Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-09-13
The Great storm.

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try FOR four days up to this writing
was general. and one of the heaviest
experienced in many years. It was
not remarkable for rainfall, but the
cyclonic force Of the wind and the ex-
ceedingly high tides that flooded the
entire Atlantic coast. From every
part Of the ocean front reports Of I'M
usual damage by inundation and wash
ing away of property by the pillows
pours in, until the total loss in prop
erty alone may reach ten millions of
dollars.
In Delaware Bay the storm was par
uculaTly severe, and the waves broke
the shore from Lewes to the northern
most part of the bay, causing much
loss and making a wild scene of desc.
lalion.
Commencing at Kits Hammock,
where the summer cottages of the
Dover people were washed away, the
damage was more and more until
Lewes was reached. At Bowers the
tide ran over the beach in a perfect
flood, and floated away all movable
property. Along the beach from there
to the MispilliOn, the same condition
prevailed. The large crab pens of
james L. Smith were washed away
and millions of dry crabs ready for the
fertilizing mill were strswn for ten
miles along the shore.
At Cedar Beach the sea made a
clean sweep; carrying away the pier
and the pavilion. The fishing shanty
of. LOwery was undermined and
turned around, and the water poured
over the beach foot deep.
At Slaughter Beach the full force
of the gale was felt and the high shore
at that point was not sufficient to
stay the flood. The wind blew strong |
men who attempted to walk the beach |
gu Tuesday night to assist wreck |
vessels, fiat on the sand. At an early |
hour on Tuesday the three mast schOO-
uer Orrie V DriskO, of Maine.of 305 |
tons carpenters measure, come on the
beach, where she now lays high and |
dry at low water, and in good condi-
ton. The Belle of Dover came ashore
shortly afterward Immediately in
front of the hoteland she lays easy on
top of the beach. The Ella r. Simp-
sou dragged from the west fats to
within half mile of the beach; on
Wednesday night. She came on the
beach below the DriskO. The board |
walk was nearly all destroyed and the
cottages were Threatened; but change |
in the tide saved them. All the Oys-
terbeds in shore were destroyed and |
the marshes are covered with two feet |
of salt water.
Al Point Pleasant at the mouth of
the Broadkiln, the entire town was
washed away, For particulars see
Milton letter
AT LEwES.
On Wednesday morning the scene |
of desolati0n was one to make the
stoutest heart quake and the coolest
nature look with wonder and awe
upon the vast eXpanse of wreckage
lining the shore. At this writing there
are seventeen vessels ashore. The
three piers are gone, but the life-sav
Ing station is intact. The pilot
boat, Thomas f, Bayard, came ashore
during the night, aud now lies on the
beach in front of the Virden House.
with the sea breaking completely
over her. Many lives ale lost it is
feared, but The life saving crew have
done noble work in rescuiHg over a
hundred souls. The oldest residents
here say the blizzard does not equal
this storm, and in proof of this fact
they cite the Bayard that OutrOde the
blizzard, but was driven Oh the beach
during the night. The wind blew at
the rate Of 60 miles an hour.
The following vessels are ashore or
sunk: Italian bark II Salvatore; Brit
ish schooner, Byron NJ; British bark.
ThOs. K nllor; Danish bark, ATLANTA;
American brig, Richard Il. Green;
Pilot boat, Thomas f. Bayard; barge,
Norena; American schoOners, Henry
NJ. Clarke, A,ena Covert, Gertrude
Summers, J. F. Becker, Maud Sew
ard, Nina A Read, Norena, Charles
P. Slickney, Addie B. Bacon, S. A.
Rudolph, A. aud E. Hooper, Emily
R Dyer, ]. D. Robinson, w. II. Grace,
Major W. II. Tantum, Nettie Cham
pion, Sarah G. Park, J and J.. Bryan,
w. F. Parker aud Katie E. Moore.