Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-04
DISASTROUS RESULTS OF STORM.


Heavy Rain Yesterday Afternoon Week.
Much damage resulted from the heavy |
storm which visited this city yesterday |
week. For short time the rain
fell in torrents and some Of the sewers
we're unable to carry of the water.
Tbs Shipley street aDwer becHme |
clogged and many houses in the vicinity
OF Eighth and Shipley and Orange
streets we're flooded, the water backing
up In the sewer pipes in some places as
high as the second story. In one house
there were several inches OF water on
the second floor and pieces OF shlngle
were noticsd floating about. Much
personal property was damaged. The
cellara were also flooded. and it is the
opinion of people living in the vicinity
of Eighth and Orange streets that the
new Orange street sewer was in the
same prediuament as the one on Ship
ley street. 1t had also apparently be-
come ologgsd and the surface water
was not carried off as fast rs it fell.
The damage cannot be estimated.
The Poplar street sewer was also
unable to Gerry off all the water as
rapidly as it fell, for a tune. and
| several streats in the vicinity we're
flooded. Water flowed from the street
into the basement of n. j. WindiRh's
cigar store. at Fourth and Poplar
streets, and the cellars of many other
houses in the vicinity were flooded. AS,
soon aH the rain subsidized, however,
the water ON the streets soon disap-
| peared, being carried off by the sewer
Much water also backed up ON Market
and several uther streets in the hsart
of tine city, and for short time some of
the crossings were almost useless, so
far as pedestrians were concerned.
While the storm was In progress the
lightning caused an alarm Of fire to be
sent in from Box No. "a, at Front
and Justison streets, which call proved
disastrous to some OF the fire COM
panies. The Washington chemical en-
gine procaedeu out Front street and
the Delaware truck took the route
down Tatnall street. People at Front
and Tutnall cav the two pieces OF
apparatus arproaehing the corner and
signnlled to each. Tho driver of the
truck was unable to stop, being on a
grade, and tho driver of the chemical
engine evidently thought he could
clear the corner before the truck
reached that puint. or probably be did
not sas or understand the Signals. Al
any rate the two pieces OF apparatus
met at the corner and collision re-
suited. Driver Evans of the truck
, made as short a turn on the north side
of Front street as possible and collided
i with a wagon which was standing II
, front OF the blacksmith shop on the
corner, wrecking the wagon. One Of
the Delaware horses, which was pur
chased by the company few pohthi
i ago. had its left fore leg cut and turr
to the bone and one of the other horsel
was badly cut up. The front portion
OF this truck and the hind axle werl
. badly bent, throwing the truck OUT o
service. 1t wGs taken back to thu
a truckhouss by two horses, and thu
1 horse which was so badly injured wa
a taken to the stable on French stree
: abDve Sixth, where it's wound wa
eewed up BY a veterinarian, II stithe
!. being required. The other iniurei
horse was also given attention. Ii j
!. believed that the one which receiver
j. the greater injury will be of no furthe
!. use to the company. The truck will
!. be repaired at once. The damage {
J. the chemical engine was slight.
is The Weccacoe hose wagon collide
a with another vehicle at Front a
j. Madison streets, but there was n
l. serious damage.
). The excursionists who arrived j
D. this city yesterday week on th
8. steamer John v. Craven from Salem
N. j., were detained here on accouu
of the storm and did not leave until
y, had abated. IT is probable that tb
d, excursionists did not reach Salem unit
s. after midnight as il was rot possibl
j. for the steamer to enter Salem cree
]. until after II o'clock on account of ii
n, low water. tt, .
a. A horse owned by milk dsale
n, whose name could not he ascertaineC
s. was frightened by the storm aud ra
IS. away IN the vicinity OF Fourteenth sn
Washington streets. AT that point mil
e. cans were scattered about, but wei
y; taken care of by people living in I'll
vicinity.
At the office of the Street and Sew
Department on Thursday 1t was LEARNT
Ia that none Of the city sewers we
;o damaged by the storm, but some
H. the inlets were choked by sand Whit
!, was washed from the hilltops. At Il
az time of ths storm the tide 10 Il
ha Christana was high, which ia large
- accountable for some Of the sewers
~, coming clogged. Tbs chief damage
III houses resulted where there were
od traps to prevent a return flow from Il
- sewers.