Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-05-21
Tuesday Weeks Tornado Terrific in the
Lower Part of the State.
THE DAMAGE IS TREMENDOUS
One Fisherman Drowned and
Four Missing.

about 80 minutes. The wind soon
began to blow hard and the rain fell in
sheets When the wind increased hail
began to fall. At first the hail
stones were of medium size, but
they gradually grew larger and more
numerous.
When the storm ceased the ground
was covered in many places with hail
stones, some as large as hickory nuts.
In some parts of Jones' Neck, it is
said, roads were covered with hailstones
three inches deep.
Dover's streets were etrewn with
limbs of trees. Governors avenue was
impassable from Loockerman to Di-
vision streets. A large elm on the Green
was blown down.
The glass in the cupalo of the Court
House was broken out and the clock
stopped at 5. 05 o'clock.
The workshop and large new smoke
stack at the State College for Coored
Students were completely wrecked.
The green house and chimney were also
destroyed.
The reception house in Lakeside
cemetery was blown distance of IL
feet.
The large building at the State Fair
grounds, which was used for RES
taurant, was blown down.
The cupalo on one of Chancellor
Nicholson's farms, near town, was
blown off and small building used by
children as a playhouse was moved 30
feet.
The house which was being moved
from the glass works to Governors
avenue by j. G. Lewis was overturned.
nh. la kux, Ia, IL
on the Knight farm, near town, at an
expense Of 5000, was moved six feet
A stable on Thomas Pickering's
farm, near Lebanon, was wrecked and
two cows were killed.
A stable on the Raughly farm was
wrecked and horse was killed.
A large number of windows were
broken. A heavy plate glass window
in the State House was destroyed, as
were also 20 panes in the residence OF
d. Q. Cowgirl and eight in the resi-
dence of L. @. L. Smith.
Considerable damage was done to T.
U. Roe's farm, near town. About LOG
window panes were broken and so acre
field of wheat was completely destroyed.
The wheat field looked like reaper
had passed over it. The wheat was
cut and broken SO bad that il is worth
less. ID. M. Wilson's wheat field was
served in the same manner, as was also
Danner's.
At the farm of G. G Turner rows of
pear and apple trees were uprooted and
% window panes were broken.
At Bowers Beach there were several
fishermen with teams. Three teams
were blown into the creek, but the
horses swan ashore.
sEvEREsT STORM EVER EXPERIENCED.
Special correspondenceo OF Gazette and Journal
Milford, May H. Tuesdays storm
was the severest ever experienced on
Delaware bay. In l5 minutes score
or more of sturgeon boats were wrecked
and at least one man was drowned.
Two boats have not been heard from
and it is feared their crews, consisting
of two men each, were LIST.
Those who wero out in the storm tell
some vivid stories of their experiences.
Capt Alfred Scott of Milford and
James Palmer of Frederick were pre-
pared for the blow and when it came
upon them their boat was put ready to
run with the wind under bare poles
towards the Delaware Breakwater.
The wind was blowing faster than any
train of cars ever ran and the sea, high
as the little boats mast, ran faster
than the boat and, coming in over the
stern, soon sunk her. The seine was
washed overheard at the same time
that Capt. Scott was and 20 feet from
the boat he grasped the big keg which
he used as a seine buoy. In this man
ner he was towed along at rapid rate
for 20 minutes and his strength was
rapidly waning when Palmer jumped
into the turbulent sea and, overland
ing his way towards Scott, reached
out to him his right leg, at the same
time telling him to courageously hold
on. Scott clung to Palmer's leg with
the firm grip, seeing death staring him
in the face, and Palmer, after severe
struggle, succeeded in getting him to
the sunken boat, where they cung
with the courage of veterans, some
times with hands above water and
sometimes under a heavy and raging
sea, until 20 minutes had elapsed and
the storm was over, when they were
rescued
The storm came upon Capt. William
WIlkerson of Leipsic too suddenly for
him 10 got in sail and he hastily
grabbed an ak and knocked out tho
pin which held the iron band to the
mast. The mast and sail both fell over
board and with them went Capt. Viii.
kerson's mate. This occurred only 150
yards from Shore and in but five feet
of water, but the sea was running SO
high that the mate barely managed to
get back TO the boat before his strength
gave out
Edward Mitchell and Elias Hudson,
both of Milford, were fishing COM
panions and when their boat capsized,
while lying at anchor, Mitchell came
up 20 feet away. He thought he was
gone, sure, but fortunately the spirit
fioated near him and he grabbed it,
and succeeded in getting TO the over
turned boat. Hudson was near the
how of the boat and fighting manfully
to save himself. Mitchell kicked off
his heavy rubber boots and when he
Hudson in the water. Mitchell seized
the boat and the craft rolled bottom
which caused Mitchell to
release his hold upon Hudson and the
after sank. In a few minutes boat
:ane to Mitchell's rescue and in taking
the seine aboard the body of Hudson
was hauled in and at once taken TO
Cedar Beach and thence to Milford,
where Coroner Joseph held an inquest.
Out of l50 boats in the storm but
,ne came in with any sail set. This
vas the boat of Capt George Daisy, a
'eteran sturgeon fisherman OF Glouces-
er, n. j..
Many fishermen came in with their
clothing cut to pieces by the hail
tones.