Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-29
MT. Thatcher gives the following story


Wheeler made proposition to William
and Albert Thatcher to so into business
and start a shipyard.
In May OF the same year having
Already bought piece of ground from
John Wright at the foot of Pine street
hey began operations. There was moth
ing in that place at that time bigger
han a mans hand that looked like
Ihipyard.
The firm at first was Samuel B.
Wheeler & Co. 1t was somewhat OF
task to start yard when we commenced.
With two months time Of working and
getting ready business began with over
hauling old vessels. In the spring Of
1883 we laid the keel Of new vessel
which when launched was called the
lone. She was bark-rigged and about
200 tons. She was for the Wheelers in
their Maine trade She was launched in
1910. It was about this time that Mr..
Wheeler drew out of the firm which
has since been w. & A. Thatcher.
Then other vessels were built right
along. Among them the bark Hope, the
brig Elizabeth and the schooner Fashion.
SCHOONER FASHIONS FAST HEELS.
The schooner was a very sharp vessel,
built for fast sailing. She had the "heels."
On her first voyage she came into the
Breakwater against an ebb tide with
the wind northwest. Hardly one ves-
sci in thousand could have done it.
The pilots of Lewes town were stand
ing on the shore watching with wonder
at the vessel making her points. They
concluded that the parties who built her
could build them a pilot boat. We built
the pilot boat Connor for them and it
was great success.
In 1874 we built our shiphouse and
constructed the brig Thomas Walters,
and also the schooner Charles d. Ellis,
both of them being first class and stand
ing Al in the insurance offices.
TERRIBLE TORNADO.
Between 4 and 5 o'clock May 9th,
1916, the ship house was blown down
by tornado that crossed the lower part
of the town. 1t was nice afternoon.
/ was lying down in the ship house
with my head on a block, which had
often used as pillow. The men were
at work close by. happened to look
out at the gable end facing the river
towards Newport and observed, about
Moody's, the clouds flying along very
swiftly. Suddenly the ends of the
building were shaken violently. l
rushed out forward. At Simmons
board-yard it capsized brig which was
lying at the wharf. 1t was now getting
dark. The tornado passed on to Mr..
Harris ship-yard, where a vessel was
lying listed off shore. The tornado
picked her up and turned her over In
shore. The masts were wrenched out
and carried up into the yard. Next, at
Belts, Harlan g. Hollingsworth's il
grasped the new ship house like whirl-
wind, literally wrenching it to pieces
The falling rafters killed two of the
workingmen.
Ii then advanced on to w. & A.
Thatcher's yard. At the moment was
passing under new steamer that was
being built in the ship house. Suddenly
there was a terrific report. The roof Of
the house cracked and everything over
head gave way. 1t was then as dark as
midnight.
In the flashes of light glancing up.
wards discerned the ship house pass
ing right over me. ran for the door
or in that direction, but before l coult
reach it it was gone. l got my direc
ton for another place of egress bu
gone to pieces. l was cut off i'll every
direction. just crouched down, hold
ing on to my hat, waiting for wha
would develop. The brow stage haC
come down all around me, but forum
ately l had not been struck. Tn
tempest was blowing hard. The al
seemed full of water and | thought
was to be drowned. The fact is waite
AoI 1,tfrp i,1cf n1A NA fba Ia,
house.
1t became very cold. 1 thought
would freeze as the hail ratified down
Richard Robinson was the only ma
near me. His hat blew away and tn
hail pelted him on the bald pate. Their
was no let up.
Lax THE STEAMER wHILDIN STRUCK.
The tornado next struck the steame
Whildin in her home trip from Phila
delphia as she came up the Christians
Old Captain Whildin who had stemme
many tempest, was on the hurrican
deck. He had to lie down flat on h
face and brace his feet behind him [
keep from blowing off. The boat wa
blown ashore. The tornado then passe
over to Jersey. The whole occurrenC
did not last over 10 minutes. But
was the toughest quarter of an hour
ever remember.
1t blew part Of the roof off Asbul
Church and the rain poured down in
H. A fragile shed on four poles stan(
ing on the other side Of the street opp
site the church was never touched. Tn
shows in what peculiar way these 7
volving storms restrict themselves
certain distinct limits. W. Il
Thatcher, at that time had not muC
money to put to the purpose of rebuilt
ing their ship house. But the wreck W
eventually put up again.
BOATS FOR THE AMERICAN TROOPS.
y In the year 1886 the firm had the co
tract to build nine surf boats for d
United States army which was at til
time moving on Vera Cruz. A bon
was given for finishing them in
month. This was accomplished by ligl
ing up the shipyards with candles al
lanterns and working at night tin
The boats were for General Scot
army, TO allow tine soldiers landing al
getting through the high surf to I
shore.
When the town clock struck 10
noon of the last day OF the contract t
last boat had been launched.
THE FIRST MARINE RAILWAY.
In 1848 w. 81 A. Thatcher built
marine railway. 1t cost good sum
money in those days. 1t was the on
railway at the time this side of M
York mot excepting Philadelphia) I'll
would haul out steamer the size of t
Ohio and the Robert Morris. There "
nothing in Philadelphia in the shape
railway that would do it. The Oh
and Maria ,,nrn Ahn lnn...-t ....-n.