Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-12-27
Barges and Crews Lost Off
Barnegat After Being Cast
Loose by Tug Towing Them
FISHERIES Wiped Out.
WRECK SEABRIGHT HOMES

Seabright, n. j., Dec. ia gale
such as the Atlantic seaboard seldom
has seen and known to have cost al
least ten lives swept along the New
Jersey coast for twenty.four hours
The storm rose slowly, and for that
reason alone hundreds OF smaller yea
sells were able to make successfully
for cover and occupants of houses
along the ocean front were able to
abandon them before they were swept
with high waves or toppled over into
the sea.
locity of ninety eight miles at this
place nnd was almost devastated by
the wind and the highest tide ever
known there. Handsome cottages were
swept into the sca. miles of board
walk and bulkheads destroyed aRG
the streets torn up for yards inland,
Railroad traffic along the Iersc>
coast was suspended, and the sewe:
light power and water systems pm
out of commission.
beach at Forked River, N. D., ard the
crews, numbering eight or ten men
were lost. The barges apparently had
broken from a tow. The life saving
crews were unable to launch their
boats to rescue the persons aboard.
Damage amounting to nearly 81 900
600 was done here and neighboring
towns by the gale which lashed the
ocean into fury and sent the hood
tide tearing far into the heart OF the
town. Costly cottages have toppled
into the sea, others have been under.
mined and lie canted at dangerous
angles. The Easements and even the
lower floors OF big hotels are under
water. The sewer system has been
wrecked, train communication cut of
and the undermining of the telegraph
poles and breaking of the cables have
left score of Jersey towns without
light or power.
Hundreds have been made homeless
The fishermen, driven from tbe'I
homes by the Hood. have lost all their
nets and other paraphernalia. Many
Of their vessels have been damaged
fund already has been started to re
lieve their immediate distress and
provide them means to resume seek
ing their livelihood on the water
Cottage Roofs Swept.
The water was forced by the gale
farther inshore than within the mem
ory of the oldest persons here. Miles
Of bulkheads and walks have been de
stroyed. So high did the tide run that
spray from the waves was tossed ovei
the roofs of some Of the houses and
cottages near the beach front.
Many cottages have been washed out
on to the beach and damaged beyond
repair. Others on their undermined
foundations are ready to topple over al
any moment. The pavements have
been stripped from the streets leading
down to the water front. At the
height Of the peril the waters washed
clear across Ocean avenue, the mali
street Of Sea Bright and threatened tt
cut a channel through the heart Of tht
town from the ocean to the Shrews
bury river. Volunteers working knee
deep In the swirling water piled sand
bags where the gap threatened to oper
and averted this peril.
The handsome lawns surrounding
the cottages Of many wealthy summer
residents have been destroyed. Shrub
berry and large trees were uprooted
The chief danger to the town was
where the tide began to cut through
East Church. East Centre and Eas
New streets. For nearly 200 feet In
land the water and sewer pipes IL
these streets were exposed and the
foundations of the buildings in these
,4oroughfares dangerously weakened.
At four points near Sea Bright the
roadbed Of the Jersey Central railroad
was 80 weakened that 1t will be more
than twenty-four hours before railroad
traffic can be resumed.
Between 300 and 400 persons have
been forced from their homes. They
are being sheltered at the Sea Bright
fire house, the town hall and police
station.