Evening journal., 1921-07-30
STORM TEARS
UP CITY;FIRE
WRECKS BARN
CONTINUED From First Page)


against the walls Of the structure and
the vivid lightning. At times it was
nearly impossible TO see the top OF
the building. which literally tower
ed into low-hung clouds and sheets
N rain. Electric lights had to be
turned on ard some Of the women
and girl clerks almost swooned from
fright The noise of the thunder
was terrific.
"Rain fell at the unprecedented
rate of AZ inches an hour during
the height Of the storm" according
to II. l.. Maier. city engineer, in ex-
planning why the sewers were insult
ficient to avert the many miniature
foods 1.-THE total rainfall between 4
O'Clock and 4.25. according to the
records Of our Office, was 1875
inches.
"Our sewers were not designed by
one-half to carry off either that
quantity of water in such short
time or at such a largely abnormal
rate as AZ inches an hour. Count
less complaints were received by the
Street and Sewer Department from
residents all over the city, but the
department and the sewers were not
at fault. In many cases the fault
was probably with the people them
selves. as they are required by law
to have backwater traps in their
drains. Lack of these caused many
cellars to food"
On West Eighth street above Van
Buren,, the roadway is dug up, while
rawtrolley tracks are being put down.
There is a sharp grade at the point.
Down this grade the rain rushed
with the speed Of a millrace, carry
ing tons Of dirt with IL. Between
Monroe and Madison streets, a low
point the torrent Of mud clogged
the sewer. The rain water then iill-
ed Eighth street from curb to curb
and flowed into many cellars. Side
walks on the south side Of the thor
ouehfare settled in places.
The Shipley Run sewer rose four
feet and overfiowed its banks. At
the Pennsylvania avenue and Union
street bridge the roadway was under
three feet Of water. An inlet burst
beneath the strain placed upon it al
IA1IlL1cAtI aNHnuN AalN aAAtAAAAN aAA'NAl
flooding the avenue as far as Mon
roe street. and among other serious
street floods was one at Twentieth
and Market streets.
The severity Of the lightning
caused serious trouble to electric SER
vice The Wilmington and Philadel-
phia Traction Company estimates its
loss at $1,000.
Serious Interruptions were caused
to lighting service by the burning OF
the switches on lines and transform
ers- Four commercial circuits were
burned out but several hours after
the storm service had been restored
on practically all local circuits
which had been disarranged. tn
most severe inconvenience beinl
caused on suburban lines
Transmission wires torn down b.
the storm were mostly restored b
nightfall. An official OF the com
pany stated last night that the storr
caused the most serious damage q
any for a number OF years past.
Trolley service was not interfere
WITH although considerable troubl
was experienced on several lines wit
signal systems and four motors wer
burned out.
A slight FIRE caused by lightnin
striking the wires OF an electric ligh
pole at Fifth and French streets wa
extinguished by members Of tn
Delaware Fire Company who wer
called by telephone. The damage &
the pole was slight. but the wirin
required rearranging.
Frightened at the lightning dur
ing the storm. a large bay hors
attached to a huskster's wagon a
Thirteenth and West streets. m
away. When the animal passe
Traffic Omcer Arthur l. Gross. 9
Delaware avenue and Washingto
street. the officer commandeered a
automobile and started IN pursri
He overlook the runaway on We
street near Second, and catching n
bride brought the horse 70 a sto
The horse is the property OF c,
Molten. 10 French street. and hS
been hired by Edward Miller.
Lightning put a number Of q
boxes Of the Police Telegraph al
Fire Alarm service out Of comm
sion temporarily and interfered wi
several Of the circuits. None Of 4
apparatus in the headquarters Off
was damaged but Il required a go
deal Of work TO get the affected G.
cruits going smoothly.
. : Barn Near New Castle Burned.
Lightning struck a barn on {
farm tenantcd by Arthur Grava
about one-quarter OF a mile south
State Road Station, about Z o'clC
last evening. and within an hour
structure was destroyed. The b
that struck the barn was seen by
and Mrs Gravatt, whe were in
nearby she'd
Flames were seen 10 burst from
building and by the time Mr.. Grav
aided by those about the place, co
release and drive several horses fr
the building. the entire barn wa,
mass of flames. Mr.. Gravatt q
mated his losses about $4,000.
covered by insurance. The loss s
tained by tn owner. J. b. Sta
creenvilie. Del. was estimated
about $1,000. making a total e
mated loss Of $4,000 Mr.. St
carried about $4,000 insurance
building.
The only live stock known 10 n
perished in the flames were seve
hogs, as the COWS were in the> p
tnre. having been MIXED and turi
out for the night.
Mr. Beal a neighbor. seeing
flames, called the Good Will J
Companv. of New Castle ,t-hf,,,