Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-22
MUCH RAIN FELL.
That Of Sunday Night the Heaviest fol
Some Time.


That Of Sunday Night the Heaviest for
Some Time.
According to the record kept by tho
City Engineering Department, 3 4-10
inches OF rain fell on Sunday night,
which was the heaviest In the same
length of time for several years. That
ands the terrific ldownpour Monday
afternoon did much damage. The food
at Brandywine Springs Park represents
a money loss Of at lenst SO, 600.
Nearly all of the small streams In the
county cverfiowed their banks In Del
aware City the first flour OF a number
OF houses were flooded and the resi-
dents had to seek refuge in the second
| story OF their homes. Several washonts
occurred along the line Of the Delaware
d chesapeake Canal and also along the
New CASTLE x Delaware City railway.
Washouts on the Newark & Pomerny
railroad have caused that line to be
crippled. In White Clay Creek and
Mill Greek hundreds the creeks over
flowed their banks, flooding meadows
and fields. A number OF farmers lost
small live stock, such as hogs, sheep and
chickens. Crops were also damaged to
considerable extent by the flooding of
fields and 10 some sections corn was
ruined. Al Newark the paper mills
had to shut down, because water flooded
the boiler room, exiting the fires.
Many small bridges along country ionds
were washed away, and the big covered
bridge at Roseville was damaged, the
water at times being four feet deep OH
the floor OF the bridge. The iron bridge
at Cooch's was badly damaged and the
road SO filed with stcnes and rubbish
that travel is impossible.
The severe rain OF Sunday and
Monday did not extsnd below Dover.
Passengers from the lower part of the
State Monday we're surprised to find
that such a heavy rain had prevailed
in this section. Below Dover the
ground was dry and dusty. In New
Castle county there we're washonts of
roads and small bridges, which had
been caused by the storm. Fields were
filed with water and everywhere evil
dence OF the heavy rainfall could be
seen.
The storm notes from the railroads
Monday revealed washout on the
Delaware City branch of the p, W. &
b. railroad. The tracks we're lnosened
aud made unfit for use. No trains were
run en- this section. This storm also
damaged the North Christiana bridge
near Newark. Master Carpenter Smith
sent corps OF carpenters to ths scene
to make repairs. There was small
washout on the Edge Moor cut off, 1t
was reported that several head of cattle
were drowned by the bursting Of y dam
near Newark. Theitwo big breeches of
White Clay Creek gave way, overflow
ing the marshes nearby. The breechea
were 200 feet in length. The Atlas
Dredging 20. will repair the, damage.
During the storm of Monday the
railroad mon employed en- /: the various
shifting engines on the p, W. & b.
railroad wers forced to desert their
trains aud lake refuge until the rain
abated. While rain was railing Mon
day the streets IN soms parts of the
lacity were covered by water to derth
Of several inches. Cars on the Van
dever avenue trolley line ran in water
up to the axles.
Lightning struck q tree near the
home of Jacob MoGargle at Greenbanls
and jumping from the tree the bolt hit
the house, setting the dwelling on fire.
The blaze was not extinguished until
much damage had been done. Jacob
McGargle, an invalid. is said to have
been the only occupant Of the house at
the time.
Lightning played queer prank in
the Wilmington and Brandywine ceme-
terry during the storm en- Sunday after
nom. A large tulip poplar tree near
the centre of the cemetery was struck.
The lightning appeared to strike the
tree directly at the top and bored a
hole down the centre of tina trunk. In
three places near tine ground there are
large holes where the bolt burst through
the trunk.
A pole owned by the Wilmington City
Electric Go. was Flown down at Elm
and Broome streets Monday afternoon
by the storm.
Rats were driven from their abiding
| places in shops and mills and in sewers
along the r., W. & B, railroad by tha
deluge of rain which fol- Monday
afternoon shortly after 3 O'Clock. The
rodents we're driven out in great num-
bers and for a time furnished a good
deal of amusement for the men and
| boys III the vicinity. Boys waded abont
| In the water and struck the rats with
sticks and clubs. One boy. armed with
a hammer, did effectiye work. When
| the rain subsidized the result of the
| slaughter was apparent in the number
VI donb IHtb Vhab roy hbouts
The Christiana River was much
swollen as also was Brardywine. About
four feet of water came down over the
third dam in Brandywine making the
stream very turbulent
A washout occurred on the main line
of the Philadelphia. Wilmington & Bal
timore railroad Monday night. The one
span bridge Just below Newark was
damaged, The last train to GROSS the
bridge was the one. coming north, which
leaves here for Philadelphia at 8. 16
O'Clock. Word of the washout was i'm
mediately sent to this city and all
south bound trains were held until
pilots from the Baltimore & Ohio rail
road could be secured and the trains
then run over that line. Superintend-
ent Barnard and Train Master Carlisle
of the p, W.. & B. road, arrived at the
station about l O'Clock Tuesday morning
and took charge of matters. About :
O'Clock the wreck train with a large
force of men under Wreckmasrer Van
Gasken ands Supervisor of Bridges
Smith left for ths seems of the. .wasbout
Until the bridge is back in position
trains will run over the b. & o. tracks.
To Build Lighthouse.
Alvin R. Morrison has begun the