Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-02-06
GALE HAS ABATED::
CONDITIONS BETTER
fortunate Shift in the Wind Pre-
vented Another High Tide
Last Night.
COTTAGES WRECKED
AT BETHANY BEACH
Several at Dewey Beach Also Col
lapsed and Fell Into
the Sea.
Special Dispatch TO Every Evening

special Dispatch TO Every Evening
REHoBorH BEACH, Feb 6.
Tipped and torn from end to end bv the
storm OF the past As hours, the beach
front here, and for some distance up and
down, is sorry spectacle. Nothing
remains of the boardwalk, while there
are serious inroads in the beach front.
threatening number of the cottages
and other buildings facing the ocean.
Desolation is in evidence everywhere m
the eastern part of the town and lust
now the future of Rehoboth is in the hands
of fate.
Heavy storms have visited the resort
before, but nobody here appears to he
able to remember one which was accom-
panied by such high tide. What here
totore was considered high ground and
immune from ravages by the sea was
caught this time, a number Of buildings
on what was considered high ground
having been IN some instances surrounded
by water this time.
However, the storm has abated and
conditions are better than yesterday.
In Tact, there has been no damage of
serious consequences in addition TO that
mentioned IN these dispatches YESTERDAY
hen W. +. Tunnel, superintendent
Of the life guard, was spoken 10 TODAY
by Every Evenings correspondent, he
stated that conditions were much i'm
proved. Henlopen Light, which was
threatened with destruction yesterday. is
stiil standing and In service. though,
Of course, it ought TO be strengthened.
rs far As could be ascertained TODAY.
yesterdays storm did not undermine the
actual foundation of the structure.
though much Of the sand was torn
away. The crew was found TO be safe and
10 have weathered the storm.
While there was very little snow here, !
probably not more than an inch. there was /
great deal of rain and sleet, and today /
the trees and wires are covered with ice.
which accounts largely for the poor wire
service
FORTUNATE SHIFT IN WIND
In view of the fact that the wind, I
which had been blowing a gale from east /
northeast, shifted 10 northwest YESTERDAY /
afternoon, last nights tide was nothing !
like as high or tumultuous Is the tide OF
the morning. and it did no damage except
IN places where the earlier tide had made
seriuos inroads in the beach The wind
was still favorable today and apprehension
had subsidized, except on the part OF those
who had suffered and were endeavorinr
TO salvage their property.
The tide yesterday morning was a foot
higher than any local resident recalls
ever having seen 1t before. This may not
sound serious, but 1t was fraught with
serious consequences.
BETHANY BEACH INVADED
Bethany Beach, which is below Reho-
both, was invaded by the storm and sus-
tanned considerable damage. Several !
cottages were wrecked, and. although I
they had occupants, all were gotten out
IN safety and no lives were lost.
Former State Senator /. A. DrexIer
has his home at Bethany Beach. but il
was not damaged by the storm {
While much of the shipping In Iewes
was battered about bv the
waves and wind and some boats and
,iers were damaged, the result was not
erious. The town of Lewes did not
ustaln damage OF any moment n
All efforts to get IN touch with Cane [
Nay, n. j., today were unavailing. The fl
ocal wireless station was flooded and out. d.
+ commission and no message could be p
often out. It is understood that there b.
Las been great deal of damage at Cane 10
Nay. Il
Two barges are said TO have gone "
shore of Egg Harbor, and it is presumed il
hey are still there.
An effort rs being made to have a W
,eetlng OF the town commissioners of pl
as soon as possible, so as to es
lap cut some reconstruction plan to
MUCH PROPERTY DAMAGE AT REHoBoTH. -
Property damages aggregating more co
IAN 100000 in actual value, besides pl
aclng its future in serious jeopardy. of
presented IN part the toll here of the to
wages OF the storm. Before high tide.
$50 clock, last night, nature merci-
Wy came to the aid of the weary in -
tDitants when the northeast gale subsidized w
10 sun northerly wind insuring tenn
'rary safety for what remains OF Della
Are's only vacation mecca. AM
Early In the day the crew of the light res
use had removed their personal effects. ow
though they returned and remained on hat
ny Telephone communication was cut fire
I, because OF a broken wire. Only the but
bt told OF ITS survival of the storm. IN
Exceeding IN ferocity and destructive ]
81 any previous rampage OF the elements of
the resort s history the storm wrought que
greatest havoc Of Rehoboth property the
uated directly along the beach and the
arby avenues. Early in the afternoon
HiesaVlng station succumbed to the
ntinued hanFnenng Of the wind and
YES ano was washed out to sea. This oh'
5 followed short time later bv the
niopen Hotel dance pavilion. a frame I
ucture, situated some distance from the witt
el proper. Stat
Not q splinter Is left of the boardwalk. O
lie cottages along Third avenue. Ocean from
nue. and other thoroughfares felt the day
geful effect Of the terrific onslaught Pa,
Q disastrous results. On Third avenue was
IRE many handsome summer cottages
located, the porches Of about fifty G
Continued on page Dall