The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-07-30
FIERCE
JULY STORM.

pour of rain was the order OF things
south of Wilmington last evening.
Fences we're blown down, trees up.
rooted, and washout occurred on
the Delaware Railroad Company's
tracks at Farnhurst
A peculiar feature of the storm
was that. while it was at Its height
in the section about Farnhurst aud
New Castle, there was but a slight
shower iE this city and not enough
to lay the dust.
The heavy rainfall extended as
far south as kitkwood. but the
storm centre appeared to be in the
immediate vicinity of Farnhurst
and passed along the shore OF the
Delaware river toward the bay.
The rain began to fall in torrents
shortly before 6 clock. The sky
was overcast with heavy black
clouds. and the wind for short
time blew with great velocity,
hattenng fences and uprooling
trees. There was a brilliant dis
play OF lightning and several trees
near Farnhurst were splintered.
While the storm was In progress
it became SO dark that it was
necessary to turn on lights in
houses.
The railroad tracks at Farnhurst
became inundated at tile point near
where the storage tracks are locat.
ed. At this point the tracks are
low and washcut resulted.
On arriving at the scene of the
wasbout train No. 06, northbound,
which IS due 10 arrive at the
French street station about I
O'CLOCK, was forced to return to
New Castle. The train was run
over the New Castle cut.of TO Edge
Moor There a shifting engine was
attached 10 the train and It wac
run into the French street station.
The train left the station one hour
late. Train No. 90. southbound on
arriving at the depot, was forced to
60 back TO Edge Moor and run over
the cutoff.
A force Of trackmsn was Dispatch
ed to the scene Of the washout and
worked throughout the uIght re-
pairing the break.
The rainfall was heavy ia New
Caste and Delaware City. the
streets standing ankle deep in
water. The wind storm was especi-
ally severe in that section and corn
fields were damaged TO consider
able extent.
TIE Ushers Union trolley ride to
Delaware City was postponed.
A storage house Of E, l. DUPONT
deNemours & Company, at Carney's
Point, N j., opposite this city, ex-
ploded, The damage was slight and
no one was injured The cause is uu
known No particulars could be gain
ed, as the members Of the firm in
this city had not received word OF
the explos ion, They discredited ths
report that mill had exploded, be-
cause the only powder there was ia
the storage houses
The light was so bright In this
city, when the sudden blaze occurred
that hin m! ght have been seen on
the sidewalk in certai parts OF Mar
ket street.
Shortly tetcreil O'Clock last night
q sudden blaze lighted up the Della.
ware rive! between the mouth OF the
Chrisliana aud Edge Moor. Some
claimed they heard an explosion at
the same time.
The b!a2e continued for more than
an hour and various explanations
were given, bnt none Of them could
he verified. The first Impressions was
that thu powder plant Of the e. I.
DUPONT deNemours & Company, at
Carney's Point. had exploded, but
Francis G. dupont, who has charge
OF that plant, SAID he had heard
nothing OF it, and there was nothing
in the plant last night to explode.
Railroad people coming in on
trains SAID the fire appeared to be
opposite Landiith and inland, but
they could not tell where it was.
There were no local boats coming ia
at the time and no Information
could be secured from that source.
Railroad men were called. but they
could give nc Information, except
that they had seen fire.
A patroman, who had watched
the light from hill IN this city, re-
ported that the fash was cauS ed by
a steamboat ons the river using q
searchlight. 1t was flashed severa!
times, he said, and then turned up
the river.