Evening journal., 1903-04-15
FIFTEENTH YEAR.
WIND AND RAIN STORM
SWEEPS OVER CITY
DOING MUCH DAMAGE

Aside from the telepnone ana elec-
trio light wires. but little damage was
done i'm this city by the storm. The
wires became crossed last right and
as a consequence several incoherent
fire alarms were rung, but none of the
companies were beguiled into going out
into the storm. as the. alarm never
rang the same number twice.
Railroads Suffer.
The washout on the Delaware road
south Of Farnhurst has necessitated
the running of the heavy freights load
ed with Southern vegetables through
this city. The tracks in several
places are i'm bad condition. and men
are kept constantly at work repairing
them and watching for washouts. Sew
eral places the telegraph lines are
down, and as a consequence the trains
have to feel their way along running
without orders. The tracks that cross
Christiana marsh are inundated. and
the train bearing the workmen to Lob
delrs Car Wheel Works was forced to
return this morning and the plant
could not run.
Highest Tide Of the Year.
Driven in by the strong northeast
gale, the water I'm the Christiana and
Brandywine was higher than for sew
eral years. The sloop Ethel, lying at
Church street wharf. was carried on
the dock as was also two fishing dor
les. The water covered the banks for
several squares on either side of the
Christiana running into the fire pits
Of the Diamond state Steel Company
and forcing the plant to shut down.
Wind Does Damage.
The high wind blew down the high
fence around the Old Ferry Mill, and
displaced the weather vane on the
Liberty engine house, in South Will
mington, and blew down several trees
and telephone, electric light and tele-
graph wires.
A boat lying keel upward fastened
upon the rocks in the Brandywine just
north OF the Pennsylvania railroad
bridge was discovered this morning II
is supposed the boat broke away from
her moorings at the Orchard and over
turned.
South Side Inundated.
over Market street bridge the water ma:
filed Guthrie's Carriage Factory. the vii
mington Machine Company's shop, Guth
rie's row OF dwellings. and Cranston'i
row Of dwellings. In the latter row, TN
residents. who are principally negroes
have had to move ITO the second story, th'
water being as deep as five feet I'm som,
Of the houses.
They now spend their time throwing lin,
out of the second story windows an,
catching drift wood as it goes past.
Break Would Mean Great Loss.
The whole marsh back Of these place.
IS covered with water. The overflow o.
the banks. which are thrown up high 81
the same manner as dykes is responsible,
for the flood. This bank has been dam
aged already and It is feared the mex
tide may break it, as each tide has beer
higher and stronger than its predecessor
since the storm began.
If the bank breaks much loss of properly
Will be the result and probably the iosi
of life as with the bank down the waite
will form a torrent in the loWlands an,
wash everything before dt.
Street Commissioner Cook this morn
ing roped off Monroe street betweei
Tenth and Eleventh because Of tht
ueAilSeuOuh touulllOll OF Jnfee trees II
that thoroughfare. which were almOs
blown down by the fierce wind of las
might The owners of the propertie
in front of which the trees are locate,
have been notified to remove them a
once.
A large tree toppled over with I
] crash at Elm and Jackson streets las
evening, tearing up five feet OF pave
/ ment.
Families Obliged to Move.
Seventeen families have been olbligel
to move from the neighborhood of !
and Buttonwood streets in South viii
, mington, owing to the flooded condi
ton of that section of the city. Tn
tenants of the houses are all cOloreI
! people, and were obliged TO move 70
the same cause last night during a sc
we're storm.
A cavern was reported this morning
/ between Clayton and DUPONT streets
making travel in that locality danger
Gus.