Evening journal., 1918-04-12

Storm conditions were even worse
this morning along the Delaware river
and bay and Atlantic ocean front Of
Delaware, following the gale that at
times during last night approached the
severity OF a hurricane Pilots and
mariners down about Lewes say it has
been the worst storm In sustained in
tensity, for twenty-five years, the wind
blowing az seventy-hve miles an hour
many times during Wednesday and
Thursday. There was somewhat OF an
abatement OF the high wind this morn
ing, although II still is driving from
the danger point OF the northeast
While New Castle county was pelted
with hail and whitened with snow
yesterday afternoon and last night, the
lower part Of the State escaped that
phase Of the storm, according to tele-
phonic reports this morning.
Reports from along tho Delaware
bay today were that many OF the re-
sorts have been hard hit. by the high
tide, which attained even greater
height this morning than at any time
during the three days OF the gale. The
scope OF the damage az kits Hammock.
Bowers Beach, Slauqhter's Beach and
Cedar Beach will not be known until
after the tide recsdes but IL Is believed
that numerous cottages either have
been inundated or washed away.
The town Of Milford, partly in Kent
and partly I'm Sussex county, this
morning had an unprecedented tide
that flooded many stores In the busi-
ness section, doing thousands OF dol
lars damage TO the stock In those mer-
camille places. The MispilliOn river at
tained the greatest height on record
for Il in that town.
At RehobOth. on the Atlantic ocean,
south Of Lewes, the hulkhead. rebuilt
two years ago as a safeguard after the
ocean, during a storm. made great in
roads on the resort, has been badly
damaged and a long section OF Il has
been Carried away between Horns pa
viliOn and the Hotel HenlOpen.
Fort Salisbury, the new defense be-
ing built at the mouth OF the Mis-
pillion, on the Delaware bay, was still
under water today.
Milford Stores Flooded.
At Milford this morning the tide in
the Mispillion rose eighteen inches
higher than il did yesterday flooding
the business section Of that town and
dying damage, the exact extent OF
which cannot be estimated until things
become normal.
The water in the Mlspillion rose
twelve feet above normal tide, cover
ing Walnut street for almost the en-
tire long block, along which most OF
the stores Of the town are located. The
water was anywhere from four 90
twenty inches deep In the stores along
that block
At the department store OF Abbott
Brothers a force OF men worked all
night removing The stock from the first
floor 10 places OF safety on the second
floor and elsewhere. The water flowed
in.O the Hotel Windsor and al the
hardware store Of Harry lumes the
water was twenty inches deep at one I
time on the first floor. Part Of the /
stock was removed 10 safety, but CON
siderable Of it was damaged by the /
inruehing water
Candy, millinery and other stores
along the long block also were invaded
by the water The Milford Armory was |
flooded and the water rose to the door |
steps Of the Milford Ch onicle oflce.
lt also encroached upon the depart /
ment store OF General George IT, Hall. /
where the stock was removed 20 escape /
damage.
Debris and wreckage swept in by the /
storm Is strewn about Walnut street /
ana over the extensive area about /
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