Evening star., 1959-12-30
Storm Damage Counted in Millions;
Thousands Still Without Heat, Liqht

caused millions of dollars dam
age.
Meanwhile northern areas of
the six-State region were dig
ging out from under more than
a foot of snow.
Hundreds of property own
ers visited ocean fronts and
beaches today to survey the
damage to summer cottages
and homes-pushed over by a
Jaging sea as if they were doll
houses.
Hundreds of year-round res
idents were sheltered by rela-
tiveS or friends.
Health Hazard Surveyed
Approximately 100 families
In the Massachusetts, south
shore town of Hull were unable
to return to their homes today
because oil burners in cellars
were incapacitated.
Several ceSspools overflowed
and State health authorities
were called in to see if there
was any menace to health.
In upstate New York thou
sands of suburban families bun
died in blankets for a breakfast
by candlelight.
Areas around Buffalo, hard
est hit in the State, were still
partially blacked out as power
linemen battled against a
mounting backlog of trouble
calls.
The Rochester Gas g. Elec-
trio Corp. said it will be two or
three. days before all homes
have power.
The utility said 10000 to 3O,-
600 families we're without light
yesterday and that 5000 to
10000 still are cut of.
More Rain or Snow Seen
Several dozen farm families
IN Churchville. N. Y, slept with
out heat in the towns Amer
ican Legion hall.
New York State Gas & Elec-
tric Corp. said $500 homes
within a 30-mile radius of Buff
falo are still without light.
AS the ra mpa ging north
easter passed over the Maritime
Provinces leaving a foot of
snow on Nova Scotia, the
Weather Bureau forecast more
rain or snow for New England
on New Years Day or Saturday
stood at 10. Five died in New
York State.
New Hampshire got from IL
to Is inches of snow in winters
first blast.
Up to IA inches of snow fell
in Maine. Southern Maine
beaches were hit hard, Kenne-
bunk losing a portion of sea
wall.
30 Miles of Coast Flooded
Connecticut got an overnight
snowfall that left from 2 to 4
inches.
Cloudy weather prevailed in
Boston today and temperatures
were expected to drop to the
20s tonight.
Communities along 80 miles
of the Greater Boston shore
line suffered the brunt of the
flood devastation although the
Atlantic Ocean spurted a
stormy anger from Maine to
New Jersey yesterday.
The highest tide in l08 years
- 14.3 feet - brought ocean
water to a depth of 7 feet on
some streets and into the first
floors of many homes.
16 Inches of Snow
The storm yesterday dropped
up to 16 inches of snow in
New England but not until the
flood tides swirled into resi-
dental communities we're so
many lives threatened and was.
so much damage. caused.
More than 700 families were
forced to flee their homes from
the town of Hull on Boston's
south shore. Scores of women
and children were plucked from
f1rst-f1oor windows by rescuers.
Pelting rain, sleet and hail
hammered at windows to add
to the fright of those awaiting
rescue.
Patrolman Paul Dunn waded
shoulder high in water to res
cue two women and two chill
dren in Hull. Other deeds of
heroism were noticed but went
unrecorded.
"Then Came Tons of Stones"
There also were excavations
and rescues in Quincy, Scituate,
and CohaSset on the south
shore. and at Revere, Winthrop
and Nahant north of Boston.
At Scituate, Mass, Mrs. June
Ragge was looking out her
window when the ocean broke
through the sea wall there.
Then came tons of stone" she
said, and water cascaded
across the road. My children
panicked. I called police and
they got us out"
Later she remembered she
had not shut of the gas and
electricity and an Edison Elec-
trio Co. man rowed her back
to the house. On the way back
to safety, a gust of wind
knocked her out of the boat
into the icy water. The Edison
man saved her.
More than 300 evacuees were
housed overnight in public