Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-07-04

aud Damaged-The Surrounding Coun =
try Heavily Visited. White wilmington
Escaped with Only a Good Rain.
Wilmington was visited only by the
outer edge Of the heavy storm that pre-
vailed in this vicinity Thursday even
ing. Its greatest force and effect were
fell to the southeast and south of this
city.
Over in Jersey the storm was very
severe, with appalling electric disturb
ances. Several places were struck by
lightning.
Throughout belt of New Castle
county extending from the river beyond
Newark, for width of dozen miles
or more, the storm prevailed with ter
rifle power. Rain deluged the country;
lightning flashed necessarily, and the
heavy roll of the thunder was continu-
Gus. Christiana and Newark were in
the line of the storm, and the lower
part of Chester county caught it
heavily.
In Wilmington rain began to fall
about 4.45 o'clock, opening with heavy
downpour for about half an hour.
Streets were flooded in various parts of
the city, but no serious damage was in
aicted. After lull of nearly an hour,
rain again fell, but in a steady shower,
unaccompanicd by wind or electric dis
turbance, and continued without inter-
ruption for nearly three hours. The
rain was much needed, and the section Of
the country visited will feel the benefit.
WOMAN STUNNED BY LIGHTNING.
During the storm Mrs. Allison Ritten.
house of State Road, near the railroad
station, was struck by lightning and for
while was thought to be dead. The
lightning entered the house by way of a
telephone wire, which is used between
the two houses there as means of
communication. Mrs. Rittenhouse was
knocked to the floor and rendered un-
conscious. The looking-glass was broken
and other articles were destroyed. A
large hole was broken in the wall where
the bolt passed out
David Heyd and George Whitfield the
latter operator at the station, went
over to the house in buggy and hitched
the horse under tree They had hardly
gotten in the house when another bolt
struck the horse and killed it. Mr.. Whit
field and Mr.. Heyd wero stunned for a
few minutes but recovered during the
evening.
DIR. John ]. Black of New Castle was
sent for and, after considerable work,
rendered relief to Mrs. llittenhouse, and
it is thought that no serious conse-
quences VIII follow
HEIFER KILLED.
On the du Pont farm, near lIare's
Corner, tenanted by George Moore, a
valuable heifer was struck by lightning
and killed.
On the model farm tenanted by Frank
Moore, brother Of George Moore, the
barn was struck by lightning and one
end was badly damaged.
TWO CHILDREN STUNNED.
At Christiana, two children of Mr..
Hamilton were stunned by the
splinters. The children recovered CON
seriousness after considerable exertion.
sEvEREsT EVER KNOWN.
A. Rittenhouse OF State Road, writes
The GAZETTE the following account
of the storm in that section:
1--WE had at this place Thursday after.
noon tile severest electrical STERN have
ever known. 1t commenced in earnest
about 4.30 o'clock, and the flashes OF
llgntning ana peals OF thunder were
| terrific, and seemed TO be at our very
| doors. A tree at our front door was
struck, carriage with two men passing
under it at the time. The horse was in,
stantly killed. The men, Mr.. David
] HauA and tho
shocked but not seriously injured.
| "My daughter-in-law was so shocked
as to be UNCONSCIOUS for some time. She
has been suffering constantly since, one
eve being much inhamed and one side
partially paralyzed. The fluid left its
marks all through the house, several
things being broken or thrown down
The house was filled with smoke. Other:
were shocked, but not seriously.
thought at the time it was our dwelling
that had been struck"
STRUCK A WHEAT STACK.
Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journa
MIDDLETowN, June SS.-The passen,
gers on the southhound train due here
at 5.l2 p. m. yesterday were treated to d
novel sight-the striking OF a stack oi
newly-cut wheat by lightning, on the
farm of Miss Sarah Brady, near Arm.
strong's. The cap sheaves were thor
oughly saturated, as it was raining in
torrents at the time, which prevented
the stack from taking fire, but the centre
of the stack was more unfortunate
Judging from the volume Of smoke thai
| poured forth.
Clinton Hulls residence on Crawford
street, this town, was slightly damaged
by lightning during the storm.
On the Editorial Excursion.
| The following persDng. rcpresentjpr