Smyrna times., 1918-04-17
WOODLAND BEACH ALMOST
SUBMERGED BY TITAL WAVE
WORST STORM SINCE THE TIDAL
WAVE OF 1878 VISITS ISLAND

Bath House, Porches, Merry Go-Round
and Other Buildings Swept byWind
and Tides-Oamage to Road
Not since the big tidal wave of
1873 has Bombay Hook Isalnd been
more submerged or more damage done
than during the easterly storm of Tues
day, Wednesday, Thursday ana Friday
of last week. The high winds blew
several trees, sheds and fences down
in Smyrna and vicinity but it was
down near the bay shore that damage
was worse. Woodland Beach was
literally covered with water. The
tides ran up to and into the hotel,
swept away all the bath houses, de-
stroyed the merry -go-round and COW
cred the marshes round and about that
made residents feel they were on an
island out in the middle of the bay.
1t was one Of the most terrific storms
in many a day. The new road of
James r. Mott was damaged to the
extent of $4,000 or $4,000. Some of
it was completely washed away. For
tunately the concrete bridges and
sluices withstood the strong tides and
will not have to be rebuilt. At Leipsic
the tides rose high and comletely COW
cred back yards and sheds and made
the bride and causeway over Leipsic
Greek inaccessible for the time being.
Motorists using the stone road from
Smyrna to Wilmington had much diff
Guilty. The causeway at Odessa, Old
Drawers, St. Georges and several
places on the river road were cow
pletely inundated and several precari-
Gus pIedicaments were had
Bowers Beach Hit Hard by Storm
At Bowers Beach the storm was
very severe On the beach front,
facing tie bay, practically all of TIE
cottages are damaged. Those not
washed from their moorings or pilings
have lost the porches and back build
ings. which were torn away. Among
such Gamaged cottages are those of
Joseph Cahall, State Senator Barnard
and Daniel p. Barnard On the creek
side of the river, two cottages of A
M. Thomas are badly damaged, only
the side walls being standing, and the
furniture washed away. The cottage
of Mrs. Boone of FrederiCa, also is
badly damaged. The cottages OF
REYNOLDS Postles and DR.. Postles anC
the cottage Of Mrs J. c. Voshell.
also were left in bad shape. most OF
them with the entire porches gone.
The large porch of the South Bowers
Hotel was washed away.
Boardwalk Swept Away at Rehoboth
Smyrnians and residents all thru
Delaware who own cottages wer,
much concerned about Rehoboth. Re
ports from the storm are that tn
boardwalk IS almost a complete wreck
Most of the buIkbead is still there
which proved a great help to the besc
} front, but for it several cottage
would have been washed away. Tn
! damage was most severe in front 0
! the Derrickson, Martin and SHAY
! properties. None of the Smyrna cot
tages suffered. Two large barges
3 the Severn and Merrimac, both G
! Baltimore, were washed ashore
= front of the Bell Haven Hotel. Th
2 crews were taken off in safety an
J entertained by the residents of Re-
: hoboth Beach, including the captain
wife and three children. This is sal
to be the worst storm in 35 year!
Several outbuildings, lattice wor
windows and chimneys were blow
y down. Large trees were uprOOted ar
one fell on a cottage, but did no gre;
f damage.