Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-08-25
CYCLONE AND DELUGE. !
The Delaware and Maryland
Peninsula Storm-Swept.
People Killed and Houses Wreckea-
Many Persons Injured 10y the Fiy-
ing Peach Orchards
Lcvcict,-- Havoc About
Wilmington Another
Big Flood at
WhCcling.

A terrific cyclone water spout, or II COM
binatioa of both, wrought terrific haNec III
tho vicinity of Wilmington, Del. Had IL
been half milo to the northward it w1uia
fuve struck Wilmington, and the damage
would have boon incalculable. So far rs
heard from ut least half million dollars
worth of property must have been destroyed
One person was killed, and seven seriously
wounded, Willie largo number were badly
wounded.
The list of killed and injured will be
swcllctl when all reports are in. The storm
came from the southwest and cuta direct
course toward the northeast. 1t was first
seen about four miles south of Wilmington.
Eye-wlncsses describe tho path of the
cyclone us not over two hundred yards wide.
There were several strata Of clouds, which
soemcd to be no higher than tho tree tops
They came oil with terrific roar like that
Of distant thunder or the noise made by a
train passing over a bridge.
Tho first place which it is known to have
struck is the country blacksmith shop Of
Theodore Bruce. He had eaten his supper
and had gone to close his shop, when the
storm struck it, and in few seconds hardly
vestige of tho building remained. a fall
ing 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.
Tho storm then continued i'll d straight
course, tearing up everything in its way.
Trees were torn mp by the roots, crops cOm-
plctcly destroyed, and nothing but u sad
waste and scattered debris remains.
The residence of General j. II. Wilson,
former president of the New York and Now
England railroad, was completely hidden Ill
I cluster of trees, which wera mown down
like grass, and the building seriously dam
aged Tho wind raised large barn belong
ing TO Mrs Rogers, Il widow. Some fine
blooded cattle were killed, and Mrs. Rogers
coachman seriously injured.
About n quarter of Il mile distant it struck
Il cluster of three houses within II couple OF
hundred yards of each other. Ono WAS &C.
cupied by David Lcntz, n trucker, another
by William Turner, II blacksmith, and q
third by u family named Foster These
houses were all shattered like egSsllellS.
The debris flew like chaif through the air. The
furniture, bedding and household goods
were taken up 10y the whirling wind and
scattered for miles. Turner was so badly
injured that his recovery is doubtful and
the wife of LcntZ and two of the Foster
household are reported to be seriously hurt.
The storm was then half II nile from the
outskirts OF Wilmington. After cutting
through beautiful woods like the swuth of
a scythe, it struck the big rolling mill owned
by the LobClcll Car Wheel Company. This
mill, though unoccupied, was stocked with
valuable machinery, and ready TO start up
at any time Nothing but the big fly wheel
could be seen standing after the storm.
The loss at Wilmington is estimated mt
from $4,000 to S100,0O0 OF two frame ten
ement houses that stood OIL the opposite side
Of the road, hardly u vestiGc remains 10
show that they ever existed. Charles Cathcart
who lived in one, saw the storm approach
ur and ran out of the house with his little
children in his arms. He was struck and
fclIed TO the ground by piece Of flying
timber, and was seriously hurt about the
face and head In falling he crushed the
child, which is not expected TO live. The
wife of Tom Hamilton, who lived in the I'D
Joining house, escaped from the building Just
before the storm reached her. She lay lint
OH the ground with her children underneath
her and escaped uninjured.
The storm extended down the Maryland
peninsula, and, in Kent county particularly,
the havoc was terrific and Unprecedented.
Houses were blown down, trees uprooted,
and the peach orchard suffered great da'n-
age. From Still Pond, i'll Kent county,
comes the report Of the loss of several lives.
The cyclone cut broad swath through the
country, sweeping everything before it, and
leaving all awful picture Of wreck and dies
olation Reports are coming i'll Of loss of
life, here and there, but all the wires arc
down, and it will be some time before COM
munication is resumed. Hundreds of thou-
sands of dollars will not cover the loss; and,
coming at the height of the peach season, it
will prove O serious blow TO the growers.