The daily gazette., 1880-06-14
Saturdays Storm.

1T RACES WITH CONSIDERABLE |
FURY DOWN THE STATE-HoUSES |
UNROOFED AND TREES BLOWN |
DOWN.
On Saturday afternoon a heavy |
dark cloud was seen in the north |
western section of the heavens,
which came up with unusual rapidlty,
and soon the rain came down in tor
rents. while ever and anon there |
were vivid flashes of lightning and
heavy peals Of thunder.
So rapidly did the storm come up
that those who were upon the streets
were caught before they were aware
of it. The Sunday School of ST.
Andrews Church were pic-nicinS ON
the Brandywine, and most of the
scholars and friends of the school
were soaked with water.
So far as can be learned the storm
did not do much damage in this
vicinity beyond blowing down a
number of trees. There were five
trees levelled along the race, and
one of the number in falling caught
a middle aged lady who was attend
ing the Sunday School picnic in its
branches. She was eXtricated as
quickly as possible by officer Sparks,
with the assistance of two or three
other gentlemen. The lady seemed
to be bruised considerably, and as
she was being led up the road lead
ing past Rosendale Park to the
street cars another tree fell, and she
was again caught in the branches.
She was finally assisted on one of
the street cars, without further acci-
dents.
The roof of the snuff mill up the
Brandywine was blown off, and as a
consequence large quantity Of snuff
Z was damaged from the rain.
A portion of the roof OF the sugar
beet factory at Riverside was also
lifted from its fastenings. The
damage done will amount to be-
tween $500 and $500.
Although the lightning was very
severe, it did not seem to do any
damage beyond striking a horse be-
longing to Guyer & McClary, brick
makers, Ninth Ward.
OTHER SECTIONS.
In the vicinity of Wilmington the
storm did not apparently do much
damage, beyond blowing down few
trees in various sections.
No material damage was done at
Christiana, except the uprooting of
trees.
The fury of the storm seems to have
held itself in check until Middletown
was reached, where it broke loose, and
played havoc with everything that
stood in its way. The residents Of
the town say that it was one of the
severest that has ever visited that sec
ton. In fact it did not appear to be a
storm, but regular cyclone. The
clouds seemed almost to touch the
house tops, and it became so dark,
that it was necessary to light up the
stores and residences. The lightning
was very vivid, and trees bent like
reeds before the velocity Of the wind.
1t is thought that the damage done
will amount to between $4,000 and
$4,000.
About one half of the roof of the
freight house was torn off and carried
some distance. Tie entire roof of the
National Hotel kept by Alexander
Maxwell, was lifted bodily from its
fastenings, and carried severel hun
dred feet away into field, where it
fell with a loud crash. Loss, about
5000. The walls of the machine shop
of w. L. Buck & Son were blown in,
and the shop otherwise damaged to
the extent OF about 81, 200.
The agricultural warehouse of
Foard & Comegys was damaged to
the extent of about $500. A. T Brad
ley, commission merchant, sustained "a
loss of about 500. The large frame
factory, formerly belonging to Daniel
Woodall, was also damaged to the ex-
ent of about 500.
The full fury of the storm seems tC
have waited until reaching the farm ol
E. r. Cochran, Esq, the newly ap.
pointed Clerk of the Peace. His
orchards were badly stripped, and his
barn, in which Was sheltered his cattle
was totally destroyed, and some of his
horses and mules were famed and in.
jured otherwise. He estimates his loss
at $1,000.
From what information that can be
CLEANED, II appears that the damage
done below Middletown did no
amount to much. At Odessa, thret
miles distant, there was hardly tree
uprooted.
At Peterborough, the wind blew
down the out buildings on the farm
of John F. Staats, State Auditor.
1t is not thought that the storm
damaged the peach crop materially
but had there have been hail, the
damage would have been great.