Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-08-22
Cyclone and DeIuge.

a terrible cyclone, water spout, or q cotd-
bination of both, wrought terrible havoc in
the vicinity of Wilmington, Del, about 5:45
o'clock yesterday evening. So far as heard
from at least half million dollars worth of
property must have been destroyed. One
person was killed, and seven seriously
wounded, while large number were badly
wounded. The storm came from the sonth
west, and cut direct couise toward the
northeast. 1t was first seen about four
miles south of Wilmington. Eye witnesses
describe the path of the cyclone as not over
two hundred yards wide. There were sew.
eral strata of clouds, which seemed TO be DO
higher than the tree tops. They came on
with terrible roar like that Of distant tbun
der or the noise made by train passing
over bridge. The first place which it is
known to have struck is the country black
smith shop of Theodore Bruce. He had
eaten his supper and had gone 10 close his
shop, when the storm struck it, and in 8 few
seconds bardlya vestige of the building re-
mained. A falling beam hit Bruce and
crushed his skull. His house is but few
yards away, and although it did not receive
the full force of the shock, it is also sorry
wreck. Bruce's wife and children escaped
| injury. The storm then continued in astraight
course, tearing up everything in its way.
Trees were torn up by the roots, crops com,
pletely destroyed and nothing but sad
waste and scattered debris remains. There
sidence of General J. n. Wilson, former
president of the New York and New Eng.
land Railroad, was damaged. His fine resi-
dence was completely hidden in cluster of
trees, which we're mown down like grass,
and the building seriously damaged. The
wind threw to background o large barn be-
longing to Mrs. Rogers, q widow. Some
fine blooded cattle were killed, and Mrs.
Rogets's coachman seriously injured.
About quarter of mile distant it
struck cluster Of three houses within a
couple of hundred yards of each other.
These houses we're all shattered like egeshells.
The debris flew like chstf through the sir.
The furniture, bedding and household goods
were taken up by the whirling wind aud
scattered for miles. One man was SO badly
injured that his recovery is doubtful, and
others are reported to be seriously hurt.
The storm was then half mile from the out
skirts of Wilmington. After cutting through
beautiful woods like the swath of scythe,
it struck the big rolling mill owned by the
Lobdell Car Wheel Company. This mill,
though unoccupied, was stocked with valua-
BILE machinery, and ready to start up at any
time. Nothing but the big fly wheel
could be seen standing after the storm
The loss is estimated at from $4,000 to
100000. Of two frame tenement houses
that stood on the opposite side of the road,
hardly q vestige remains to show that they
ever existed. Charles Cathcart, who lived
in one, saw the storm approaching, and ran
out of the house with his little children in
his arms. He was struck and feiled to the
ground by piece of flying timber, and was
seriously hurt about the fnce and head In
falling he crushed the child, which is not
expected to live. The wife of Tom Hamil.
ton, who lived in the adjoining house, es-
capped from the building just before the
storm reached her. She lay fat on the
ground with her children underneath her
and escaped uninjured. The storm extend
ed down the Maryland peninsula,
and, in Kent county particularly, the havoc
was terrific and unprecedented. Houses
were blown down, trees uprooted, and the
peach orchards suffered great damage. From
Still Pond, in Kent, comes the report of the
loss of several lives. The cyclone cut
wide swath through the country, sweeping
everything before it, and leaving an awful
picture of wreck and desolation. Reports
are coming in of loss of life, here and there,
but all the wires are down, and it will be
some time before communication is resumed
Hundreds of thousands of dollars will not
cover the loss; and coming al the height Of
the peach season, it will prove serious
blow to the growers.