Milford chronicle., 1914-07-31
HEAVY STORM HITS
LOWER DELAWARE
Dover, Fel.on and Lewes Report Damage


Dover, Fel:on and Lewes Report Damage
Dover, July 27.-.An electric storm of
terrifying severity visited Dover and vi
cinitv Saturday afternoon between and
8 clock, leaving wreckage of all kinds
in its path.
In the midst of the storm and while
the rain was pouring in torrents, an alarm
of FIRE was sounded which proved to be
in the PRESBYTERIAN Church, where the
lightning had struck. Those living OPP
posite the church and sitting on their
front porches at the time, saw ball of
fire enter the edihce through the belfry
and soon a light flashed on the inside.
Prompt investigation showed that an iron
rope or wire attached to the funeral tap
per of the bell had been shattered and
small pieces were lying all about the bel
fry door. The carpet surrounding the
place was in a blaze, which was quickly
extinguished. In one end of the church,
upstairs, a large piece Of plastering was
knocked off, il being near the electric
light meter. The electric lights were
put out of commission. Fortunately the
damage was light.
Hail fell in large quantities, and on
several farms between Dover and Fred |
erica many panes of glass were broken
from windows.
The damage by wind and hail was Sc
we're between Camden and FrederiCa, |
where many apple and peach orchards |
were completely ruined, the fruit being |
battered to the ground. In one instance, |
where the owner had estimated only on 1
Saturday that he would have a thousand |
baskets of peaches, he now fears he will |
hardly have a hundred baskets so badly |
have the trees been damaged. Pears and |
apples suffered the same fate, and it is 1
safe to say that there were lying on the /
ground Sunday morning several thous-
ands of baskets of choice apples of early /
and late varieties.
Tomatoes, corn, watermelOns and can
taloupes also have suffered. The hail
stripped the corn and bruised
the watermelons and canteloupes, while
the tomatoes were beaten to the ground.
Between Magnolia and FrederiCa, fully
Is trees were either uprooted or broken
off and carried long distances while other
trees fell across the telephone wires to the
road, making traffic impossible until
cleared away.
Milford people who came here Saturday
TO witness the ball game in returning had
to cut their way through the county road,
as trees and large branches were strewn
everywhere.
a large maple tree in the yard ofRey-
nolds Clough on Bradford street was
either twisted by the wind or struck by
the lightning and a large limb torn off
which fell only a minute or two after
Mrs. Clough had been under the tree to
bring in tent belonging to her children.
The Diamond State Telephone Com :
pany reported much damage done to their
lines on the south, and fully 400 house
burned out.
Lewes, July 27.-The severest electric
wind and rain storm that has visited
Lewes in more than 20 years, passed over
here Saturday evening about clock
doing thousands of dollars damage to
and crops. Large trees and
from trees were blown down on I
every street in town and scores of Chin {
neys suffered.
At the home of George W. Poynter, a !
Delaware river and bay pilot, the large I
chimney was blown over, crashing through {
10 the first floor, damaging furniture,
,arpets, etc. S
,
lown, and many large plate windows
md smaller ones were broken by the
lail, wind and flying branches.
On the beach the Ocean House suffered
several portions of the
seranda and lookout house being blown
away, landing several blocks distant.
The lighthouse tender Iris, which was
anchored at the dock, was driven ashore
md damaged. The fishing steamers
David w. Burbage, and Adams were also
blown ashore near the FISH house piers.
The three steamers were towed off a short
while after the storm by other fishing
steamers. Launches and rowboats were
apsized, and some lying on the beach
we're blown hundreds of feet away from
heir mOorings. There were some mar
-ow escapes from drowning.
Electric light and telephone poles were
blown down in large numbers, all COM
being cut off about town and
o the fish factories on the beach.
The electric light plant was ont of /
and the town was in dark
less. Many cellars were flooded.
In the country fields of corn we're laid
lat while thousands of baskets of apples,
reaches and pears were blown off. No
eports have reached here of any serious
Iamage done by lightning.
No damage was done at Rehoboth
beach, as the storm passed out to sea
rom here.
FELTON,, July 27.-The terrific storm
eft in its mile-wide wake through the
ruit belt of Kent county, on Saturday,
amage which is estimated at between
so, 600 and $4,000. Nearly all of the
arge fruit growers in that section suf-
cred loss. Many who had planned to
hip as high as, FIVE thousand baskets of
'eaches now are uncertain as to whether
hey will have any at all, so destructive
vas the storm to the trees. The hail