The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-04
Marvellous Escape of Steamers Passengers
A Great Many Houses Destroyed and
People Left Homeless.
The Same Storm Visits the States Of
Maryland and Delaware,
Sweeping Over a Wide Path, and Causing
Damage to Property Estimated at Hun
dreds of Thousands of Dollars.

sweeping up the Delaware river this afternoon
struck this city near Greenwich Point, demol-
shing portion of the works of the Pennsyl-
vania Salt Manufacturing Company, and in iur-
ing several employees. 1t then took course
across the river, wrecking the river steamer
Major Reybold, and the ferry boat Peerless. The
storm blew the pilot, Emory Townsend, and
Captain Eugene Reybold, os the steamer Rey
bold, into the river, drowning the former and
painfully injuring the Captain. The Peerless
was swept clean, almost to the waters edge
When the Major Reybold left her dock for
Salem, n j., she had on board about fifty pas
sengers, although as no tickets had been sold
it is impossible to ascertain the exact number
There were also about fourteen officers and deck
hands. OF this number of people upon the
wrecked boat, it does not appear that any lives
were lost, except that of the pilot although it is
not impossible that some of the passengers we're
washed off and lost without any one knowing of
the fatal circumstance.
A steam-tug coming up the river after the dis
aster reports that the body of woman was
seen for few minutes floating in the river near
the spot where the cyclone struck the steam
boat but she sank out of sight, and could not be
found when the tug made search for her.
B. H. Warner, one of the passengers describes
the scene. He was standing on the upper deck.
and saw the black storm approaching, but as it
moved rather slowly, he supposed it was rain
storm. When it struck the boat he discovered
that its immense force came from
it's rotary motion. He and several others were
thrown through hole to the lower deck, and
41-o
fusion among the passengers was indescribable,
and several of them jumped into the river, but
Mr.. Warner believes that all of them were res
cued. While the cyclone was upon tbs vessel
everything was as black as the blackest night.
Sofas were broken to splinters, and carpets torn
to shreds in the cabin as if they had been
paper. The cyclone, he thinks, lasted about
minute and after it passed, the vessel rolled
and pitched frightfully IN the great waves, and
came near swamping
The storm then passed over to the Jersey side,
striking John Dialogues ship-yards, below
CaniGhsport. and destroying the Luildings Of the
establishment. 1t then took course along the
New Jersey river front, demolishing all the
buildings in it's path, up to Bridge avenue,
Camden. At this point the cyclone took
den, embracing in its path all that sec
ton of the city between Second and
Fifth Streets to the Delaware river, which
washes the northern section of the city. Passing
over the river, skirting Pettys island, the storm
passed over to that part of the Twenty fifth
ward of Philadelphia known as Richmond.
In its ravages in Camden scores of dwelling
houses were unroofed and some of them thrown
down, and the damage to the busi-
ness property along the river front is
enormous Hundreds of families were rendered
homeless. and one victim, Chas. Daily. was
killed outright, at the American dredging works.
Another, Harry Steven, had his leg cut off by
flying piece of timber, and will probably die.
The path of the storm through Richmond was
marked with death and destruction. It's track
was almost due north from the Port Richmond
coal wharves About $50 dwelling houses were
wrecked. so badly damaged as to be rendered
unfit for hahitation, and 200 families were driven
from their homes, to be cared for by their neigh
| bors.
A number Of people were seriously and some
fatally injured. A girl of ten years. Lizzie
| McV eigh was killed at her home, 1922 Melvin
street, in sight of her mother, who was herself
pinned to the floor by fallen rafters, few feet
from her dying child. 1t is impossible as yet to
estimate the amount Of damage done.
6alowine are the names of the killed and in
jured, as far as can be ascertained
Dead-Emory Townsend, of Salem, N. j.,
pilot of the steamboat Major Reybod
! Charles Daisy, aged forty nine, ship carpenter
killed instantly by flying timbers at the wharf
| of the American Dredging Company Camden
| Eel TO bn-
tween timbers at her residence 1922 Melvin
street Philadelphia
Injured-On the steamboat Major Reybold:
Morris Doyle, engineer, slightly; Captain Rey-
hand, severely cut; W. Gessner, a pas
senger, temple artery severed, injuries
serious At Camden: Harry, Stevens
be fatay by qTed
| timbers Stewart Johnson (coloredl. dredging
tug Pacific, severely injured about face and
| body; John Wetcher, injured seriously about
the head; Benjamin Smith, right arm broken
sixteen, injured by falling walls; Charles Thomp-
son. manager Camden tool works. injured in face
and neck by falling walls; Jacob Miller, leg
broken; John Silk, head badly cut
Mrs. Josephine Mckinley, cut about the face
and body; John Brown. In Philadelphia; An
ME McVeigh aged fifty. mother of the dead
child Lizzie McVeigh, badly cut about the body;
annie AcN elgh, aged hfteen, cut ABOUT the race
and limbs; Michael Kent, aged fifty five, back
broken; William n. Harb Of Short Il Harb,
hosiery manufacturers, struck by falling brick,
causing depression of the brain; it is thought he
will die. The following employees at Short
and Harbs mill were also injured. Annie Botts
arm broken; Annie Karen, Emma Power. Emma
| Thomas. Emma Michiner, John Thornton
Mr.. John Dialogue, of Camden, whose works
were destroyed, says: Looking out the door
| upon the river saw the tornado approach |
could see the buildings of the Pennsylvania Salt
Works, on the Philadelphia side, going off like
chaff. Then the storm struck the Major Rey
bod, which was partially abreast of my