Evening journal., 1899-08-03
RAIN, HAIL, THUNDER.
Wilmington Visited BY a
Furious Storm Yesterday.
THE RAIN FELL IN TORRENTS
ACCOMPANIED BY HAIL. THUN-

DER AND LIGHTNING-MUCH'
DAMAGE DONE TO TREES, POLES
AND ELECTRIC WIREs-TWo
INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN A
HALF HOUR.
And the winds blew and the floods
came" Such is the record for half
hour in Wilmington yesterday after
noon, during which time over two
inches Of rain fell.
At $40 yesterday afternoon this city
was visited by the forerunner Of what
proved to be one of the most terrific
storms that has been felt here for
years. AT that hour there was a heavy
downpour Of rain.. accompanied by
hail, thunder and lightning. The storm
lasted but a short while, however, and
soon the heavens were comparatively
clear and the sun shone brightly.
THE SECOND STORM.
But the dove OF peace had not yet
aligted, and lurking away in the sky
in the northeast was an immense black
cloud, which was creeping along to-
ward the city, threatening to destroy
Everything ia its path. Shortly before
6 o'clock the black mass reached the
city and seemed to hang over in
Threatening aspect and shrouding
everything in gloom. In moment a
terrific fash OF lightning rent the
clouds asunder and the rain fell by
the bucketful, accompanied by hail
stones as large as hen eggs.
A few moments after the storm be-
gan the winds were let loose and swept
through the city carrying everything
before them. Trees bent and toppled
over, electric poles snapped like pipe
stems, and awnings fluttered and flap
ped like Gagged bird before the fury
Of the gale. The streets in the city
ESPECIALLY those in the hilly section
were turned into miniature rivers, anC
the sewers were unable to carry the
water of. Manhole plates were lifted
from their bearings and tossed aside
and in many places the water poure,
into the cellars Of residences. Chair
on porches were blown about promis
cuously, and the hail cut down flower
and plants as If by magic. Electri
light globes were broken, and the i'm
mense stones drove people from tn
streets into places Of shelter.
Persons crowded into street cars Il
escape the fury Of the gale. but tn
progress Of the cars was blocked at in
tervals falling trees and poles
which crashed directly across tn
tracks. bringing traffic to standstill
Although the storm lasted but a hal
hour, it is estimated that over tw
inches Of water fell during that period
DAMAGE BY THE STORM.
AS soon as the heavens cleared per
sons began to look about to ascer
tain to what extent property had bee
damaged.
A small blacksmith shop at Lancas
ter avenue and Union street was struc
by lightning. The building caug1
fire. The blaze was extinguished by
bucket brigade. About s75 damage wa
DONE
In South Wilmington the roofs WEI
blown from three houses on New Ca
tie avenue The smoke-stack was ais
blown off the christiana Potter
Works.
The plastering in the Liberty FIJI
Company's house was shaken from Il
ceilings, and the house shook from Il
force of the gale The large willo
tree in the yard at the rear Of II
house was blown over, but was set I
again last night by members.
i William E. Franks branch grocer
store. No 7O5 West Eighth street, wi
o flooded, the floor being covered vii
water to the depth of foot. The flo
=, was also covered with mud.
= At Garrett s. Smiths drug stor
Delaware avenue and DUPONT stree
o water was on a level with the sto
. floor, aPd the cellar. where a lar
quantity of drugs was stored, W
filled to the top. An ammonia taI
was overturned and the contents loi
, which strongly permeated the atino
= phere with its pungent odor. T
= water Witch fire engine pumped t
cellor out. The loss amounts to s1,Ol
Peter Terramova's shoe shop W
also flooded, as were the other bull
lings in the neighborhood.
! Bancrofts mills were flooded, b
owing to the quantity Of water in the
j it is impossible to investigate and fl
out what damage was done.
:. Many panes of glass were broken
the hail in the hot houses at Rive
view and in the green houses owned
H. P. Potter and Charles Sparks.