The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-08-08
CYCLONE IN CECIL COUNTY,
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROP
ERTY---THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS LOST.
SMALL T0RDAD0 NEAR MECHANICS.
WILLIE, DELAWARE

WILLIE, DELAWARE
On Monday last about the hDurof 6
o'clock p. m. cyclone moving in anorth
eastcrly direction, passed through Cecil
and New Castle counties above Mcchan-
icsville near the buildings of james +.
Smith, and striking the barn ofWm. II
Smith, completely demolshing Il large
straw house, tool house, and por-
ton Of the barn. The wind varied
from fifty to one hundred Yards and
scattered fences torn up, and broken
timber, and fruit trees, marked its de-
strucIivc path. A funnel or spiral-shup-
ell cloud, and anoise similar to that pro-
duccd by atrain Of car in rapid motion
accompanied the wind, There was no
rain at the time, and no prcmonitions
ola storm further than above stated. As
known, there was no serious harm to
man or beast as most Of the dwellings,
and other buildings escaped the direct
course ofthc tornado
W. ii. Smith and fourof the family
had, just few milutcs before gone to the
barn to milk the cows, and had Just got
under the barn, when the wind came,
and in the Undesirable short time Of
haIiaminutc the destruction was done.
Had they been little later, they all
would have been buried beneath the
ruins that filled the lane and barn yard.
Another fact worthy ofmention is that
contrary to usual customs, the cows had
been stabbed an hour sooner than usual
Sixteen in number) while nine remained
in the yard. Had the whole herd been
left in the yard as was the custom, doubt
less many would have been injured or
killed and while some of the cattle came
from the ruins after it fell, and as far as
seen none were injured. The woodland
passed through eastward bears marks of
the destructive power of the wind. Trees
are piled upon trees in wild confusion.
torn up by the roots or twisted from the
branches, and traces Of Mondays storm
will be seen for many days and even
years. WITNESS.
The storm was more severe in Cecil
county near Marley Mills. 1t appears
that the cyclone started in Elk Neck.
several miles southwest of Ellton, and
travelled in Il zigzag course west and
north. The track of the storm WIS
plainly visible, and being over one hmm
drcd yards wide. The storm approach-
ed with noise like the MIGHTY ron, of
the wind or the sound Of distant thnndcr
People hastily cscapcd iniurv Inv scrl.iro
safety in their cellars. The corn cron in
the tract, of the storm in Elk Neck wos
complctclv DESTROYED also f,rit troo,.,,.,.,
greatly damaood The sovnrcst nort ~,
the storm was in fine vicipitv If Now
Leeds several mflns ,bovn E,l,to, Tho
flour mill of Daniel Harvey wos hIown
from the foundation walls and comnIctn-
" demolished The miller and n son
of Mr. Harvey nsc,n,d ir;,r,, Ia, ,,oir,,
into tbc basement or t,o,nil Thn hor,
ON fine somo pronart, w,s co,,,lotoI,.
demolished The IorTo mansion horso
orcupied bv Daniel IIaryoy r. w,, 1,rt
slipblIv iniurod Inf tho l,o,rtiG,l ,,,a,,o
Of trrr. wero all hIorr dnu,, c5n.,,
crons and fruit troos srg,roI ,,roatI,. !,
envnr,l IF No ortI,,,i,,1in,..,,, ~ c ,,.
If ID, Jr.tr, Dunot Ii,.in,, oI,,,, l., Wa -
Harvey worn ,nroac,J ,ha p 90
Roilro,L did not oso,,o ~, ,,,,.a,,, 49,.
,rorn hlown donr tLa tn,o,. ,a,,' ~,
t,nc, viii, tlo Ln.,r.a.' ,,,,n', aa ,.,.I
anil tbo o,nnIoyo, LaJ.,aLaIIan, g. I y,
tr,c. - rohn ~, I,,.;,.,l,l,,,,, '., ", '''
Ir,t ,L,,a wiz H., ,r,,,' """ ;r,,
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