Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-10
THE STORM IN NEW CASTLE.


1t Came IN Two seetions-ftain aud Hall
Great Damage Sustnined-LiveIy Scenes
ON the Delaware River.
New Castle, Aug. 3. Not within the
recollection of the oldest citizen Of this
place has there been q storm Gt this
season of tine year equal to those of last
evening.
The storms, two in number, broke
with great violence. The first came
about O'Clock, and within two minutes
large drops of rain fell, followed four
minutes later by hail. Many window
lights were broken. The wind seemed
to come from two directions -frcm the
northwest carrying the hail, and from
the northeast carrying the rain. The
hail storm prevailed for IA minutes
The roof of the awning over the store
of David Elkinton had a midwinter
appearance, so great was the coating OF
the white stones. The leaves of trees
were torn away, and grapes, pears,
plums and other fruits we're cut off
and could be gathered in large quaint
ties.
The yard of Edward Challenger pre-
sented dilapidated appearance, all
the trees are practically stripped of
their fruit. The yard of the Couper
tSlabc III q COublIlOus 1bb
First Presbyterian Church windows
were badly damaged. Houses situated
on the southerly side of streets suffered
most from the first storm. A lightning
bolt struck tree in the school green
and it was reported that the old WASH
ington Hotel was struck, but ON in
vestigation it was found that large
portion of the plaster on the ceiling of
the porch had become loose and fallen
to the floor.
At the home and store of David Elk.
linton about 16 panes of glass are out !;
at the home of James Rowland all the
glass was cleaned out of one window
while others are broken. The second
storm broke in fury at 6. OF o'clock and
| the rain again fell in torrents. The
hail which fell was larger than that of
the earlier storm.
1t was during this storm that the
steamer Thomas Clyde attempted to
reach her wharf here. The wind was
blowing at the rate of so miles per hour
and the captain felt impelled to tie up
to the Delaware street wharf, when the
passengers from this city, and many
from Wilmington, Chester and Phila-
delphia landed. The latter boarded the
trolley cars for their respective homes.
Their troubles did not cease when they
left this city. They reached the home
of Mrs. Sutton where they left the
car and took one on the opposite side
of where tree had fallen across the
tracks. At Eden Park the same thing
happened, and the passengers weary.
tired and hungry, at last secured car
and hastened to Wilmington.
The Major Reybold with her passen-
gers missed the first storm, but when
she left Pennsville caught the second
storm in it's worst. She headed to and
the passengers were assured by Capt.
Doyle.
The trouble on the steamer Thomas
Clyde started ere the boat had left the
wharf at Woodland Beach. portion
of the wheel box broke and the water
came into the boat through the purser's
room. Some passengers called out
1.-The boats sinking" and others
shouted fire" The result was panic
and stampede for life-preservers. 1!
is said that merchant of this city
had one ON his body and another about
his legs After much trouble the poo
pie were quieted, but when the boat
was blown against the pilings at Della
ware street wharf many again became
excited, and left the boat in the midst
of a terrific rain storm.
After several attempts to leave the
wharf the boat was finally gotten of
and started for Philadelphia. People
ON the wharves and in their homes
thought the boat was going to careen,
as at one time her starboard paddle
was clear out of the water and much oil
the hull below the water line was
plainly seen.
The First Baptist and Emmanuel P.
e. churches, had number of windows
broken. Nazareth M. Il. Church had
three lights destroyed and at st. Peters
r. g. Church one of the large stained
glass windows was broken. The Other
windows of this church were saved by
the fine wire screen which covers them.
About 300 lights in the greenhouses oil
David Boulder were broken. The esti.
mated losses in this city will ,tota
about 50, 0G0
The hailstones were about one and
one-half inches in diameter. At tbs
Delaware Iron Co. s works many of the
men were driven from the easterly tc
the westerly side of the mill and com
PEELED to quit work. The ventilators
on the roof were torn off or loosened from
their fastenings and the large 60-foot
steel stack blown down. On the north
erly side of the Knowles mills the win.
dows look as il they had been bonn.
barded.
A man giving his name as Harry
Warner was stunned by lightning OF
the school green.
George Talbot, Edward Baker ant
John Warder of Wilmington, who hac
Eeen fishing at Firms Point, upset il
the river above this city. The north
east wind drove them close to land and
they had but little trouble in getting
ashore They lost but little and aftel
the storm subsidized secured their boa
and went to Wilmington.
Bicycle Officer Harry Pierce of Viii
mington, while going to trolley car
was hit on his right ear by II larg,
hailstone. The ear was swollen ant