The Washington times., 1914-01-05
JERSEY COAST LAID
IN WASTE BY SEAS
Wreckage LitterS Beach for
Miles, and the Damage Is
Enormous.

SEA BRIGHT, \. J., Jan. Pros
trate from the smashing attack of
high seas this shore resort and 9TH
eTs for miles along the beach near
here today faced ruin when the
storm died down after having
wrought more than S1,O0O,0 900 dam
age in Sea Bright alone.
High tide, which came at o'clock
this morning failed to bring serious
trouble from the sea, heavy soggy
snow beating down the gale which
for two days had been dashing huge
breakers ashore smashing and un-
dermining scores of costly cottages
and laying the fshermen's settle
ments in one tangle of wreckage.
Old Hotel Burns.
Lighting up the scene of desolation
along the coast the old New York Hotel
at Long Branch, n. J., burned to the
carry lONaS- VI q NAAiAC NhS
American House, adjacent to it, was in
danger.
All along the shore near Sea Bright
cottages litter the beach. and the sands
are strewn with furniture and house
decorations Of all sorts.
The loss to summer cottagers will be
% great that the impression is strong
this section OF the coast viii never en-
drelY recover from the blow. Few OF
the cottages. 1t is believed, will ever
be rebuilt on the same spot.
Mayor Elliott, Of Sea Bright does not
openly share this view, but has called
q meeting of the council for this after
moon when rehabilitation plans will De
formulated
Worst Storm In Thirty Years.
&ot In thirty years has such a storm
Rtxuck this coast
All night long scores Of watchmen
eheif smoky lanterns bobbing through
the murk. pstroled the beach. When
heavy, wet snow began to fall the wind
G3Ad down considerably. When, Short
iy after g. m the dreaded hour Of
high tide came the fury of the waters
wks 90 allayed that comparatively
little further damage was done.
Today the only structures in serious
danger were the Camp, Fitzgerald, and
.Achelis cottages. and the Episcopal
Church Galilee, but daylight saw big
gangs toiHng to save them, with good
prospect Of success.
More than fifty miles along the Jersey
and Long Island coasts fell the fury of
the storm, and throughout all that part
0f the coast scores of families suffered
today, as a severe wind swept in snow
from the sea
One Death Reported.
One death from exposure has been
reported. The victim was Ellsworth
CottrelI. of Highlands, who perished
when isolated by the storm on Plum
Island. Fear also is felt for the safety
OF Capt c. D. Matthews and his crew
on the schooner Ruperta, which was
of Ocean City when the storm was at
its fiercest, and from which nothing
has since been heard. 1t is feared she
has sunk with all on board.
To aid in the work of cleaning up the
debris of the storm, even the school
children OF the town were impressed
into service today. All the schools were
closed, and the sturdiest of the boys
tOiled with their fathers in an effort to
prepare for further trouble, which is
sure TO come If the wind rises and the
seas again run high.
All along the water front the timbers
are piled high, while among them mo-
Lorboats and fishing smacks are hauled
up high and dry ready for use if the
necessity arrives. Thousands Of stran-
gers are in town today, and fully -, COO
were here yesterday to view the scene
Of desolation.
Wreckage Checked Waves.
Only the wreckage of the Octagon
Hotel and of half a score Of big cot
tages, which collapsed early in the
storm, it is declared today, prevented
the destruction of the town. Piled up
On the beach, their wreckage broke the
force of the seas and prevented their
sweeping inward with more disastrous
effect.
At NormandIe, n. J., the summer home
Of Lindley NJ. Garrison, Secretary Of
War, was seriously damaged. \ big
bulkhead protecting ii was demolished,
the lawns were ruined, and for e time
the foundations of the structure itself
were assailed.
Another heavy loser was Washington
J.. Connor, whose great buIkhead. erect
ed at cost of more than $4,000 was
ruined. Five big cottages ii was de-
signed to protect were so undermined as
10 be nearly worthless. If the seas rise
again before night all may toppIe into
the water