Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-25
THE WIND AND TIDE.
Schooner Wrecked in the River off
Delaware City.


Delaware City.
The Crew Narrowly Escapes Drowning
High WA er at New CnstIe--0ther Notes
of the Storm.
neutrality-suspicious. of Gazette and Journal
NEW CASTLE, Dec. 18.-One of the
heaviest storms that has prevailed in
this section for years ragged yesterday
and did much damage. The Delaware
river was rough and swollen, and the
evening tide covered two of the ice piers
in the harbor and several wharves. A
small slnop anchored above here the
previous night and her crew retired for
the night. On awaking in the morning
they found that her sails had been torn
into shreds and she had dragged anchor
for 300 yards and been blown ashore. A
large skiff belonging to a New Jersey
fisherman was sunk and its new fittings
were washed away. A big three-masted
schooner was washed ashore at Rey
bold stone wharf, about four miles down
the cove, and her crew left to spend
their Christmas vacation while the
vessel is being floated and put in
a seaworthy condition. Shortly before
noon the tug Crawford attempted to get
into the harbor but could not breast the
immense breakers, some of which were
the largest ever seen here and washed
over the piers and wharves, foaming
and roaring. A huge breaker struck the
tug to starboard and ran clear over her,
some of the spray splashing down
the smokestack, nearly extinguishing
the fires. A vessel load of cord wood
was on the wharf of Morris, Tasker &
Co., and large force of workmen had
to remove it in cars, in the binding
rain storm, getting it safely housed just
before the tide came up over the wharf.
Many small boats in the steamboat dock
were swamped
The storm damaged many houses
throughout the city. Two chimneys
were blown to pieces from the residence
of George Edwards, florist, just above
the city. The heavy rain put the roads
in miserable condition and the wind
blew down fences all around the neigh
horhood. At the Delaware iron works
the wind caught q large pile of light
sheet iron twisted the sheets and scat
tered them all over the ground. One of
the flying sheets struck George Hewlett,
q carpenter, on the head, stunning him
for an instant and inflicting painful
wound.
Navigation was almost at a standstill
all day, and nothing but the largest yes
sells would venture TO breast the awful
elements. The steamship Ohio of the
American Line, Captain Sergeant, passed
up from Liverpool, three days overdue.
The steamer Hampton, from Hamburg,
November 10Th, also overdue, and the
steamer Cape Breton, from New York,
passed up in the evening. The bark
Lapland passed up in the afternoon,
having breasted the awful storm from
the Breakwater. The Earn Line steam
ship Wygo, for st. Jago, anchored off
here, her master fearing to proceed fur
ther down until the storm had subsidized.
The Red Star Line tug Juno lay in the
harbor last night.
NO DAMAGE AT LEwEs.
Special Correspondence of Gazette and journal
LEwEs, Dec. 18.--A severe gale of
wind from the northeast prevailed here
on Tuesday night and Wednesday morn
ing. 1t began about 10 o'clock Tuesday
night and lasted until 10 O'Clock We'd
nesday morning. Few vessels were at
the Breakwater, or much damage
would have been done. A very high
tide was brought in and fearful sea
bliO NCsoVlo III n
large schooner commenced to drag her
anchors, but the gale soon abated and
she rode it out. No damage is reported
Reports from Rehoboth beach say every
thing is all right there.
SCHOONER WRECKED AND VESSELS
GROUNDED.
Special Correspondence Of Gazette and journal
DELAWARE CITY, Dec. 19.-The storm
yesterday was of great severity at this
point. The blow on the river was ter
rifle, doing considerable damage. Two
scows and the schooner McCabe were
grounded on the sand beach, but were
gotten off without sustaining much
damage. A steamer of the Erricson
line was obliged to seek shelter and lay
to all day in the harbor. The schooner
Mary Fl. La Dow was foundered just
across from this city and completely
wrecked. Her crew of five men were
obliged to take to the life boat and en-
deavored to make this shore, but the
storm was too heavy and they were
unable to reach here. But for the timely
assistance rendered by tug, the boat
load would have been drowned. The
survivors are here, being cared for by
A. B. Asher. There was much appre-
hension here as to the evening tide, but
fortunately the wind subsidized and the
water did not raise to a dangerous point.