Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-08-06
a prsAsrnous ronNApo.
Many Lives Lost End Many Persons
NIissing-Terrific Winds and a
DeIuge of Rnin--'rhe Money Loss
Yspur at m William.

Neck, in the southern suburbs OF Phlla-
delphia, Monday afternoon between t3
and o'clock, where loaded coal cars were
blown from the tracks, then crossing the
Delaware river, passed through Camden,
and, re-crossing the river, entered the
Twenty Fifth ward and disappeared in
the vicinity of Kensington avenue and
Harrowgate lane, having travelled in a
nearly direct line slightly east of north.
At least five lives were lost, large
number of persons were injured, especially
in Camden, and vast amount of property
was destroy ed. The course of the tornado
from Red Bank was about nine miles
long, and its velocity is supposed to have
been between So and 40 miles IN hour,
while its width, beginning less than 800
feet expanded to three blocks during its
progress and again contracted as its force
was spent.
The greatest destruction of property
was in Camden, where about 400 build
ings were unroofed and otherwise in
jured. Nearly all the buildings of the
Pennsylvania salt works, at Greenwich
Point, were unroofed and parts of their
brick walls were blown down. Thence
the tornado took coure across the river,
where it wrecked the steamer Reybold,
described elsewhere, and the ferryboat
Peerless, which was swept clean almost to
the waters edge, and pair of horses and
wagon were hurled into the water and
went to the bottom.
The storm then struck John Dialogues
shipyard below Kaighn's Point destroying
the buildings there. To Record re-
porter Mr.. Dialogue gave this vivid de-
scription; Sat 3.25 o'clock" he said, 81
was in the office attached to my works
when my sou suddenly called my
attention to the barometer hanging
by the open door. Look = said he, that
barometer has fallen like fash II had
marked 80 2-10', and in an instant had
sunk to 80 $40. / knew Mt once that this
indicated mischief. Some years ago
when n tornado visited Camden and
wrecked my establishment the barometer
fell TO 80 ITO, and this being fall Of 2-l0
more, was fearful of the consequences.
Looking out the door upon the river L
saw the tornados approach. l could see
the buildings of the Pennsylvania salt
works on the Philadelphia side going up
like chat. Then the storm struck the
steamer Major Reybold, which was nearly
abreast of my place. Portions of her
upper works were whirled fully 400 feet
into the air. A tremendous roar pre-
ceded it. The moving fury resembled
dense mass of rolling black smoke,
and it travelled within 10 feet of the sur
face of the water on the river. A singular
phenomenon was noticed not only by my
self but by all my men ut the yard. This
was ii huge ball of fire, fully 10 feet in
diameter, which swiftly accompanied the
storm cloud. After playing sad havoc
with my establishment l saw this ball of
fire explode, about $50 yards north of me,
with a report so terrific as to shake the
very foundations of the buildings in my
yard. Following this came q number of
explosions, but of less force. All the
sky to the eastward was unusually bright
and had sort of rainbow appearance.
In fact, this was one of the most remark
able sights of the kind. that had ever
seen. The ball of fire which exploded,
am satisfied, played the mischief ut the
American Dredging Company's place"
From Dialogues the course was dong
the New Jersey river front, domolishine
all the buildings in its path M ID Bridg,
avenue, Camden. At this point the
cyclone took an easterly course "a Fifth
street, Camden, embracing in its path all
that section of the city between Second
and Fifth street to the Delaware river,
which washes the northern section of the
city. The damage is estimated there as
high as 81 ,0OD, 900.
The whole number of houses unroofed
or otherwise injured by the tornado in
its course through Camden was roughly
estimated Mt 400. Dozens of families
were left homeless for the night, and
many others had their household prop
erty destroyed. The heavy rain which
set in about o'clock also had depress-
ing effect upon those whose houses were
unroofed. In addition to the loss of life,
the loss of property was very great.
From the many incidents of destruction
recorded the following are given Rows
of houses on both sides of Pearl street,
between Fourth and Fifth, were de-
moliShed. Atlantic avenue, below Fifth
street, and all the small thoroughfares in
tint vicinity present horrible picture of
destruction. The whole district trnyersed
by the storm cannot be infinitely de-
scribed, MS the damage is in the rear of
the houses and not exposed to the gaze of
the passer-by. The streets were thickly
which WINS carried 500 or 600 feet. Tin
roofs were tightly twisted around many
trees 20 feet from their base, and the en-
tire cornices of several houses were car
ried long distances.
The round house of the Pennsylvania
railroad, situated at the corner of Second
and Benson streets, was entirely demol-
ished, disabling six engines that were
housed there at the time.
George b. Newton was sitting i'll his
office Mt the Pennsylvania coal wharves,
when the cyclone carried the Office
through the air distance of 80 feet,
smashing it against u loaded freight car.
FIe escaped with few bruises.
Before the whirling volume struck the
American Dredging Company's wharf, the
men employed there were given warning,
and those in the machine shop especially
made rush from the building in an
effort to get beyond the space which the
tornado seemed to cover. The dark mass
had been mistaken for smoke by some,
aud at one time the cry of sire" was
raised. The rapid approach of the
tornado, however, quickly dispelled this
itleu,
Some of the men escaped as far as q
neighboring corn field, where they threw
themselves down and chung to the stalks
Others fixed their grasp upon posts Ol
other stationary articles, and held ON un
| til the wind and flying debris had passed
1t was then found that Charles Daisy, 1
ship carpenter, had been struck anG
| thrown II great distance, receiving injuries
which resulted in his death. Henry G
Stevens, n mnchinist, was also fount
with one leg torn of, and the othel
| fractured The dismembered limb wa:
found about 90 yards away from the
body. The young man died mt his home
| n few minutes before 8 o'clock. Severa
| other persons We're also found injured
The machine shop aud engine house o
the dredging company We're almos
totally destroyed, and several othe
buildings were badly damaged,
Crossing from Camden the whirlwint
struck Philadelphia just Mt the northern
edge of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail
road Company's coal wharves, Mt William
street, Port Richmond, its approach beinl
marked, according TO the somewhat frag
mentitry statements gathered from wit
nesses of its course, by shower of tim
Der and debris of all sorts. Tho con
piled up on tile wharves was caught VI
like chaff, il was said, and carried alonI
with the storm. But the full strength q
the whirlwind seemed to have struck
little further to the north, for although
houses were unroofed and PARTIAL
demolished near the beginning of it
course the chief damage in this sectio
of the city was further to the northward
The storm followed clearly define
| opurs., IN Tim north ifs truck bainp frpI
100 to 200 yards in width, crossing BATH
Ann, Sorrell, Toronto, Melvale, Itici
mond, Neif, Salmon, Clearfeld, Geislei