Evening journal., 1918-06-14
State HA|LSIORFl
CAUSES HEAVY Loss
Damage, Greatest Around
Dover, Severe on Wheat
Fields and Vine, ards
PROPERTY LOSS
IN THE THOUSANDS

Special TO THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del, June ii.-In the taking
sccount OF the extent Of Wednesdays
syclone which swept over this vicin-
ity leaving death and destruction in its
wake. the loss by destruction and dam
,se TO fruits, vegetables and grains IS
estimated at several thousands OF dol
'srs.
The loss was aggravated by the down
pour Of hail which lashed and cut
growing crops.
The real significance Of the damage
done while not as yet fully determined,
vas In great measure sscertsined to
day after trip over the wind and hail
torn districts in central Kent county.
The path OF the storm started west
Of KentOn and swept in semicircle
through CsssOns Corner and followed
The Harily road west OF Dover, into
Dover, continuing east between the
north Little Greek road and Cowgills
Corner road 10 the Delaware bay, on
The extreme east. The width OF the
path varied from one % two miles.
The most severe damage done was
between three miles west OF Dover and
four miles cast, where the hail was
90 severe that practically all crops IN
rs psth have been ruined beyond re-
eovery. In many cases tomato patches
were entirely wiped out, either by cut
ung on by the hail or drowning. The
crop, OF course. can be replaced by re-
planting. although mskinS the crop seN-
lrsl weeks later.
Many hundreds OF acres OF wheat arc
practically a complete loss In the belt
OF the storm, the stalks being broken
on and heads driven into the ground
East OF Dover on the north Little Greek
road there Is scarcely wheat Held
where not less than two-thirds OF the
wheat has been lost. The corn leaves
too have been torn into shreds, but II
Is likely that the corn, In many cases
will recover, az least partially.
The most severe damage done in ths
vicinity Of Dover is 10 the grape croI
which in recent years, has reached
large proportions. Il Is estimated tha
Ihe damage done 10 this crop alone vii
Total more than $4,000. The vineyard
owned by farmers Williams. Hipwell
Moore, Minlin, Massey and Ridgely, al
within A radius Of one mile OF Dover
are practically ruined, the few grape
remaining being so badly battered b.
The hail as 10 cause them TO rot befor
ripeniDg. -,,
The fruit orchards OF Walker Mill
and Henry Ridgely, just one mile ives
OF Dover. have also suffered YER
severely; it also being the opinio
that what fruit remains on the tree
win he defective because OF bruisins
II js thought that the loss TO thes
two fruit growers alone in their peacf
apple and pear orchards will reac
l5O0O.
Two silos on the farm OF forme
Judge Daniel o. Hastings. two mile
west OF Dover. were blown down, an
are total loss, and the two remsinin
ones were injured badly. Fortunatell
the path OF the storm did not includ
the great fruit section Of Camden an
Wyoming. all Of which virtually es
caped without ipjury.
During Wednesdays storm a dwel
ing situated near KentOn, Dell owne
by former Kent County Levy Coul
commissioner Charles E. Sherwoo,
was struck by lightning and entirel
burned. being a total loss. II was ais
reported that several cattle on tsrl
north OF Smyrna had been Struck Dy u
lightning and killed.
Dover possibly was never hit nara
by any previous storm than that
"Wednesday. Trees which have stOC
the storms Of more than 10 years,
great thickness, were uprOoted. Tops
trees were twisted and broken az
hurled across electric light ana Tel
phone wires, as we'll as blown cor
pletely over houses.
Fully 500 window panes were DrOkl
In various houses OF the town. At u
Wesley Collegiate Institute many WI
dows were broken by the hail. Cdiur'
spires and smokestaoks, watched l
those interested, swayed back az
forth. with the momentary expectati'
OF being blown 10 the ground.
A coffee tree, i6O years old, plant
by Vincent Loockerman, one OF
founders OF Dover. located in the BRA
ford yard. in South State street, u
town, was uprooted and It's Inn
twisted apart and hurled TO the Sr0ut
one OF the old trees on Doyers n
toric dover Green" fully three IL
thick, was split open and blown o'
on the green.
Tomato plants on many farI
throughout the country were cut
pieces by the hail stones and are To-
New plants will be put down 70 repis
The ruined ones.
SMYRNA HARD HIT.