The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-19
Wind and Rain Are Very
Destructive In City
SUBURBS ARE DAMAGED
Panic Occurs In Circus Tent witch Is
Wrecked BUT Fortunately No One
Is Killed During the wild
and Exciting Moments

New York. June 1S.-(Special. )-Nhe
deaths, scores of injuries and incalcula-
BILE damage to buildings, shipping, trees
and shrubbery in Greater New York this
AFTERNOON were among the results of the
most severe rain and windstorm that has
visited the city In months. The dead:
Frederick Webber, 21 years old,
drowned
Miss Mary Jackson, IS years old,
drowned
Four unidentified men, drowned when
their fishing smack capsized off Coney
Island.
julius Joseka, 1s years old, Corona,
struck by lightning.
Frank Roam, 25 years old, Williams
port, struck by falling tree.
Pietro Santa Maurio. 40 years old, killed
by falling smokestack in the Greener
brewery, Evergreen.
OF the list injured, dozen or more
probably will die. They were struck BY
falling trees or poles, by cornices blown
from roofs or by other heavy objects
carried through the air by the force of
the 60-mile gale, and most of them have
fractured skulls
From all parts of the greater city came
reports Of great damage to property, Of
trees and fiagpoles blown down. of houses
unroofed. boats torn from their moor
ings and blown to sea, plate glass win
dows smashed, traffic by subway, elevated
and surface tied up and panics almost
everywhere where crowds had congre-
gated.
streets Become Rivers
The streets were almost rivers. and
thousands of people who had left their
homes 10 see the Roosevelt parade We're
drenched In many cases women tainted
or became hysterical. Every possible
shelter was utilized by the crowds and
along Broadway stores, doorsways. thea
tre Iobbies and hotels were 5ammed to
suffocation.
The most serious panic was at Manhat-
tan field Eighth avenue and lo5tn street,
where the Forepaugh-Sells circus tents
were pitched. Dozens Of persons were In
tured but fortunately only one seriously.
This was Mrs. Fred Pratt. who was at
the circus with her husband and 4-months
old child A falling beam struck MRS.
Pratt on the head, cutting deep gasn.
She was taken to the ]. Hood wright
hospital
There we're between 1900 and 1000 people
under the f"big top" when the storm
broke. Performers occupied the three
rings and both stages. Suddenly shortly
after o'clock the tent began to grow
dark. Then there was a crash of thunder
and a rush of wind. At the entrance to
the dressing tent awaiting their turn IN
the ring were a number of horses nelo
by attendants. The animals, termed
plunged and tried to break away. Then
from the south end of the tent came
yomans screams. One Of the beams
which supported the tent had fallen be-
tween Mr.. Pratt and his wife. striking her
a glancing blow on the head. Mr. Fra.t
was slightly injured in protecting the
baby
Struggle In Tent
Then came another roar OF tnun-
der and the deluge. In few SECONDS the
rain was pouring through the canvas Inc
attic ndants. fearing that the tent would
rolar,c. went among the audience trying
10 ouiet them but advising all to leave.
some women became hysterical and there
was rush for the exits. Many dropped
behind the seats and crawled under the
tents. while others tried to cut through
the canvas Women and children were
crushed in the dense mass that strug-
gled toward the open air. The side maps
were thrown back and the mass OF people
dashed through the openings ana strns-
gled to- the street, wading Knee oeep
in water and mud.
The storm cost the government many
thousands of dollars In damage at the
navy yard. The great floating derrick
Hercules, which Is 100 feet long, and car
ries an immense steel crane, was cap
sized by the gale which was blowing
veritable hurricane. The Hercules cost
$25O. 900, and 1t will cost $4,000 to repair II
besides tying up lot of work for al
}nno q
heavy Losses.
Muny smaller boats were torn from their
rnoorings and wrecked at various points
along the water 'front.'
All the seaside resorts suffered more OF
| less damage. ~