Evening journal., 1912-07-22
BELIEVE TWO LIVES
ARE LOST BY STORM
THAT DAMAGES CITY
Young Men Occupying Launch in River Swept Over
board and Are Missing lightning Bolts Damage
Morris Residence and Fibre Plant, While
Cyclone Rips Trees, Awnings and Wires

Win a SuuOcnntSS ludl gave iiltAS
time to prepare for its coming, the
most terrific storm that has visited
Wilmington in a long time, broke
over the city yesterday afternoon,
about s o'clock. Several days ago
Chester was visited by gale and
heavy rain and Wilmington and VI
cinity was overlooked AS if by way
of retaliation, the storm king smote
this city a severe blow yesterday
much harder than the storm which
swept over Chester and Philadelphia.
The storm did reach Chester, but the
wind had lost much of its force and It
merely rained in that city.
Terror struck the hearts of the
bravsst when the canonading aloft
began and this was added TO mo-
ment later. when a gale accompanied
bv binding sheets of water, struck
the city. unrooing houses, uprooting
4 trees and doing considerable other
damage, number of buildings belng
struck by lightning.
In the Delaware river and near the
E mouth of the Christiana, the storm
& swept the waters with unabated fury,
4 Iimperiling a number of launches and
a other small craft which had little time
TO seek safety when the blow struck.
A number had narrow escapes from
being swamped. One boat was nearly
overturned between the wind and the
& swell caused by the City of Chester,
one of the Wilson Line steamers, ana
las a result, two men are missing ana
here now seems to be no doubt tha1
hey were drowned. The missing men
are Andrew Contini, aged Is years, OF
4rwelfth and Heald streets, and Frank
Incolino. aged "A years. 0 No. 12O2
8 Head street. Joseph Cavallo, aged
IL years. of No. 1906 Heald street
who was with the men when all three
we're thrown over the side of the boat
managed to swim to some reeds on
he south bank of the Christiana
where the auxiliary power boat Della
ware rescued him. He told his res
.uers that he and his companions had
been tossed from the boat which was
ater found, and all that remained IN
was a hat. and an umbrellas Ynlep
belonged to the missing men.
rhe downpour Of the rain surpassed
nv seen IN Wilmington for years
7he streets were soon filled with wa
er. the sewer inlets being unable Z
axe off the rushig waters as thel
an down the cutters. In some places
n Front street, boys could find enough
water to swim in. Trolley traffic
vas blocked by torn wires, falling
rees and other debris.
Reports from the country surround
.ng Wilmington and from points dow
he State, were to the effect that TN
hind and rain had caused consider
BILE damage. particularly TO growing
orn. Roads we're badly washed b.
he rivulets which ran over them, an
anage done in this respect will rui
nto considerable money.
Report Casualties.
With all the storms fury the onl
acualty Of the day reported to tn
authorities was that attending the
hrowing out of a small boat at tn
month Of the Christiana river of An
rev Contini, Frank Ihcolinol an
Ioseph Cavallo The three hire
he skiff at Kirkwood Park yesterda
fternoon for a row. With them wer
wo small boys, who left the boa
ghen the weather became threaten
#ng and returned to their homes Th
thers continued, out the Brandywin
reek to the Christiana.
Cavallo told the party on board IN
W)elaware, comprised of John Reyn
Ids. Neal Wharton, Horahio L. Grubl
,dward MoNally, Miles McDermot
Dennis F. Gallagher, Charles Appleb
nd Hyland Price. that when tn
Wilson Line boat came along. win
md wave threw all three out Of tn
oat. The boy. who is a good swim
her, managed to keep ahoat for al
lost an hour and finally reached th
eeds Following the storm thos
n the Delaware started TO go OF
nto the Delaware river to give whf
ssistance they could, and some on
spised Cavallo's head among tn
leeds. He was almost exhauste
hen pulled into the boat, but wa
Don revived.
Shortly afterward those on II
)elaware came across the skiff whic
he trio had occupied. In IL the
ound hat and an umbrella. Tht
teamed around for a time in scare
II the two missing men, but no tra'
n them could be found. The Dell
rare then towed the skiff 10 Shiple
treet wharf and turned Cavallo ovI
I'd the authorities.
The launch Avon was beached
8enton's but she was not damage
ater being towed to Wilmingto
eaching here about 9 o'clock. Thel