Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-06-15
NEW YORK LIT Up
BY BOLTS Or FIRE
Holiday Crowds Drenched and
Driven in O Panic to Seek
Shelter.
TWO STORMS and HIGH WIND
Twelve Thousand at Palisade
Park When Lights Went Out
Sideways Flooded
Coney Island Caught.
TWO STORMS and HIGH WIND

New York, June 11.-An electric storm
of unusual energy and brillancy hit New
York at ten o'clock last night and before
II had ceased driving holiday crowds 10
shelter and upsetting traffic. another
storm. even more intense, swept across
the city from the south.
One of the worst effects of the first
storm was to put out electric lights
in Palsado Park, ~ j. In the darkness
that came suddenly 1900 men. women,
and children struggled in panic to find
their way to tho exits. They found tho
surface cars stopped. and a mad scramble
through bushes and over unfamiliar coun-
try in the search Of shelter followed.
The storm tied up the surface cars on
Broadway for Il minutes. as 1t was
found necessary to cut off the curren,.
So much water was driven into the sub
way through tho open kiosks and the
sidewalk vcntilator screens that for y
time 1t was feared the tunnel would be
flooded at the end OF some of the inclnes
to such a depth as TO interfere with the
traffic.
The rain began at s:i5 p. m. and 10
minutes later a torrent came with n sud-
denness that surprised even the weather
men With the rain was a vivid display
Of lightning. which came in repeated steel
blue flashes that ziszagged across the
western sky.
These conditions would have made n
terrific summer shower but the storm
was accompanied by wind which quick
~ attained a velocity Of 70 miles an
hour and sent the torrential downfall
blowing across country at express speed
Just as the rain got well under way the
bands We're playing in Pnlisade Park.
cheering those who hoped 'it would soon
pass over
This way, this way" the bankers
were shouting, and the crowd was pushing
good naturally to take advantage OF every
bit Of shelter. when suddenly the lights
went out.
Just as the lights dimmed there was a
vivid flash which seemed to envelop the
park buildings. a terrific crash of thun-
der followed, and then some one shouted
that the electric power house Just north
| of the scenic railroad had been struck.
For about three minutes the crowd In the
| darkness good naturedly listened to the
attendants shouting that there was no
! danger. Then came tho rain in sheets
| and with II the wind that came tearing
across country out Of the northwest.
| A child cried out In TERROR and that
cry seemed to move the people TO sudden
movement. The rush for places Of shelter
| soon became 4 stampede. The electric
| flashes fortunately served to keep the
crowd moving in the general direction
| where the trolley cars were waiting.
The cries OF the frightened women and
children predominated above the din of
the storm 1t was then very little use
for the park attendants TO shout that
all was we'll
! FIGHT TO GET ON CARS
Electricity was used on the roller
| coasters to carry the cars to the tops OF
some OF the steep inclnes Several cars
We're stopped on the inclnes and were
only kept from rolling backward by the
safety clutches.
Those In the car, left stranded in the
| darkness, were In fright, and the impris.
| oned women could be heard shouting
Those in charge had to restrain the more
frightened ones from jumping out After
4 delay they got lanterns lit and brough,
ladders. These were put up, and those
In the stalled cars climbed or were car.
ried to the ground.
As the park emptied there was des
| perate fight to get places in the waiting
trolley cars, The few cars waiting soor
filled to more than standing room only,
Those repulsed from the cars wer,
| forced either to stand in the drenchins
rain or 10 stumble off in the darkness II
search of shelter. Many of them wer,
women carrying babies or dragGinl
drenched and terror-stricken children b!
the arms. It was a half hour before tn
cars began to run, and the hysterical
battered. soaked crowd to reach the fcrr'
and crowd the ferry boats coming to th
side,
Coney island was taken unawares b!
the storm. 1t has been one Of the hotties
Gays OF the season. and 10000 persons
were in the various resorts or crowdinl
and pushing along Surf avenue and tn
Bowery.