Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-22
STORM DID MUCH DAMAGE
Many Barns and Trees Struck by Light
ming, and Some Blown Down.
LEVI G. BIRDS HORSES KILLED
Rough Experience of MIR. and
Mrs. G. w. Chambers.
BOTH HURT IN A RUNAWAY ACCIDENT
From Every Evening, yesterday.

RI
severe electrical storm, accom-
panied by high wind and heavy rain,
visited Wilmington and vicinity be-
tween and II O'Clock last night, but,
while the elements had cyclonic ten
denotes at times and much damage
was done. no fatalities were reported.
Several trees and poles were struck by
lightning. trees were blown down and
outbuildings damaged, but no dwell
lings in the city were disturbed to any
great extent.
At about sunset heavy clouds began
to gather in the western and north
western sky and from that time until
shortly after O'Clock the sky was
frequently illuminated by flashes of
lighting. While people were watching
the storm gather the reflection of a
fire was noticed northwest of the city.
This WAS caused by the burning of
Daniel Haley's barn, near Rockland,
which was set fire by lamp which
was accidentally overturned. The barn
and contents were destroyed, causing
loss of about $1,000.
The storm, which broke over the
city shortly after 8 O'Clock first made
its presence known by high wind,
which blew gale for short time.
The dry weather had made the streets
dusty, and the wind blew the dust
about so that it was impossible to see
more than few feet in some parts of
the city for while. The wind was
followed by rain, which came down in
torrents at intervals, and there we're
several vivid flashes of Lightning and
deafening peals of thunder which had
the effect of keeping the people in
doors.
One of the flashes of lightning
stunned George W. Chambers of No.
1900 Broome street while he and Mrs.
Chambers were driving on Broome
street between Fifth and Sixth. It
also frightened the horse, causing it to
prance around and throw Mr.. and Mrs.
Chambers out of the carriage Both
were pretty badly hurt, Mr.. Chambers
being cut about the head and Mrs.
Chambers ear being nearly severed
from the head. They were taken to
the residence of John Skinner, nearby,
and Drs. Negendank and Harris were
summoned. Their wounds were dressed
and after the storm went home. The
horse ran away after the accident,
going south on Broome street. 1t was
caught at Seventh avenue and Duncan
street by Policeman Conner. The
carriage was pretty badly damaged.
While the electrical feature of the
storm was most severe the telephone
and telegraph companies were at some
disadvantage. Wires were affected in
some places, but there was no serious
damage. A telephone wire on Madison
street between Seventh and Eighth
was struck and several telephones in
the vicinity were burned out, but
nobody was hurt. Operator Wallace
was slightly stunned while working at
| the instruments at the police station.
| For a short time the police and fire
alarm telegraph we're thrown out to
| prevent accidents to the system and
| people working in connection with it,
Trees and limbs were blown down at
various places about the city. A pole
at Lancaster avenue and Franklin
street was blown over. $f f
| "A lawn party for the benefit of the
Florence Crittenton Home was to have
been held at the residence of Mr.. and
| Mrs. II. H. Ward. Fifth and Rodney
streets, during the evening, but the
storm put stop to it.
| The storm appeared to be heaviest
| just south of the city, and occupants
and owners of some of the properties
along the roads between this city and
| New Castle were in q state of terror
| for time.
The wheat field of Charles Meggin.
son, is laid low and 10 some places
looks as il it had been rolled by a
heavy roller. The loss will amount to
several hundred dollars. S.tGe (.
| A Veritable cyclone passed through
the property of Mr.. Carter near the
New Castle trolley, road and the apple
trees were twisted off as if. they were
but reeds, while several were urrooted.
The adjoining residence suffered much
in tine same manner. This is occupied
by a. Mr.. Burfis and the trees were
torn out by thefroots.
At the truck patch of Mr.. Hewitt
the corn was laid low and several trees
destroyed. On the same side of the
road and adjoining Mr. Hewitt's place
is the residence of Mr.. Sutton Here
several trees were destroyed and por-
ton, of the stable unroofed. f
On the property of the late DR..
Burr several trees and ontbuildings
were destroyed sla iaata
The trees at Jones Guthrie's place
suffered much by the cyclone and the
wood cutter will have work for several
days. ll
At the home of Mr.. Downward the
barn was partially wrecked and trees
about the house were twisted off, while
several valuable trees were torn out by
| the roots. E'e
The stable of Mr.. Mckay was blown
down and some of the lumber carried
nearly half "a mile away. An outbuild-
ing on the property occupied by Mr..
| e..
tions and landed about 100 yards away.
In Eden. Park n number Of trees
were split and twisted. ..5
On the Kelly farm near Landers
avenue trees were twisted off, some OF
which measured about three feet in
diameter, and several show marks
which indicate that they were struck
by lightning.
| Barns on the home farm of JOSEPH
LeFevre, Just north of the Rose Hill
school house, and the farm tenanted by
William Mckay. adjoining, we're
leveled. In the latter barn two colored
men were asleep and they had narrow
| escapes, but neither was much hurt.
| The wagon shed. ON the Giles Lamb
son farm, near New Castle, was blown
down, as WAS also the barn on the
Morris farm, near Farnhurst. Mrs.
Sarah Simon's hot houses were dam
aged to the extent of $780,.
There was no rain at st. Georges
and very little at Delaware City.
| At Brandywine Springs Park the
storm caused some Inconvenience for a
short time, but matters are in good
shape today. t.sa N, ,l
A house near Sixth and Brooma
streets was struck by lightning, but
| l.. L.,