Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-23
"A CENTRE OF ENERGY. ;
Tree Tops Twisted OF and Tombstoncs
II NJ, n Swept Away at Easton.

Tree Tops Twisted or and Tombstones
.s Swept Away at Easton.
Easton, Md, Aug. Ia heavy cleo
trio. hail, wind aud rain storm from
the northeast struck Easton at Z o clock
Saturday evening. The storm lasted
about 15 minutes and did much injury.
Trees were blown down all dyer the
town, SO that travel except by pedes-
trims was obstructed until 10o'cl0ck
this morning. The town lost some Of
it's finest NAPLES, mulberries, poplars,
lcedars and honey locusts. The trunks
of large trees were twisted in two and
the tops carried In some instances SOW
oral hundred yards. A great weering
willow in Spring Hill cemetery and d
large walnut tree in Mrs. Clark's yard,
near Hanson street, were shivered by
lightning.
As far as heard from today it does
not appear that the storm extended far
into Inc country. The corn In some
fields southwest Of Easton and nearby
IS leyeled. The hailstones were as large
as hickory nuts and did some damage
to flowers and shrubbery.
In Easton the electric light and also
the gas went out. Considerable damage
was done to the poles and wires of the
electric light company. The fury of
the storm seemed to center in Spring
Hill cemetery, where damage was done
estimated $1,000. Monuments and
tombstones were overthrow and
broken, and IN some places the bases
OF the stones were wrenched out of
position. j. w. Salmon's marble yard
was wrecked. His workshop, large
building, was lifted from its foInda-
tions bodily and torn into fragments,
and the falling of the heavy beams
crushed much OF the marble in the shop.
The iron roof of Tuthill & Sons ware.
house, near the Delaware & Chesapeake
railroad station, was carried away and
fragments of 1t were driven through
the Notwithstanding of the station.
house. ~. EsIt.
Joseph B., Harrington's carriagehcuse
was wrecked, with, an expensive new
carriage he had just bought.
Much damage was done at the
Orphans Home, where many OF the
handsome trees that adorn the grounds
we're destroyed and chimneys wrecked.
A chimney on the large and handsome
residence Of w. Pratt ChafI nch was
blown off and dozen more in different
Parts of the town. The wind was so
twisted off and not torn up by the roots.
Mr.. Patchett's new house, in process
OF erection, 10 Earle's addition, was
swept from its foundation. The cross
on the spire of SITS. Peter and PauPs
Catholic Church was whirled away.
Fences are e,eled, outhouses over
turned, much glass broken, and in
number of frame houses the vibration
caused the fall Of plastering. Easton,
never had such storm before, says
the oldest iDhabitant. The thunder
and lightning, which lasted much
longer than tha windstorm, were appal-
ing. Not less than half dozen trees
were struck by lightning in town and
near by.
DR.. Edward B. Triple. who was COM
ing home from Caroline county, was in
the full fury Of the storm. A tree on
the roadside was struck by lightning as
he was passing it. The doctor was
SHOCKED by the electricity, and did not
fully recover until this morning.
After the wind and rain were over a
lady and gentleman were sitting on the
porch of their residence on Hanson
street when, large ball of fire invaded
the porch, knocking out a panel from
the end Of the porch, skipping into the
yard and rising into the air, JUST as a
lightning bolt struck q tall tree 20 feet
away and tore II up. The whole thing
happened perhaps in the tenth of d
second, but,it was a fearful experience
to the two people, who were not hurt
hut nearly scared tn death. crashing
peal OF thundar attended the advent OF
the ball of fire, n ~ NJ =,