New-York tribune., 1912-02-23
96-M|LE WIND, HIGHEST
RECORDED, SWEEPS CITY
Police Report Many Persons In
jured and Much Damage to
Property as Result of Blow.
TALL BUILDINGS UNSHAKEN
Stand Unmoved While Human
Beings Are Tossed About,
Tugboat Is Sunk and an
Aeroplane Wrecked.

The instruments at the Weather Bureau
which measure wind velocity never re-
corded 30 high a wind in New York as
that which came bowling out Of the
southwest yesterday.
According to the local Weather Blu
reau, the local anenometer showed n
velocity or ninety-six miles an hour for
the five minutes ended at 1909 a. m. yes
terday. For one minute of this interval
the velocity instrument recorded a We
locIty Of 10 miles an hour, which Is
record for this port. The highest pre-
viously recorded speed for the wind In
New York City was eighty-three miles
an hour one day in April, 1908.
That day was accepted then as great
test day in the history Of tall buildings.
For one of the important things to con-
slider in erecting a towering building Is
how hard the wind is going to smash into
II and try 80 push IT over. That Is why
those who own a 400 or 500 foot build
,nR felt relieved when that eighty-three-
mile hurricane passed and left them un-
shaken.
But Yesterdays ninety-slx-mile scurry
revived their fears A wind like that
means a pressure Of about twenty-five
mounds on each square foot OF surface
ounosine II. To a building 500 feet high
and 100 feet broad. Of which there are
plenty in New York, presenting a sur
face OF 10000 square feet to the wind.
Yesterdays blow meant that there was a
weight of something over one million
mounds trying to push it over, with all
tho sudden little jerks and kicks and
ouIck twists that a freaky wind knows
how TO use. The average skytopper Is
wind braced" against velocity Of sew
enty miles an hour only.
Tall Buildings Repulso Wind.
All OF which is why yesterday was In
a way a significant day In the history OF
tall buildings. 1t justified. In at least
one detail, the practicability OF that type
of structure. even though II did not hesi-
tate to smash out a lot OF windows, pull
down few signs and rouse the Ire OF
the average pedestrian by slapping him
abut with the utmost disregard for his
dignity or comfort. But 1t was a wind
Of broad gauged democracy" much
praised in this year Of politics, for 1t
sklttled the high hat off the multi-mill-
jonaires head as unfortunately as II
snatched off the ordinary "bum's" tat
tered can
The actual harm done by the wind was
chiefly in the form of cut heads for peo-
pie and broken windows for houses
Nine cases Of injuries were reported by
the police as a result of the wind.
Bridget O'Grady, OF No. 314 East 12c.h
street, was struck by flying glass. and
was treated for cuts about the body.
Salyo Peno, of No. 241 East oath street,
had his scalp lacerated when sign fell
from a theatre. at Seventh avenue and
4lst street. Edward II. Fulton. of No.
313 West 9th street, was knocked un-
conscious by an iron cover blown from
the roof of building near his home.
being taken to hospital with fract-
ured skull. A shattered window at 1J0th
street and Melrose avenue was -esponsi-
BILE for severe face cuts inflicted on
eleven-ye year-old Aloysius Seipel, of No.
1863 East 156th street. He was removed
to Lebanon Hospital, where his face was
stitched UP.
Signs proved a prolific source Of in
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