Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-08-23

lhlles % Iofl rem; previous 10 /
this il was terrific gale Of
wind, sweeping in a wide path over the
Peninsula, from the direction Of the Sassa-
fras river. There seems TO have been
two separate clouds which swept along
parallel TO each other, about quarter Of
a mile apart About a mile and n half
from the Delaware river these clouds
came together, and with their combined
force swept on and over the river The
general course of the cloud was the same
as that which did such havoc TO the south
Of the city; from the southwest TO the
northeast. Il passed over its course be-
tween 4 and & 80 o'clock, q little over an
hour before the later storm.
The approximate damage to buildings,
so far as can be learned, is about as
follows:
James r. Hoffecker farm. $500.
Joseph Cleaver. $500
William McMullen, 81 600,
Thomas S. Dilworth, 5000
Joseph Ludlow, SlO0
The Carpenter farm, 50. 900.
Zeuas p. Longland, $4,000.
William Lawrence $500
Henry Price, 500.
Total, Sll 800
The first farm struck with damaging
force was the James r. Hoffecker farm,
about eight miles from Port Penn.
Joseph Edwards lives on this farm. The
house and outbuildings were unroofed
and great damage done to the growing
crops This was the southern arm OF
the storm, Before striking this farm
much damage had been done by the
storm 10 trees and crops
After leaving the HofIecker place the
cloud Kept on it's course toward the north
east gathering force as it went, and
swept over Joseph Cleayers farm, where
the barn and hay barracks were blown
down. William McMullen's place was
visited next and the barn and barricks
ruined William McMullen, Jr, who
I was ont Of doors when the storm came
I up was thrown against the house by its
4 force and his arm broken.
The cloud dashed on to Thomas s. Dill
worth's farm, where the greatest dam
age is to the hay barricks
which were blown down The storm
roared on its course and carried away the
porch Of Joseph Ludlaw's house and blew
\ down IA stack of wheat scattering it over
| the country Ludlaw's farm was the last
struck by the southern arm of the cloud.
Beyond this it combined with the north
ern arm and swept on with increased
fury.
The northern arm did not seem to have
travelled over SO great an extent Of coun.
try, as that which took its path one quar-.
ter Of e mile to the southwark The
first extensive damage done by this arm
of the storm was on the Robert and
Samuel Carpenter farm. Here the barn,
barracks, stables and other outbuildings
We're blown down, and extensive and
valuable pear and apple orchards leveeC
TO the ground. Through a break of the
storm the house was not damaged but
the granary, which stood % feet from
the house, was demolished, and n tire,
standing between the two buildings wa.
twisted off. From this point, thii
arm of the clond took a course towart
the southern arm Probably some at
tracing force was eXerted toward eacl
other by the parts of the cloud, whicl
came together on the farm belonging q
Z. p Longland
1t was here that the greatest force o
the tornado was felt L0ngland's house
barn. stables, barracks, granary and il
fact everything on the place was swep
away Seven stacks Of hay in the var
were taken up and carried Of
being scattered all over tn
track of the storm towar
the river As was stated in yesterday
EVENING Journal, Mr. Longland was II
this = city when the cyclone passe,
through his farm and returned home yes
terday morning to find the devastation
which has been described His famil
saw the cloud coming and took refuge il
the cellar. Two Of the men on the farr
got TO the house just in time 10 escap
its fury. One of them took refuge in th
cellar with the family. The othei
went into the stable an
loosened the horses which ra
out safely. Before he could reach plac
Of safety himself the cloud swoope
down He lay down in the barn var
and escaped with a slight cut on his heac
I made by piece of flying debris Trees
inches in diameter were twisted off. Tn
! barn was lifted clean off the mows full q
wheat it contained, and was carried I
. one side The sheaves Of wheat wer
then taken up and scattered all over th
farm The porch was torn from tn
house, the roof lifted off and every win
dow blown out. II is damaged beyon
repair, and the wreck will have to be tor
! down.
l Longlands farms adjoin those of tn
. Carpenters and William Lawrence Afte
cutting its destroying way through TIA
: Carpenter and Longland farms, the clou
4 next struck that belonging to Lawrence
p Here the barn and Outbuildings wer
: blown down, and apple and peach orchard
ruined The barn was lifted off of il
foundations and with horse
contained, carried some rods an
! dropped 10 the ground. The hors
! walked out unharmed. The roof q
) the barn was blown half mile away
! The last farm swept by the storm, befor
a il struck the river, was that of Henr
Price. Here a stack of wheat was blow
over and scattered, some of the sheave
being carried a quarter of a mile
e The whirling cloud now struck th
: river just above Reedy Island, and lashe
; the water into fury, for about twent
g minutes. as it took diagonal course fC
q the Jersey shore. 1t carried the wRte
100 feet into the air. and seemed 10 brea