New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-06
One Man Killed and Two Hurt in
GreenWood-Many Trees
and Buildings Hit
by Lightning.
DOWNPOUR WAS TERRIFIC
Almost Two Inches of Water
Fell in 20 Minutes, Flood
ing Cellars and Streets
City Hall Roof Not
Proof Against It.

Bringing death and destruction, one
Of the most violent and peculiar thun-
derstorms that has struck New York
in years visited the city yesterday
afternoon. accompanied by a torrential
downpour Of rain and hail. One man
was killed by lightning and many per-
sons were injured. Buildings all over
the city were damaged and more than
a dozen fire alarms were turned in as
results.
Although the rain fell for about
twenty minutes only, it descended with
such fulness that it registered Is
inches. One effect Of the rain and hail
was to bring the temperature tumbling
down from 50 degrees TO -. w'+h a
corresponding drop in the humidity.
Charles Hains, of Fort Hamilton ave-
nue. and East Sd street, Brooklyn, en-
ployed in the Greenwood Cemetery.
with Stanley Younkers and Philip Sui
Ivan, was at work near the Ninth
avenue entrance when the storm broke.
They sought refuge under tree. a
bolt struck the tree and the three men
dropped
Body Turned Purple.
When help reached the stricken men
Hams was dead His body had turned
purple. Younkers and Sullivan, who
were unconscious, were hurried to the
Norwegian Hospital. where il was said
Younkers might not recover. Sullivan
was able TO go TO his home later.
II was Just before l o'clock that
ominous clouds began TO gather over
the hills of New Jersey. Soon they
swept eastward, shutting out the sun
and growing sullenly as they came.
Vivid streaks of lightning shot toward
the earth. A short period Of stiffness
followed.
At 1:1O o'clock the storm broke here
in all its fury. Huge drops Of rain and
hail pelted down. The sky grew dark
and a gloom was cast over the entire
city.
The ain rapidly filled the sewers.
Water filled many streets from curb TO
curb and cellars were flooded by the
score.
The vortex of the storm seemed to
pass over the lower end of Manhattan
Island and the southwestern section OF
Brooklyn and Coney Island. other sec
tons OF the city experienced little or
no rain at all.
Freaks Of the Lightning.
A large tree in the rear Of the City
Hall was struck, several branches be-
ing ripped off. A dozen sparrows roost-
ing on the boughs fiuttered helplessly
on the ground for several minutes be-
fore recovering.
Although the roof of the City Hall is
supposed 10 be proof against rain, 1t
could not withstand yesterdays out
bursts. and water began to pour
. through, flooding the Office Of Borough
President McAneny. Paintings Of for
mer mayors were rescued by John
Ryan, custodian Of the building.
At Whitehall and Stone streets the
{ fiagpole Of the New York Produce Ex-
change Building was struck and split.
ne gilded cross atop the Church Of
the Holv Trinity. Lenox avenue and
1920 street, in Harlem, succumbed TO
a stroke of lightning and crashed TO
the street. wrecking a lamp post.
Two holes were torn in the roof, but
the interior of the church was not dam
aged. Charles Blackman, the sexton,
who was in the church, said all the
Continued on second page, hfth column.