Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-11

Philadelphia, Pa. Aug. 3-The OK,
cessive heat Of the last three weeks or
more eliminated today in one of the
most terrific electrical storms that has
ever visited this city. The rainfall was
the heaviest in the history Of the local
weather bureau. In one hour and three
quarters five and four tenths inches OF
rain fell. The heaviest previous rain
fall was five and one fifth inches in
hours. about ~ years ago.
There was an almost continuous flash
Of lightning. ana flagpoles and build
ingH in nearly every section of the city
were struck, causing several small fires
and doing great damage. Telegraph
and telephone service throughout the
city was practically at staudstill for
several hours. The csllars aud first
floors OF hundreds OF business houses
and dwellings were flooded. In the
Easements OF the city hall and post
Office the water rose to such depth
that tho fires under the boilers were
sxtinguished.
The Easements of Gimbel Bros. and
Wanamnker's, two Of the largest de.
partment stores in the city, were
floodeu and heavy damage has been
done.
One, of the large oil tanks of the At
r1tie Refining Go. at Gihson's Point,
, ysh-.>, lower end Of the city. was struck
En the, ispucnsrd entirely destruyedo:.'.
BY lightning .~iss,sssa,ip atsd at SIX S 90 Sy
A number Of firemen were OVERCOME by
the heat while fighting the fire. but
they were soon revived.
The street car service was practically
at a standstill. Many of the streets
were flooded to the depth OF two ami
three feet At Thirteenth and MorriI
streets the water was four feet deep
The steam roads in this vicinity alst
suffered severely. and nearly all trains
were behind their schedule.
Peter Schell, aged 90 years. wa
drowned 10 the cellar of his home. a
Twenty third and Christian streets
He was working in the cellar removing
some of hia property, when he wa
caught by q sudden rise IN the water
Before he could reach the stairway tn
water had risen to the first floor an,
he was drowned.
To the Maryland Naval Reserve
forming the crew Of the old monito
Ajax, which at present is lying in tn
Delaware River, short distance belo'
League Island, waiting sailing orders
the storm seemed almost cloudbursi
Their ship, under ordinary ciroum
stances, ats very low 10 the water, ha,
log a. freeboard Of only a fout or nc
and it takes but slight disturbanc
OF the surface Of the water to submere
them. This morning the crew of th
iax saw the clouds gathering befor
the storm burst, but having no reaso
to expect tho terrific downpour whic
followed. trusted to their awnings
shield them from the rain. A Re
minutes, however. Hufficed to show thl
the storm was no ordinary one. I'll
rain itselfran over the decks so rapid
as to almost seem like sheets of waite
and the river itself was lashed into 9
unusual fury by the force of the raj
and the wind. The old craft began
rock and tie edges of the deck oomir
dangerously near the surface of Il
water, the officers at once ordered Il
hatches closed. The order was hurried
oheyed and NOT minute too soon, 4
scarcely had the work been complet,
when one end Of the boat dipped low
than usual, and several inches of wat
we're sent across the deck. Sever
times were the decks flooded, al
though had the matches besn open the
would scarcely have been any dang
OF the boat filling enough to sink, st
great amount Of trouble and iuco
veniepce would have been occasioned