Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-03-04
HEAVY WIND STORM
1T KEEPS THE WATER OUT OF
THB GREEK.
FebruarY's BOisterOus Farewell
2 How thc Wind shook Things UP in
WttminRton-EHousesU UnrooGcd and
Other Damage.

0theE hrAhHKes
The howling, hustling gale which struck
Wilmington on Thursday night did not
spend Its force until about O'Clock this
morning, when tho fury of the wind abated
and cold calmness followed. Such d
severe blow as prolonged as the one Just
over has not visited this section for long
time, and its destructive work has created
general desire that such visits may be still
more infrequent. The torrents of wind
Friday scattered sign-boards in promiscuous
confusion over the streets and rent awning
caps into strings and shreads. Chimney
pots were blown from their elevated posi-
tions and window shutters were lifted from
their fastenings and hurled away on the
breeze OF the boisterous gale. The brick
chimney Of j. T. Heald's residence on
Delaware avenue and Jefferson street was
leveled and the debris went crashing
damage.
The greatest damage sustained was to the
houses Nos. 706, 708 and ITO Washington
street, owned and tenanted by L. A. Bower,
s. L. Bower and Chester W. Brink.
powerful wind cap caught under the
roof of the lower house, and doubling 1t up,
left itlying on the back buildings. The two
other houses were treated in the same way.
The heavy cornices and timbers were also
torn loose and lifted out.Stout hawsers were
made fast to the wrecked roof to prevent
further damage, and these were strong
enough to resist the force of the storm. The
damage was repaired Saturday morning.
Part of the roof of frame house on VOL
1aston street, next to West Church, was also
blown of, and part of the roofing of a
house at the corner of Lombard and Jones
street was rolled up and destroyed.
A carriage driven by an elderly gentle
man was capsized by the storm on the Con-
cord pike near Orange street. The horse be-
came frightened and kicking himself loose
ran away. The only damage sustained was to
the carriage, the shafts of which were
broken. shade tree in front of the
Academy of Visitation on Delaware avenue
was uprooted and section of the heavy
iron fence In front Of the Bird mansion at
Seventh and West streets was blown down.
Considerable damage was done to street
lamps the glass Of several being broken and
the tops blown OFF. Blll-boards were also
shaken pretty badly and temporary brac-
fngs were employed to keep them In
position.
The telegraph and telephone wires
whistled and danced to their own music In
the wind. In their energetic bounces they
clashed together so frequently that their
service was much impaired. Electric lights
suffered trifie by the contact OF their
wires, but the defects in the illumination
were trihlng.
The gale successfully battled the tide in
the Christiana, and kept 1t out of the
stream. All shipping was hard fast and
aground upon the bottom Of the creek, and
the bottom OF the Christlana was exposed at
points where II has never been seen before
No personal Injury Is reported in the city
except in one case, where an elderly lady
walking along the street was blown from
her feet by the force, OF the wind. She
slightly hurt her hand by the fall.
The New York and Norfolk express, due
here at 4.10 o'clock Saturday morning, was
delayed five hours by the heavy winds
against which the transfer steamer had to
battle:while crossing Chesapeake bay.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 26.-It was feared
that the spire OF the Arch Street Methodist
church, at Broad and Arch streets, would
yield to the force OF the wind and topple
over. portion about six feet from the
sop, including the vane, was loosened and
inclined to the southeast, threatening to
fall with every fresh gust that struck 1t.
The pavements surrounding the church
were roped off by the officers Of the Sixth
police district, to prevent accidents. All
day long there were crowds of people gath
cred on the opposite side of Broad street,
their eyes cast heavenward. At every se-
we're gust OF wind the top of the spire could
be seen to tremble. 1t was stated, however,
that there was little danger OF the spire sue
cumbing, as the cap-pieces are secured by
heavy iron rod which runs well down into
the masonry.
HARRIsBuRG, Pa, Feb. ga wind-storm
OF most disastrous character has prevailed
In this neighborhood for the past "a hours,
and still continues. Houses have been un-
rooted and chimneys blown down. This
afternoon two OF the large stand pipes Of
the Lochiel Iron Works were toppled over,
one of which crashed into the works. For
tunately no persons were injured. The
damage throughout the county and In the
city will be considerable.
HUNTINGDON, Pa, Feb. 26.--The terrific
wind-storm last night blew down the large
barn of Thomas Yarnel, near AleXaneria
this county. Two horses, three mules and
six COWS were instantly killed by the falling
building, and several beeves were so badly
injured as to necessitate killing them. The
loss will reach So 900.
HOLLY BEACH, N. j., Feb. 26.-The new
Presbyterian Church In course OF erection
here was partially demolished by the high
winds.
BosToH, Feb. ga furious blizzard pre-
vailed during the night in this vicinity and
for long distance down the Eastern coast.
At Portland 20 inches of snow has ac-
cumulated and Ice Is still forming. Busi-
ness Is at q standstill. The Grand Trunk
there and South Paris is In bad condition.
At St. John, N. b., the snow is tho
heaviest of the season, and the wind is
blowing 60 miles an hour At Westlleld
the steeple OF the First Congr' gatonal
Church was turned completely over and
thrust through the roof of the building into
the audience room.
Dover, N. H., Feb ga rough snow
storm his prevailed al day, the wind blow
ing "A miles an hour Telegraph and tele-
phone wires have suffered and trees have
been blown down in many places. At st.
Johnsbury, VT, this has been the worst
blizzard Of the year. Railroads and high
ways are badly blocked. Eight inches OF
snow has fallen. At Fryeburg, Me-, more
than II foot had fallen by noon, and had
drifted badly. Trains were much delayed
STAUNToN, Va, Feb ga violent wind
storm passed over this section last night,
telling timber and unroonng houst s, A high
cold wind has been blowing all day.