Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-09-16
LEWes AS A HAReoR.
Marine underwriters Unable 10 Estimate
the Financial Losses.

the Financial Losses.
II was impossible yesterday for the
officers Of the two principal marine insur
ance co npanies to make any estimate Of
their losses by the unprecedented storm
at the Delaware Breakwater. promi-
nent official Of the Insurance Company of
North America said last night: "While
can not attempt to approximate our loss
saying that it will not be
very heavy We have received
very little definite information thus
far, and all the news we have indicates
that the only vessels ashore are coast
wise schooners and are insured for com
paratively small amounts. Very few Of
those vessels will be total loss There
is very Efficient wrecking force at the
Break water, including our own wrecking
steamer, the North America, and they
are all working to get the vessels OIL
Many OF them will come of with only
| slight damage, az incoming vessels re-
port that the storm has not been unus-
ually severe at sea-
do you think the present Break
water affords sufficient shelter in time Of
/ great stormsT
Ordinarily the Delaware Breakwater
is very good shelter. | do not feel war
rsnted in saying that it is necessary to
| build any more substantial sea wall. That
is a question entirely for engineers to
discuss. l do not think any breakwater,
| however strong, could protect vessels
and prevent them from being driven
ashore in storms like the present one and
| like the blizzard of March, 1888"
Thomas G. Hand, vice president Of the
Delaware Mutual Safety Fire and Marine
Insurance Company, said his company
had risks on six or seven vessels ashore
at the Break water. II cannot begin TO
estimate the losses, he continued, "for
the reason that / have no definite inform.
alton as to the extent OF the damage.
All OF those ashore in which we are in.
terested are coastwise and have eargoes
Of coal which will be damaged but little
If at all 3"
"What do you mean when you say tn,
loss will not be heavyT
well, not more than $40, 600 or $l5,
900 at the outside, and perhaps mucl
less than the smaller sum.
DO the insurance men regard the sec
wall at the Breakwater a safe harbor2'
Il have always considered the Break
water an excellent harbor, and so hav
many seafsiing men. In ordinary storm
it is as good harbor as there is to b
found. During the blizzard of March
1888, there were no more vessels lost q
the Delaware Breakwater than there wer
in New York Harbor In storr
like the present ons don
think any wall could have prevented th
: water from rushing into the harbor. A
the elements seem to combine to max
3 this terrific storm. The moon was 9
the full and with it came very high tidei
Then the high winds which grew TO
, gale brought the water rushing into I'll
] Breakwater with tremendous fore
. When there is Northeast storm ther
d will always be more or less damage
/ shipping at the Breakwater. Why, I'll
g wind has been so strong and the tides /
= high in the Delaware river during tt
a past few days that very few sailing We
5 sells have ventured to go to sea. The
e have been hugging snug harboT wher
I ever they could find one.
6 number of captains Of small sailir
. craft were discussing the BreRkwster |
d a harbor at the Maritime Exchange ye
2 terday, and several Of them declare
d that it was not good for anything, e
g cept to make business for shipbuilder
K philadelphia Times