New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-11
Henry P. Dawson, of J. P. Nor.
gan & Co., Saves Two from
Drowning When Boat Is
Blown Over in Sound.
BOLT OF LIGHTNING KILLS
Five Thousand in Pelham Bay
Park Panicstricken and Many
Women Are Trampled-
Limb of Tree Breaks
Legs of Girl.

Manhattan Island. The Bronx and
Westchester County late yesterday
evening came a storm that was veri-
tably & tornado In the fury with which
II raced across the Hudson from the
Palisades, carrying death and destruc-
tion in its wake At least four persons
were killed and probably fifty injured.
many Of them so badly that they were
taken 10 hospitals.
More than five thousand persons
were gathered in Pelham Bay Park
athletic field, watching a baseball
game, when the storm struck them
with terrific force. Two hundred made
dash for a group of trees at one side
Of the field and there huddled closely
together while lightning played around
them.
Following a particularly violent clap
Of thunder a forked streak Of lightning
struck the centre tree Of the group and
split the trunk asunder. one man, an
unidentified Italian. was leaning
against the trunk He was instantly
killed by the bolt and his body hurled
TO the ground. Almost all Of his cloth
ing was ripped off.
Dozens Of others who were near the
trunk Of the tree were scorched or
shocked by the bolt. or else injured by
splinters and falling branches.
Park Commissioner Stays Panic.
A Wild rush started and men fought
blindly with one another in the panic.
Many women were trampled under foot
Mounted patrolman Wilson. Of the
! Morrisania station. who was on duty
a short distance away, galloped up and
tried to restore order. He was Joined
by Park commissioner Higgins and
others. and call for an ambulance
was sent In.
After a long wait. Or. Donovan. of
Fordham Hospital. five miles away, re-
sponded He said the Italian died
when the bolt struck him. The body
was taken To the Fordham morgue II
was necessary TO make several trips
10 carry the injured Others, not so Sc
riously injured. were treated and went
10 their homes.
A short. sharp squall struck New
Rochelle and swept across Long Island
Sound, giving yachtsmen an exciting
time. The sails of many boats were
torn TO ribbons, several were capsized
and the crews rescued. \ man and girl
| went out in "A canoe Just before the
souall. and the canoe was found later
| overturned. 1t is believed the occu-
pants were picked up by motor boat.
p. G. Pfeiffer Of No. 3os Huguenot
street. a member OF the regatta com
mittee OF the New Rochelle Yacht club.
and h brother, B. {. Pfeiffer. were
rescued by Henry p. Dawson. Of the
firm Of j. p. Morgan & Co, In his 100
foot power boat Skipaki. when their
sloop Falcon was sunk of the Long
Island shore. Their pet fox terrier was
drowned
Two hundred trees were uprooted and
thrown across streets in New Rochelle.
Awnings were ripped to pieces and
electric light wire in the outskirts were
blown down, leaving several residential
sections Of the city in darkness.
Outing Parties in Peril.
Thousands Of persons on outings in
the parks and on boats on the Hudson
and the Sound were thrown into Wild
panic when the storm burst with all
it's pent-up fury. Trees were up
rooted. roofs Of houses blown OF and
huge signs sent hurtlng TO the ground
nv the force Of the wind. The gale.
accompanied by deafening claps OF
thunder and vivid displays Of lightning,
seemed to expend most Of It's energy
over the upper part of Manhattan
Island. The Bronx and Westchester.
It was toward the end Of day OF
killing heat and sitting humidity that
the storm made its onslaught upon the
New York side Of the Hudson The
torrid conditions in the city caused
thousands TO gather IN the parks. at
the beaches and other breathing spots.
What breeze there was came laden
with an almost molten breath.
Such were the conditions when the
vanguard of the black storm cloud
made its appearance over the crest of
the Palisades, just opposite Fort Wash
,neton Park 4 few minutes before the
first patter Of rain drops and the low
growing Of distant thunder an impress
sive stiffness hung over the river and
tho city. Canoes, carrying young girls
arraved in light summer dresses, and
manned by young men in sleeveless
iersevs SKINNED along near the New
York side OF the river.
Hundreds OF motorboats went up ann
down the river laden TO the waters
edge with passengers. The surface Of
the Hudson was like mirror.
Before any realized 1t mighty gust
., wind ripped down like a waterfall
from the brink of the Palisades. struck
tho surface Of the river and whipped
the placid water into choppy white
co,,,nu.d on third pare. hhh column.