Smyrna times., 1904-09-21
HURRICANE WREAKS DAMAGE
TO SMYRNA AND VICINITY
TOWN PROPERTY SUFFERS, CORN LAID
LOW, ORCHARDS STRIPPED OF FRUIT.
Worst Storm in Many Years Visits This Pen
iusUla Last Wednesday with Rain, Hail
and Destructive Winds.

1--WE WlQO SLOrm LQdL mas happened IN
this section for years occurred We'd
nesday afternoon and night. The ex-
tent of damage done the farmers
throughout Kent county cannot be es-
timated. but it runs we'll up into the
thousands of dollars. After a severe
drought that has lasted for weeks,
during which time vegetation had be-
come parched and the roads almost
turned to powdered dust, even pre-
venting farmers turning fallow, it
threatened rain for several hours be-
fore it appeared Wednesday afternoon.
Rain fell at frequent intervals during
the afternoon and night. The wind
storm appeared about o'clock Thurs
day morning and in a short time
did much damage. Telephone and
electric light wires were broken by
falling trees and huge limbs. 1t was
necessary to cut off all the lighting at
the electric light plant for safety and
to prevent fires. Houses were badly
shaken and their occupants awakened
and frightened by the racking. No
material damage was donein the vicin-
ity of Smyrna, although several trees
were blown down or badly disfgured.
Damage at Smyrna and Woodland Beach,
Possibly the worse damage done in
town was to the Parrott property on
Mt. Vernon street in tenure of Mrs.
NJ. Fl. Beck. A large limb was
twisted off of tree in her yard and
fell through the shed kitchen, smash
ing in the roof and breaking several
window lights. A large willow tree
in the yard of the Fruit Growers Ma
tional Bank property as almost total
ly destroyed. A number of trees were
broken, in fact there was hardly a
street in town that did not contain
fallen limbs. Dead English sparrows
were picked up in considerable num-
bers by the small boys. The mill
ponds were taxed to their utmost
capacity. Lake Como did not suffer
so badly, but at the Duck Creek pond
the scene was one of utter confusion.
The breaking of the bank of Casper-
sons millpond near Clayton caused
the water to rush down to Denney's
pond in considerable volume and de-
spite the fact that the food gates were
opened wide, it was with the utmost
precaution that the banks we're not
broken by the strain. The meadow
was like one turbulent stream. In the
country districts a number of bridges
were washed away. The storm was
also severe at Woodland Beach, sew
aral fishing smacks and other boat were
blown ashore one or two wrecked.
Several trees in the grove were blown
down. The hotel and pavilion escap-
ed any material damage Bombay
Hook Islanders say it was the worst
wind storm in years.
Farmers and Fruit Growers Suffer Great Loss.
The farmers and fruit growers suf-
fered the greatest loss. Corn was LAID
fiat on the ground, and in many cases
the stalks were stripped of all the fod.
der. Very few farmers had finished
cutting their crops of corn. Fully
two-thirds of the pear crop were
blown from the trees and Thursday
morning thousands of bushels of Keif-
er pears were on the ground. The
pears were hardly ripeand it was under
stood that buyers were Offering eight
cents a basket for windfalls. The
storm was equally as severe on the fall
and winter apple crop which was lust
maturing. The peach crop was about
over, but what few that we're on the
trees were blown off. Many young.
peach orchards were damaged. Fred
Thomas who had not picked his Smock
had 1000 or more baskets literally
strewn on the ground. Peaches. how
ever, were mostly shipped and few of
the farmers suffered from this crop.
Bridge at fiOffeckers MiIpOnd Weakened.
The storm was quite severe at the
Breakwater and considerable damage
is reported from that place. The dam
age along the Delaware railroad was
not very serious, but several slight
washouts occurred between Brenford
and Dover. Hofecker's mill pond
bridge was weakened and the south.
bound railroad track was out of SER
vice two hours Thursday morning.
Trains were delayed and run cautions
ly. The nOrthbound passenger train
due at Wilmington at 8. 43 did not ar
rive until noon owing to trees falling
across the track and wires beine
down between Seaford and Pocomok,
City. Manager W. H. Baker Of this
Diamond State Telephone Companv
says they were practically put out Of
business. 1t will take q rvaaI, - a..