Evening journal., 1919-08-14
Night Gale, CIOudburSt
Destroys Crops, Trees

While tho patrol crew were hunting
for the owner OF the car, the patrol
was blown across the street. Neither
car was damaged
New building operations suffered
from the storm. and some unsheltcred
walls were so damaged that they may
have TO be rebuilt.
Employees Of the Street and Sewer De
partment were busy today cutting trees
that had blocked streets and sidewalks
in falling and az times the ringing OF
I the steel as 10 tore into the broken trees
I reminded one OF a camp OF lumberiacks
Trees were down at Seventh, Eighth
and Ninth and French streets and at
! Thirteenth and Lombard streets large
I tree that was twisted as II 10 were a
: pipe stem, fell crashing into the street.
| The trees fell away from the dwellings
and no damage was done.
A large tree at the Old Soldiers Park,
Sixteenth and Market street, fell into
the south long race, and II was removed
by Water Department employees late to-
day.
Poplar street. between Eighth and
Tenth streets. resembled a forest to-
day, the street being covered with deb
ris Of the trees. Three large trees were
dropping like arches over the street.
one OF the unusual incidents OF the
storm and the high winds was that 1T
tie damage was done 30. buildings here,
no reports OF houses being unroOfed
being received by the police. Inquiry
at Delaware City brought the informa-
/ ton that trees were scattered about
the streets and roads and corn fields
had been leveled but no buildings dam
aged.
The recruiting tent OF the detail from
the Coast Artillery Corps on the lawn
/ OF the old court house was raZed by
the wind and this morning the equip
ment. such as bedding, tables. etc, was
water-sOaked.
State Suffers Heavy Loss.
An appalling amount Of damage was
done 20 fruit and crops in lower Del
aware. Below Nliddletown and as far
down as Rehoboth Beach corn was
levelled to the ground. Pools OF water,
three feet deep, are covering exten-
sive patches OF tomatoes, while peach
and apple orchards were stripped Of
their crops. Numerous trees. includ-
ing some OF the oldest In the State,
were blown down. South OF Milford
the railroad tracks were covered with
so many trees that were blown down
in that nelghborhoOd that the five
O'Clock afternoon train was held up
for more than an hour until they were
removed.
Coming with the high tide. the
storm caused an overflow Of the cause
wav near Bowers Beach, forcing the
many residents near the shore to nee
for safety. Near Kits Hammock, the
danger OF an overflow was even more
serious. cottagers Fastening to leave
before they were surrounded com
nIetelv by water. At Milford the tide
overcame all obstacles, Overrunning
the sands for more than mile, while
the Mispillion river overilowed INTO me
streets Of the town, Walnut street De-
ing entirely under water.
Water from the streets found free
access TO the Milford stores, while the
cellars were well-hlled with the over
foyv from the river At Rehoboth the
iide has overnown the boardwalk
driving the many vacationists to uheir
cottages.
vessels caught in the storm were
pulling in at the breakwaters. In some
eases even an anchor meant no SAFETY
for the vessels. Such was the case at
New Castle. where two sloops broke
anchor and were driven into the bay
only after a long chase were they over
taken and beached. One Of the yacht:
is owned by Captain James Booth, oi
New Castle.
The storm and the severe losses
which It has caused is not peculiar tC
Delaware From Dorchester county
Md. word is received that the storm
caused thousands Of dollars worth o.
damage in corn and tomatoes as wei
as peaches. pears and other fruits.
Almost complete darkness as a re
suit Of the breaks in the electric ligh
plants OF the state added TO the gen
eral confusion Of the storm. or all th'
TOWNS affected by the storm, Middle