Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-16
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Almost a Cyclone In Its Fury-Th'
Damano.


muddy tint. The atmosphere was ex-
tremeiy spitry and close. at the time re-
ferred to a fierce roaring wind was heard
coming from the northwest. At the south
west the SKY was relatively clear. Suddenly
with roar an immense yellow dust cloud,
its apex from IS to 80 feet perpendicularly
came rushing from the west, hiding every
thing In It's yellow veil. Through the
clouds could be dimly dlscerned the limbs
OF the large trees along the streets thresh-
Ing and bending almost double like grass
In U wind beaten meadow. There was no
rain until s 40. The dust was binding.
Along the streets pedestrians and vehicles
eddles OF sand and dust laden wind which
hid them In cloud OF jaundlced yellow
atmosphere. Although yeering ftiully the
city hall weather yane pointed steadily TO
the northwest, aud at 8 81 the clouds In the
west commenced to clear and the darkness
which had been almost equal to twilight
passed OF. Bat the wind continued In It's
violence. At Gas the temperature had
fallen TO 800, and the city hail yane veered
to west. TINS storm then subsidized and was
followed at o O'Clock by rain and IN electric
storm.
People were awe-srrieken at tho first
severe blast of wind, and many feared the
arrival OF another cycionic visitor. One
market woman who lost her all IN the
cyclone OF last fall was waiting on GUS
toners at the time In King street market.
When the gale struck the city, she left
everything and ran Into a neighborlng
store terror-stricken and began to cry.
People walking along the streets were
blinded by the dust, and chung 10 awning
posts, trees, and everything on which they
could lay hands for safety. Hundreds OF
people fed into the nearest stores or dwell
llngs for shelter. Trees were torn up, avn
ings ripped into shreds. fonces and even
buildings blown down, but no serious catas-
trophies are reported. Limbs were blown
rom trees all over the city.
The awning on the Seventh street side CT
Head d Company's building was blown
against a sec 1nd story window which was
crashed.
The wind closed the door Of the Adams
Express Cumpany's office with such force
as 10 break the penes Of gloss In the door.
The hack wall OF some houses which the
Ruth Brothers were erecting OF Front and
Lincoln streets were blown ia because they
were still green" One workman who at
tempted to run for protection in an angie
in the cellar was prevented by a fellow
workman just moment before tha brick
| walls iell In with crash In the very place
to which tho man was fleeing.
A row OF seven houses on Heald street
near Twelfth belonging TO William Guthrie
we're unrooied by the gale and the roofs
| out injuring anybody, however,
The Pullman shops were open during the
| storm and some newly vanished cars were
| so spoiled by the dust that the work will
have to be done over again.
Several houses at Eighth and jackson
streets, being erected by Daniel Horisk.
had the gables blown down and were other
| wise considerably damaged.
| Several telegraph poles were blown down
| on Front street; also at the junction Of the
| W. d N. and B. a. o. railroads. On the lat
ter road near the junction, a big hickory
tree was blown across train slightly crush
Ing the top Of q box car.
A frame house on Twenty-flith street be-
tween Tatnall and West streets, belonging to
Contractor Francis d. Talley was carried on
its foundations and completely demolished.
| Several men who were working In the
bnilding at the. time jumped and escaped
/ injury.
Captain Boomsburg OF the City OF Chez.
tor reports the same state OF affairs on
the river that existed In the city.
| The water was 80 covered With the
| nying dust that scarcely anything could
| be seen only a few hundred feet distant.
| The Chester weathered the storm nicely.
| The Msjor Reybold tied up at Edge Moor
fearing IA similar experience to that which
| overlook this boat on the Delaware river
| several years ago. No casualties are re-
panies report little or no damage along
their lines. Down tho State the storm was
| as sewers as In Wilmington, but beyond the
| uprootlng OF trees and the blowing down
Of fences and outbundings no serious dam
age to life or property resulted. 1t was
peculiar storm and that 1t was general in
this section of the country is evidenced by
the similar reports from other places.
Captain Bloomsbury OF the City OF Ches-
| ter gays that he saw several schnoners
lying at anchor above Edge Moor with their
sales torn to shreds. No casualties on the
river are reported.
The farmer-butchers In King street
market had TO throw considerable OF their
meat away because It had become SO thor
oughly covered with dust.
A farmer IN Brandywine hundred, who
was out ploughing, was carried away, to-
gether with his horse and pillow, for 100
feet or more before he again became firmly
fixed on terra frma.
RAISED THE DUST AND MERCURY.
NEWARK, May ll.-Last evening about s
o'clock a heavy wind storm passed over
this section. The dust was binding. No
damage was done here. Report states that
several large trees along the line OF the
Newark d POmeroy railroad were blown
down. The storm must have been very
severe above here. Shortly after the wind
storm rain began falling. The thermometer
here registered $50 In the shade and over
Ito ia the SUI.
TRERs UPRooTED AT NEw CASTLE.
NEW CASTLE, May l1.-Yesterday's storm
did no damage In this city, beyond the up
roofing Of several large trees. The inhab.
itsnts were badly frightened at the force Of
the wind, and number thought their time
had come. Several Of the fishermen who
were out on tn, river had ronRh expert
ence. Two OF The boats narrowly escaped
capsizing.
NO DAMAGE AT novEn.
DOVER, May ia severe wind storm
struck Dover last nightabout O'Clock, and
It looked for while rs though 1t would do
setiors damage. The Thermometer regis
tered 94o In the shade yesterday afternoon.
THE STORM IN PHILADELPHIA
PHILADELPHIA, May 1.-THE storm did
little damage here beyond unrootlng build,
ings, wreoking q scow laden with bricks,
and badly frightening ptcnickers In tho
parks and passengers on ferry-boats, and
occupants OF small craft on the river
The British Princess was lust hauling
into her dock when the blast struck her.
The crowd on the wharf which had been
waiting to meet expectant friends among
the passengers, made q rush for the sheds,
aud those who were attending the shore
warps had TO cover under shelter to pre-
vent being blown into the river. For
moment or two 1t seemed as II the great
steamship must succumb to the terrific
squall and drift out into the stream. How.
ever, the British Princess succeeded In
docking comfortably In the teeth OF the
blow. Some one remarked that this was
the second tornado the British Princess had
brought into port. The last one was In
May, 1855,
Little Otto Ernst's young billy goat was
blown up onto a rs feet high roof, and
Police Officers Clements and "Bucky"
Weaver rescued him with ladder and
life line. Last night "Bllly" had recovered
from his fright aud tried to get up buck
ing match with the dog.