Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-19
BUFFALO HIT HARD

Buffalo, y. T.; Dec. 1s-(By A. P.)--
A IS mile an hour gale swept the city
today, uprooting trees, tearing CHM
peys and advertising signs from the
tops OF buildings, sma shing plate
glass windows and piiing up the wa
ter in the harbor to an unprecedent-
ed stage. One man was killed in the
storm.
The damage through the city was
great, but heaviest losses occurred
along the waterfront where 3O0-foot
wireless tower. was demolished, boat
houses and small docks were swept
away and several hundred pleasure
craft were sma shed or carried down
the river. No accurate estimate of
the loss can be made, but it will run
into the hundreds of thousands.
A window hatch torn from the top
of a business block fell upon a pass
ing automobile, killing Frank f.
kiefer, and injuring another person
seriously. The flying debris went
through windshield of the machine
and pinned kiefer to the seat. The
automobile. with the occupants both
unconscious continued down the
street for a block before it swerved
over the sidewalk and crashed into
store. kiefer died before he could
be extricated from the wreckage.
Two women were caught under
falling tree on Porter avenue, near
the waterfront. One Of them, Miss
Margaret Cochrane, had both legs
broken. Her sister Katharine, had
one leg broken and was internally
injured. Firemen had to be called
to cut away part of the tree trunk
before Margaret could be released
and sent to a hospital.
The terrific force of the wind, blow
ing from the southwest directly down
Lake Erie had the effect Of huge
tidal wave. When the water was at
it's highest level. Bird Island pier and
Squaw Island, narrow strips Of land
and water barriers between Niagara
river and the Barge canal. >were al
most completely submerged. Nearly
100 sQuatters' shanties were smashed
by the rush of water and the wind
and carried out into the river. Oc-
cupants We're rescued by police. fire.
men and the coast guard crews.
Three ferry boats used between
Buffalo and Port Erie We're piled on
the rocks between the river and canal
and scores Of small boat houses were
swept away.
Street car service was Intermittent
during the morning. but by mid-after-
noon practically all lines had resumed
normal schedules. Power from Mag
ara Falls was cut off at times and the
electric company was compelled TO
start it's steam plant near the city line.
Sufficient power was thus made avail
able to move city and interurban cars
and to provide lighting for homes to-
night. Repair crews We're at work on
the main power lines tonight and It
was expec ed that Industrial plants IN
the northern and southern sections Of
the city would have sufficient power
for normal operations tomorrow.
At Tonawanda the water rose from
seven to eight feet above normal. food
ing the large lumber yards. overturn-
ing lumber piles and carrying thous-
ands of feet of timber out into the
river and over Niagara Falls. a
dredge belonging to the Sullivan-Dun-
bar company. anchored off the shore
Of Grand Island. sent up signals OF
distress when anchors began to slip
and the cumbersome craft beran TO
drift toward the falls. Tugs were sent
to the rescue but they were unable to
prevs l against the rush Of water ard
the sweep of the wind. The captain of
the dredge finally saved, his craft by
dropping the big steel dipper and dig
ging it into the mud on the riverbed.
In two Of the principal business
streets water was above the first floor
level. flooding cellars and causing
heavy damage u,
Between the Tonawandas and Mag
ara Fall. the chief damage was to boa
houses. 1t Is estimated that 800 pleas
ure craft and the small frame struc-
lures in which they were housed were
carried away.
Seldom has suchoa volume Of water
poured over the brink of the Niagara
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