Evening journal., 1911-08-26
FIERY BOLT
TEARS UP HOME
Knocks Wall Out Of HaWIey
Street House and Shocks
Occupants
STORM DOES MUCH
DAMAGE ABOUT CITY

wilmington Was NlSlleu Dy dholiti
storm last night, during which rain
fell in torrents. Preceding the rain
there was a brilliant display OF
lightning, resulting IN serious dam
age to at least one building. The
home Of Thomas McCann. at the
northwest corner of Fifth and Hawley
streets, was struck, and how the oc-
cupants escaped injury is mystery.
The rear portion Of the dwelling was
demolished and the loss will reach
about $500.
1t was shortly after s o'clock when
lightning struck the house. A bolt
tore through the roof and into the
second story rear bedroom which Il
wrecked and then passed into the
Kitchen The entire rear portion of
the building was wrecked, the rear
walls falling into the yard. A cyclone
could not have done the work OF
demolition any bettei.
Mrs James Smith, aged so years,
owner Of the property. who make her
home with the McCanns. was seated
in the second story front room when
the crash came and she was pros
trated from fright, but was later re-
vived. Other occupants Of the house
had narrow escape
The precipitation Of rain was the
heaviest recorded at the Street and
Sewer Department for a long time.
Between TAO o'clock last night and
1926 o'clock this morning when the
rain stopped, the gauge registered A
fall of two and forty hundredths
inches. On Thursday night there also
was a heavy rainfall, but it. did not
reach the 2-inch mark. The biggest
rain of the year was recorded on
June IS, when the fall reached two
and five-tenths inches. It rained all
day on that date, however. as COM
pared with the five-hour rain of last
night.
The water fell in such quantities
last night that streets were impass-
able for a time. In fact there were
not many people out during the
height of the storm. The sewer inlets
We're too small to carry of the water
and miniature rivers were quickly
FORMED. The splendid effect of the
rain was noticeable this morning, the
streets appearing as though they haC
received a thorough scrubbing.
storm Severe in Country.
In Christiana hundred the storm
was the worst seen for several years
The new road passing Mt. Cuba wal
damaged extensively The watel
rushed in places cutting gulleys to ;
depth of four feet A farmer said to
day that in his opinion the damage
by the recent rains will cost thu
county more money than a heavl
snow. Hilly sections are damaged t
such an extent that it will be i'm
possible to complete the repairs be
fore the advent Of winter.
Ellis P. Hicks said the storm las
night was one of the regular five
year storms which play havoc will
the roads. In former years the roa'
commissioners had to meet such con
ditions and to make the repairs tn
road commissioners had to go Il
debt
During the storm a COW belongiu
10 Michael O'Neal Of Mt Cuba, wa
killed by lightning
Storm Refuse Derails Car.
During the height of the storm
Darby car bound for Chester was dc
rallied at Thirty-first and Marke
streets. The rails were completed
covered with water at the time an
dirt and stones had collected there /
pile. Shortly afterward the ca
came to a stop the sewer there CAV
way and for a while it was though
the entire street would cave IN. Th
car being stalled caused the sched
ule to become disrupted and it wa
several hours before the line wa
cleared.
The heavy rain caused a washor
i'm the bed of West street near Twer
ty-seventh street and team drivers al
giving the place a wide berth.
The rain washed a gully in the Ri
ing Sun road for a distance of seveni
feet 1t is eighteen inches in widi
and several inches deep.
Causeway Property Damaged.
People residing in house along tt
Market street causeway had to moN
to the second story rooms today. Tt
rain last night flooded that sectio
and the water covered the floors
the houses. Men spent until noon
IN effort to drain the place and wei
|nfrIxr o,,cooocfu1