1950 — May 7, squalls; boatmen in rivers, lakes & along coast of NY and New England– 20

–20 AP. “Flood Waters chase over 4,400 from Winnipeg homes.” Beatrice Daily Sun, NE, 5-8-1950, p2.
–20 AP. “Winds Take Toll of 20 in New York.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA. 5-9-1950, p. 9.
–20 AP. “Winnipeg, NYC, and New England Swept by Storms.” Canandaigua Daily Messenger, NY, 5-8-1950, p1.

New York (17)
–10 Upper NY State.
— 7 New York City and Long Island Sound

New England ( 3)
–3 AP. “Flood Waters chase over 4,400 from Winnipeg homes.” Beatrice Daily Sun, NE, 5-8-1950, p2.

Narrative Information

May 8, AP: “The furious three-day storm which killed at least 25 persons and cut a wide swath of destruction has blown itself out but flood damage continues mounting in Minnesota, North Dakota and across Canada to Winnipeg.

“New York and New England caught the dying licks yesterday on the wind which had been rolling eastward from the midwest since Friday.

“Unexpected squalls lashed the northeast and left 20 boatmen dead or missing in lakes, rivers and along the coastline of New York and New England.

“At least 10 of the dead or missing were in upper New York state, seven in New York City and Long Island sound, and three in New England. About 40 other persons were rescued in the New York area as hundreds of small boars were flipped over by gusts of wind which measured 65 miles an hour….” (AP. “Flood Waters Chase Over 4,400 From Winnipeg Homes.” Beatrice Daily Sun, NE, 5-8-1950, p. 2.)

May 8, AP: “….Boatmen Missing

“Treacherous spring squalls caught thousands of New York and New England boatmen without warning over the weekend and left 20 of them dead or missing in in lakes, rivers and salt water. The high winds, tail end of a Midwest storm, reached 65 miles an hour at some points.” (Associated Press. “Winnipeg, NYC, and New England Swept by Storms.” Canandaigua Daily Messenger, NY, 5-8-1950, p. 1.)

May 9, AP: “New York, May 9 – (AP) – Treacherous Spring squalls caught thousands of New York and New England boatmen without warning over the sunny week-end and left 20 of them dead or missing in lakes, rivers and salt water. The high winds, tail end of a mid-west storm, reached 65 miles an hour at some points.

“In addition to the havoc caused on the water, the winds also fanned forest fires in New England and blanked out most private flying. The flames covered hundreds of acres of New England woodland.

“Upper New York state had the worst drowning toll, with 10 dead or missing since Friday. New York City and Long Island Sound counted seven lost Sunday, while New England had three drownings.

“Small craft warnings had been hoisted for waters in the area south of Eastport, Me., but the sudden violence was unexpected. Some puffs of 52 miles an our were recorded in New York City.

“Yester was the most disastrous for New York City boatmen since another set of squalls ambushed them last July.” (Associated Press. “Winds Take Toll of 20 in New York.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA. 5-9-1950, p. 9.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Flood Waters Chase Over 4,400 From Winnipeg Homes.” Beatrice Daily Sun, NE, 5-8-1950, p. 2. Accessed 7-14-2017 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/beatrice-daily-sun-may-08-1950-p-2/?tag

Associated Press. “Winds Take Toll of 20 in New York.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA. 5-9-1950, p. 9. Accessed 8-16-2023 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/indiana-evening-gazette-may-09-1950-p-9/

Associated Press. “Winnipeg, NYC, and New England Swept by Storms.” Canandaigua Daily Messenger, NY, 5-8-1950, p. 1. Accessed 8-16-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/canandaigua-daily-messenger-may-08-1950-p-1/