The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-07
FOURTH edition
RUIN IN ms WAKE.

v WILL esgt hShe
RUIN IN IT'S WAKE.
A Storm of Cycionic Appearance
PASSES Over This City Yesterday AC-
ternoon-Property Damaged but No
One Injured.
For several hours yesterday after
noon dense bank OF heavy. black
clouds hung over the entire ncrth
western section of the city. From this
direction there came an occasional
rumble OF distant thunder and vivid
flashes OF lightning once In while
flashed across the omlnous looking
mass.
About 3.45 o'clock the atmosphere
became exceedingly oppressive, the
clouds had now spread ike q mantle
over the entire city, causing darkness
equal to that OF evening. Then a
wind began to howl dolefully. 1t con.
tlnued for fifteen minutes. when .
storm which resembled cyclone oil
great violence broke.
4 A heavy rain also fell and when the
storm had subsidized 1t left ruin In its
wake, houses being blown down,
roofs and ehimneys torn off and
fences, trees, awnings. telegraph
poles and wires damaged. In fact the
storm was the severest one which hns
passed over Wilmington for many
years. After spending most OF Its
Jury here the storm king whlrled him
self over into Jersey and spent Its re'
manning force there.
The day was a very warm one, and
, when the storm arose many were
In the parks and on the street In search
oil some cool spot. When the clouds
began to appear many started toward
their homes. Some arrived home DO.
fora tile wind started into work, but
those who did not. were nearly blinded
by the clouds of dust which were car.
ried by the storm directly into theli
faces.
Many pedestrians sought awnings
Tor protection hut these were torn into
shreds. and In short time they were
dripping wet. Umbrellas bowed tt
the wind like kites. and the only safe
retreat from tho storm was the home
but IN many cases they too were lev
Ieled to the ground
The wlnd blew forty.eight miles al
hour. An estimate OF the damag,
Sustained here Is placed at $4,000. Hal
accompanied the rain but H. wos mo-
very large and only fell In certain sec
lions OF the city.
} THE DAMAGE DONE.
!, The corn fields in the surrounding
country were leveled to the ground
land In some instances the crop ha,
been ruined. Potatoes, peas. beans
: cabbage and other vegetables wer,
also destroyed or partially So
The roofs OF two houses at Tent
AZ nta
and alishteu on the kitchen OF tn,
nelghboring houses, badly frightening
the occupants. The tenants OF TIL,
houses had their bed room furnitur,
r Managed, tho rain drenchlng 1
through.
A flash of lightning entered the gro
Gerry store OF William r. Dare, a
, Tenth and Adams streets, causing
/, slight blaze.
A number of wires of the Whining
I, ton City Electric Co. were blown dow
and the company was at once com
PEELED TO begin the work OF repairing
In order that damage might not result
the company sent putrolmen to exam
/. line the wircs and sse that none are al
q, lowed to remain down.
The telephone company has tev
wires down, but they will be repaire,
q in little while.
The lightning compelled the polIc
4 to close down tho signal system 70
ian hour. Tho Wilmington City Rail
!. way was also compelled TO shut dow
r its lines for few minutes.
a. Two iron smokestacks on building
OF the Harlan and Hollingsworth Com
pany were blown down, but no othe
damage was done.
The roofs of three houses at Ihlr
;. street and WOodlawn avenue wer
Hblown off, but no ono was Injured. Tn
~ houses are frame ones and the damag
y is light,
= A tree Mt Sixth and Penn streets,
I. tree at Ninth and Clayton streets,
IItIee in front of No. 0 school and Il tire
|. in front of No. 2l3 West Seventh stree
! were blown down. A limb OF tree II
front Of ltobelen's store on Marke
street between Seventh and Eight
: streets. was blown OIL The top OF
: large tree at Eighth and Wollastol
; streets wns broben oil,
The steamboat Brandywine, of th
. Wilmington Steamboat Company er
p counterad the storm In the Christian
Sicreek, but the storm WINS about owe
u when she reached the river. The cal
"a tain reports that he saw a number {
small boats in tow Of one of the rive
steamers. but did not hear that all
n one was drowned. 1t Is reported thu
H. n number of small bolts were upset
n the Delaware river opposite Gloucestc
"a and also in tho Horseshoe.
"A The big steamboat Republic q
!. rived safely.
All tho wires of tho Postal Telegram
=, Cable Company were blown down, bu
men were at once sent out and Til
. lines Will be put in operation to-day.
The street bed in front of No. $.
Poplar streeJ below Fourth cayed Il
during the storm.
- THE WIND AND SAIL BOATS.
Fx.Pollce Officer james j. Tuck,
had n narrow escape from drowuIn,
lie had bBen to PennsgrOye in a 81
! boat and when on his way home WI
a oyertaken by the storm which Ups,
/ his little craft throwing him into u
r. river. lie managed to grasp the u
y turned boat and with other usslstan,
WAS rescued. lie was with party
4, friends.
IL Operator Carlisle of the Postal Tel
r. graph Company had similar expei
e ence. lie was with number of frlen,
pc and they too were rescued from
Is watery grave.