Evening journal., 1913-07-30
RAIN, WIND
And THUNDER
STORM HITS
City DeIuged and Illuminated
by Elements After One
Of WarmeSt Days
BOREAS CUTS OFF
CITY FLAG POLE

Following a day of excessive heat,
that sent the mercury TO the 81 degree
mark, this city and vicinity was visit
ed by a terrific electrical storm early
last evening. during which some dam
age was done. That no one was struck
or stunned by the vivid flasehs of
lightning "a considered little short Of
miraculous. During the height or the
storm tho flag pole on the City Hall
snapped Off like a pipe stem, carrying
Idown with It a flag that WAS a half
mast for Samuel II. Benson. the for
mer president Of City Council. In
it's descent the pole carried electric
wires, knocked loose a corner Of the
lcornice on the building, tore the avn
ling over a window OF the Office of G..
s. Rice. court clerk, and then fell on
the boot-black stand nearby.
] In addition TO this damage, the wind
blew out windows of many houses
about the city. among the larger ones
heing that az the store Of John r.
Jones. at Ninth and Market streets,
and two plate glass windows in the
store OF John Strong, az Vandever
avenue and Church street The rain
did considerable damage TO goods in
the windows
In the parks many large trees we're
istripped of their branches by the
wind, These proved such a menace
that II was necessary ror employees Of
the Street and Sewer Department to
go out with hatchets and axes and
chop away the tangled masses.
To protect their service aH much
as possible during the storm, the vii.
lmington and Philadelphia Traction
Company shut OFF their power alonl
Market street. This also protected
the buildings on the street in case
lightning struck any OF tho company'l
plants. The trolley service was no
interrupted
The storm which hovered to tn
north east all of the afternoon ant
done some damage in Chester and a
far south as Holly Oak, hut did nc
reach here until 7.30 o'clock. One {
the freaks Of the storm was reporte
on the arrival Of the $50 o'clock q
press from Broad street station
, was necessary to repair the roof
the baggage car The car was Etrur
by lightning as the train pass'
Holly Oak and the canvas cover WI
NUIiUiEINil iOiM ODs Ut Ethitt
I master at Holly Oak tagged the ira
3 and the cover was picked up an
! placed in the coach. When the trai
} arrived here II was ten minutes lat
None of the crew was hurt a
though those at work in the car fe
the shock and were much relieve
when 1t was found that nothinl
serious had occurred. The acclden
according to railroad officials. wa
most singular.
When the storm broke over th
city II soon became mixed with
storm moving from the southwest an
while the storms lasted for an hou
or more, It was declared by all
have been the worst Of the season.
While the storm was severe herr
some sections of the county reporte
little II any rain. At Newport littl
rain fell and the same was reporte
from Stanton. New Castle had quit
, storm as also did Delaware Cit,
State road had little rain but plent
of wind and lightning
I'm Brandywine hundred the stori
skipped over some sections. A
Brandywine Summit the storm wa
, heavy. while at Sharpley School hous
little rain fell The storm was sever
at West Chester, where lightning do
, stroyed the barn of William Jones'
bolt also struck the home of Horac
, Temple, doing considerable damag
While walking along the street ther
Councilman Joseph Hardness wa
stunned
The largest fire was on the Brand,
vine Dairy Farm, which is tenanted b
George J.. Jones and owned by Josia
: White. proprietor Of the Marlborough
+ Blcnheim Hotel in Atlantic City
The large barn was completely d
! Continued On Second Page,