Year: 1859

AcCb Ol tae AtSnbnbu2s
On Wednesday afternoon the most terrific
thunder and lightning tornado that has visit.
ed New York for years, burst upon that city,
1t commenced about O'Clock. The Express
says:


The wind coming from the westward. raised
dense cloud OF dust, SO thick that it was i'm
possible to see across the street. Trees were
bent before the gale, branches were stripped
and torn off and sent whirling through the
air; signs and chimney tops came tumbling
down into the street, shutters were slammed
with an unwonted violence, and unprepared
awnings were torn into shreds This lasted
but for n moment. There was q slight lull,
and then the rain came down with tropical
profnsion. For about minute the rain fell
almost straight; then the wind burst out
again with renewed violence, and drove the
rain in great sheets before il. 1t is difficult to
imagine that rain could be more dense than
this was The streets ia an instant were
Hooded with water, and rivers ran where bu t
few moments before, the dust had been al
most unbearable. There was no thunder or
lightning for about ten minutes after the rain
commenced; but then the heavens artillery
made UP for lost time. For several seconds
the air seemed almost to be on fire. The light
ming did not appear to come from any partic-
ular quarter, but pervaded the whole atmos-
phere. The thunder, at first was rolling and
At some distance, but as the storm increased in
violence the lightning was concentrated into
long, brilliant, chain and forked flashes and
the thunder came quick and sharp. At lines
the clap OF thunder was almost simultaneous
with the flash OF the lightning. The cloud
must have been very thick, for ii grew so dark
that gas was indispensable, though the sun
was more than an hour high.


The thunder, lightning, wind and rain all
continued together with the utmost violence
for about half an hour. 1t seemed rs if they
WED with each other 10 see what violence they
could display. The wind gradually veered
around to the North and Northeast, blowing
from aal1 rfara (,fto h,r,,
six O'Clock the fury OF the tornado was spent,
and, after a few gentle showers, the rain ceas-
ed, the wind fell, and at sunset, the heat was
almost as great as it was before the storm
Inc SKY, however, remained overcast, and a
pleasant breeze from the North West prevail
ed after dark At midnight the thermometer
marked 76 degrees.


The trees in all the public parks and streets
were very much damaged. After the shower
was over, tho sidewalks were covered with
branches, among them many limbs Of large
size. In the City Hall Park three trees were
blown down, or struck by lightning and sew
eral others lost branches. In Union Square
two trees were completely torn to pieces, the
limbs being snapped like pipe-stems. In most
OF the parks the trees were bent double by the
violence of the hurricane and the only Won
Ger Is tnat more damage was not done. Along
the streets dozens of the trees were also des-
troyed. and in many places whole blocks are
covered with the branches Of those blown
down.


The effects of the lightning were very severe
Almost Immediately with the commencement
OF the storm, the fluid came over the wires of
the North section of the Police Telegraph. and
Mashed completely into the operators room at
the Head q uarters. The wires here were
melted, and the lightning came in TO such an
extent, that those present were obliged to re-
treat into the farthest room for safety


A very valuable horse worth 81 600 was
standing in front of the Everett House. when
the lightning struck it, killing it instantly.


Inc centre nag stan on the St. Nicholas Ho-
tel was struck by lightning in the height of the
storm. The fluid ran down the pole spiralIy
and shot off into the street. Persons who saw
IT, describe 1t rs n ball of fire that fell from the
roof, and struck in the middle OF the passage
way, with loud, Kissing noise, throwing the
mud and water in all directions The driver of
an omnibus that was passing at the time. was
Knocked completely off his box but escaDed
with q bad fright and some bruises The con-
cussion shook the whole hotel and surround
ing buildings, but, providentially no one was
injured. A dozen persons who were standing
IN front of the door, were terribly startled and
one man was go astounded that he Jumped in 10
the street The guests of the hotel were at
dinner at the time and as the dinin9-room is
at the other side Of the house, they were not
aware of what had happened for some time
consequently, there was not much excitement
among them.


An omnibu. horse was struck in Broadway
near Houston street, and instantly killed
those i'll the omnibus narrowly escaping
They distinctly felt the shock, and We're for q
time affected.


The flagstaff on the Bowery Theatre was
struck, and shivered to pieces. The fluid pass
ed TO the ground, and without injuring, yet SC
affected passers-by, that for some moment Is
they We're transfixed.


The storm passed over Brooklyn, and caused
considerable damage in blowing down sheds
trees, demolishing fences tearing awnings, and
flooding cellars. Hudson Avenue was nearly
swamped. The water ran knee deep and
filled all the cellars in the vicinity, compell-


ing the occupants to take refuge in the upper
stories.