Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-06
GALE BROKE OVER CITY
EARLY IN THE EVENING
Blizzard Came Suddenly and
Lasted the Greater Part
of the Night.

Starting with gentle rain early in The
day, yesterdays storm developed into q
blizzard by o'clock, and hall An hour
later there was driving slect, which soon
gave way 20 SHOWS and by Z clock tho
snow and sleet were binding, the wind
driving II at 40 miles an hour
As result, walking on the streets was
almost impossible and as the trolley cars
were idle. IL was A serious matter TO TIC
out. Some automobiles. as well as tass-
cabs. were pressed into service and in that
manner people were enabled 10 get about.
The gale wrecked signs, blew down a
number of small houses in different parts
OF the city, knocked poles over and did
other similar damage.
WHERE THE HURRICANE WAS WORST.
The strongest force Of the storm seemed
70 he at the corner Of Eleventh and
Market streess---inxtead 81 the Corner
Of Tenth--us,iallv the windy corner.
Crowds of persons were unable to cr.'ss
the street in face Of the hurricane. One
excited individual said he thought the
blizzard had reached thousand miles
an hour speed. While he is probably more
than 900 miles too fast in his estimate his
guess represented the velocity Of the wind
as il seemed To pedestrians exposed TO It's
fury.
The gale from the northwest had .
clean sweep at this corner and people
on their way home held back for intervals
gaps OF comparative calInness when some
of the waiting throng ventured forth
Hundreds of hats were whirled, away
while umbrellas at this point were blown
to pieces as if they had been straw.
WOMAN RESCUED FROM WIND.
One young woman IN the waiting
throng thinking the moment had arrived
for her TO make the crossing was held
helpless by the wind in the middle Of the
street. She was unable TO proceed or q
retreat. and To rescue her the men OF the
party formed an endless chain such az
they do at the seashore when some one il
drowning--one clutching the wrist 0.
another and the helpless young woman
was rescued from her wirdbound position
almost denuded by the hurricane. 1t was
no less thrilling a rescue than one some
times sees at the shore. The wind was
every bit as dangerous as the waves fol
plumber Of young men who at times
sought to make this crossing were blown
almost to King street. There doubtless
would have many serious casualties al
this point had there not been someone
10 give WsIDiHk Vic OAtA RS0Sc'
TRANS Of the peril Of making the attempt
Many in the crowd after waiting for some
time at { crossing went into the Hotel
du Point and came out by the Market street
door and went down Shipley street to
Ninth and then out Tatnall --away fol
the draught created by the tall du Pont
building and thus were enabled &c
reach their destinations.
SPENT THE NIGHT IN OFFICES.
Many business people and their assis.
tants were obliged to stay oil night in their
offices or stores. The experience was mol
an agreeable one for, Of course the places
were all dark as the electric light failed
among the first mishaps Of the evening
Three of the women assistants OF ths
Wilmington Library were among the
number thus snoy and wind-bo,nd
They were more wed than most other
storm stayed folks he viewer for they had
| an bundance of literature with which
soften the tediun Of the Shut-in experience