The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-06-28
FOURTH EDITION
A TERRIBLE STORM.


panied by Peais of Thunder and
binding Flashes of Lightning
Considerable Damage Done.
Shortly before 9 o'clock yesterday
afternoon this city was visited by n
terrific storm, which exceeded any OK
perlenced for years. Tho clouds had
been lowering all day, but at the hour
stated the rain came down in torrents,
accompanied with crashes of thunder.
binding flashes of lightning, and con.
siderable hail. Tho storm continued
about one hour, and during that time
at least $4,000 worth OF damage was
done. the greater part being as usual
in the western part of the city. Dur
Ing. the storm the electric display was
awfully grand, and at some points
balls OF lire could be seen flashing
from one electric wire to another.
A large number OF telegraph and
telephone wires were burned out, and
although all the telephones were cut
of from the Offices In which they are
located. were subjected to visitations
OF balls of fire, which In some instances
exploded with crack as loud as that
OF gun. 1t Is stated that at least 200
Telephones were damaged.
During the time the storm lasted
there was nearly four inches of rain
fall, and as the sewers were unable to
carry off this vast body of water, the
streets were converted into rivers. 1t
Is doubtful II anyone ever saw 1t rain
as hard, and there are those who think
that it was genuine cl oud burst.
The people along Shipley run sewer,
which overllowcd some time ago, felt
snfe,as the sewer has been Elade much
larger since the last Hood. The new
sewer, however, was not equal to the
strain put upon 1t, and 1t soon showed
that it was not large enough for an eX-
traordinary occasion. The covers of
manholes on Monroe street below Sec
ond were washed of and those who were
present at the time say that n stream
of water shot out of each hole at least
four feet high The covers Of the man.
holes, weighing about 800 pounds
each, were washed several feet away.
The sewer gave way under the
houses at Nos. 7lS, 720 and 722 West
Fifth street. land the occupants made a
hasty retreat to the street. This part
of the sewer was covered with flag
stones. which were undermined by tho
water and gave way. Two houses In
the rear of those mentioned were COM
pletely flooded. the water reaching al
most to the ceiling. George Taylor
occupies ono OF these houses and Mrs.
Margaret Murray, an aged woman, the
other. As she was unable to care for
herself she was in great danger of
being drowned. when Mr.. Taylor went
to her aid and drew her from the flood.
The water was almost up to Taylor's
neck when he had succeeded in get
ting her from the house. A big dog
belonging to Robert shannon was car
ried from the back yard of a nelghbor-
ing house and carried over the back
yard fence.
All the cellars In the vicinity OF Fifth
and Monroe, and on Adams street be-
low Fifth, were filled with water, and
four houses on Fifth street above
Adams, were completely flooded.
lu:gley's factory Pyle's morocco
factory, and McCiary's morocco fac.
tory are the only buildings on the line
OF the sewer that escaped damage, but
ut one time they were all threatened.
At Third and Monroe streets IL number
OF houses were Hooded and conSidera-
BILE damage done. The same Is the
case at Second and Monroe streets;
many OF tho houses are worse than
they Were n year ago. None OF the
cellars had less than three feet OF
water In them, and In some instances
| LllcN were lull 10 luH RIOuNu.
! he damage was not SO great In the
eastern part OF the city, but on ac-
count OF tho defective sewerage. II
large number of cellars were flooded,
JoSRsh Hlndcl, at Seventh and Wilson
sire It's. had part of his roof torn of
| yesterday morning for repairs. and his
Cuiire house wI5 tlooled with water.
| \ piece ~ canvas was finally secur-
ed over the opening, which checked
tie flowof watorln the house. Several
| trees were blown uown, and Eighth
street was completely obstructed at
| Wilson by n large tree that stood on
the pavement OF John Carney.
| Mir. Carney claims that tho roots
/ were cut couple of weeks ago by the
men who wero grading Eighth street,
and therefore refuses to have anything
TO do with removing the tree from
4 the street, while tho Street and Sewer
Commission contend that as tho tree
was on his premises, II is his duty tC
/ have 1t removed.
! A telephone wire at Filth and Ship
ley streets broke, and foil across the
I electric light wires causing flashes oil
( different colored lights. which contin
ued until tho current was shut off ant
the wire removed.
The storm played havoc in the vlcln
ity OF Fifth and Adams streets. The
five frame houses Nos. 7l8 to 794 OF
Fifth street. owned by Frank Miller
Esq, and occupied by tho following
named tenants: No. IT'S. JAS. Welsh
No. 5l6, james Kelley; No. 720, JOSEPH
Gibbons; No. 7a3, Mr.. Shannon; No
T24, Mr. O'Brlen, lost all their house
hold effects in tho collars and first
floors. The houses occupied by
Mes5r5. Gibbons and Welsh were com
pletely undermined and the founda
ton walls washed away. ...
The two houses are wreck and til,
loss will fall heavy on the tenants, who
are wording people.
The two story frame house In tn,
the rear Of Fifth street. occupied b.
Mis-. Catharino Murray and also owne,
by Frank Miller, loses several hun
dred dollars by tho flood. The waite
drove nor out OF her house. 1t cam
up to the ceilings on the first foo
and everything was floating.
Lewis Hammer residing at No. AZ
Monroe street, was completely iloode'
out in the basement His kitchen
utensils and flour We're tioated out til,
door and away on the wild rush q
water
Tho property Is Owned by Coma,
Keller and is damaged some $500.
The large flag -stoncs that had bee
laid on the top Of tho sewer wer
washed down, falling in the centre o
the sewer When n reporter OF tn
REPUBLICAN visited the scene of thi
, miniature whirlpool this morning, TIL
water was rushing through as if II wa
anxious to get to tile mouth or outlet
and fairly scudded along III its ma
race. The damage to Miller's house
, will foot up over $1,000, and the dam
age sustained by the tenants will ru
JD to lhuL much more
Tiie stable OF Patrick Regan, at No.
1?5 West Fourth street, had three fee
OF water III it, and some OF the proper
, ty Of j. w. Banks, WHO occupie
It, was iloatod away in the Hood
Tho cellar oil tho dwelling Of
eapied by Harry Il. Turner, No. Z!
West Fourth street, was filled wit
water A number of chickens boini
unahle to rOost high enough wer
reached by the water and washe
away. Turner's loss will DO $50 o
more.
The water played havoc at Sccon
and Monroe streets. rising nearly fou
feet. from tho Inability of the sewe
TINT has lately been built to carry o
the volume OF water.
Tho house of John J. White, No. ~
! West Second street, was so weakene
by the water that the inmates ran on
into the street, thinking it was goin
To topic over.
Pots, kettles, washboards, chairs