The sun., 1898-12-05
DAMAGED BY THE STORM
The High Winds Created Havoc
In This City and the
Vicinity.
WIRES DOWN In MANY PLACES
Chfmneys, Awnings and Signs Blown
Down In Every Direction..Trees
UprOOted and Fences Raced.
All Trains Delayed
BY Distractions.

y BY Distractions.
The heavy rain storm and high wind
: have played havoc in Wilmington an
vicinity during the past two days.
,, A regular gale struck this city yestel
day morning and the telegraph and tele
phone services are in disorder in conse
quence. The electric light company
also sufferer, and wires are down in al
directions.
Sign boards were sent spinning throue]
the air, trees were torn up by their root
and awnings were but mere zephyrs
and were blown into strips and frag
ments in the twinkiing of an eve by til,
powerful wind.
The awnings on King street were in ,
great many cases blown to ribbons The
one at Smiths drug store on the corne
Of Fifth and King streets is hanging il
shreds and tatters while there is scarcel,
enough left OF the one on the King stree,
end of the market house to show that an
awning had ever been there.
The city was in total darkness while
the storm was raging tiercest with the ex.
ception OF the incandescent electric liehts
and the gas lights. Hardly an arc
light was burning.
Eastlake was worse off than Whining.
ton proper for the electric light poles
were down and cut off the light en-
tirely.
A large double chimney was blown
from Peirce's millinery store, No. 226
King street and smashed the heavy plate
glass in the bulk windows of the store.
The large sign on the Douglas shoe
store was whisked from its resting place
and dashed to pieces on the street.
Several electric light and telephone
poles were blown down on lower Market
street, breaking wires and causing lights
to 70 out.
A large tree at Eighth and Lombard
streets, which had stood the storms of
years, was completely uprooted by the
force of the elements.
Electric light wires were blown down
between Tatnall and West on Fifth
street.
The chimney OF vacant house No. 62O
Penn street was blown down and landed
on small tin roof, nearly stampading
the already frightened citizens Of that
locality.
The tin roof on the remains of Tweed's
stable, which structure was recently
gutted by flames, was nearly torn of,
and kept up such tremendous racket
that people living in the vicinity were
driven nearly frantic by the clatter.
The electric wires were crossed at Sew
enth and Market streets and made
beautiful electrical display.
A shingle roof was blown from house.
at Eighth and Jefferson streets and was
carried across the railway track.
A large limb was blown from tree in
the rear of the City Hall and came near
a woman who was just in the
act OF walking under the tree.
Fences at No. 8l2 West Fifth street. at
southeast corner of Second and Jefferson,
Ford's Bottling Company on Sixth be-
tween Orange and Tatnall streets were
blown down. ..
The large maple tree in front of the
residence of William H. BALDWIN, 81.
East Fifth street, was twisted off BY the
wind and fell into the street with a loud
crash. Only seven feet of the trunk was
eft standing.
The high and turbulent waters of the
Jhristiana were exceedingly high and
'eat furiously against a small frame
louse which is being built on a float
Ibove the Third street bridge. The
louse was partially turned around and a
orce of men worked for several hours to
ct it right.
Many wharves along the river were
looded by the exceedingly high tides
aused by the high winds.
Master carpenterJ. L. Smith and sup
rvlsor OF signals W. 4. Smith of the
Iaryland division of the p, w, & B.
abroad were kept busy all night.
The storm seemed to have special
pite against the railroad and caused no
nj OF small accidents and irritating de-
lys and telegraph wires behaved in a
'anner that was calculated to cause the
perators to vent their wrath on storms
all kinds
At Odentown on the Baltimore and
otomac branch of the division, the sig
81 tower roof was carried away and the
wer was flooded with rain. Two sig
a. poles were also blown down.
At Severn two signal poles we're blown
'wn and the interlocking signal pole
as also blown down.
A Lamokin standpipe was blown
ross the track and train No. IS, which
It this city at 6.06, struck the obstacle,
maglng it considerably and knocking
headlight off the engine. No one
IS hurt and the train was DELAYED but
ew minutes by the accident.
Near Prices Station tree was blown
ross the track and a train struck the
e, knocking it from the rails. No
mage was sustained by the train.
Inc carpenters and the supervisor of
mars offices were scene Of bustling
ivlty from 5 o'clock last evening until
'ly this morning. All damaged signal
les were reset by O'Clock this morn
!.
All trains were late in leaving and ar
ing at the French street p, w. & b.
road station. but no loss of life or
lous accidents have thus far been re-
ted.
'orkmen in the employ of the COM
~ were on duty all night repairing
damage done by the wind and rain.
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