Long Branch, NY "Syracuse" Tornado, Sept 1912 - Survivor Story

In Boat 200 Feet From Shore When Tornado Arrived

The experience that Frank Otman, Charles Kuhl and Grove Ducher had with the tornado was a unique one. Fortunately they escaped hurts. Mr. Otman, who with his wife and children, had been camping at Willow Point on the north shore of the lake, at the outlet, was alone in a boat on the lake when the tornado struck. The wind had been blowing fresh for some minutes before the tornado itself came.

Kuhl and Ducher, who were standing on the shore watching Otman, came to the conclusion that he was in danger, and they launched a boat to go to his rescue. They had rowed their bow about 200 feet from the shore when the tornado struck them. They were caught in its edge and were helpless.

As the funnel shaped cloud neared them their boat began to whirl around. It moved faster and faster at it was sucked into the grasp of the wind. Instead of moving out into the lake, however, the boat was whirled round and round and quickly carried back to the shore. The men did their utmost with the oars, but they were helpless.

Spinning round with a speed that was sickening the boat was shoved back to the sandy beach. When it grounded the men were hurled out of it. The boat was caught in the grasp of the wind and driven with great force against a tree. When Kuhl and Ducher looked for the boat afterwards they found half of it. The other half they found afterwards 100 feet back from the shore in a tree.

Mr. Otman's boat was caught on the edge of the tornado and like the one occupied by the other two men had been spun round and round until it struck the sandy shore.

Syracuse Herald, Syracuse, NY 16 Sept 1912