boats were carried out of their
course across the bay by the gale,
and were late in making their slips.
The boats at anchor off Stapleton
and Tompkinsville all had double
anchors out, and up to a late hour
none of them had gone ashore.
Down the Coast.
At Atlantic City last night a high
northeast gale, with rain, flooded the
resort and the meadows in every
direction were covered with water
The electric lines were out of COM
mission Except for the barge which
turned turtle below there no marine
damage has been reported as yet,
but the beach patrol there was
doubled to watch for vessels that
might be caught in the storm too
close inshore.
In Elizabeth the storm drove craft
along the sound to shelter, but as
far as can be learned no damage has
resulted Telephone wires through-
out the city were damaged and troll
ley schedules interfered with. Elec-
trio lights were snuffed out in all
parts of the city. The hre alarm
rang frequently because of havoc
played with wires by the wind. Many
branches were blown down.