Smyrna times., 1936-09-24
DELMARVA is
HIT BY STORM
RehObOth Beach Escapes But
Ocean City, Maryland, Has
100000 Loss
TOMATO CROPS ARE HIT

In the hurricane that ragged Fri
day over the Atlantic Seaboard
from Norfolk to Boston. Delaware
towns escaped much of the damage
of the Maryland and lower Vir-
ginia towns. Lewes, Bethany
Beach, and Rehoboth, bravely
withstood the iashing of the hurri-
cane. Floods in low-lying reaches
of Delaware damaged crops and
especially the tomato crop which
product was at its heifht on the
Delmarva Peninsula, as a result of
torrential rains. Crops suffered
heavily from the blow as well as
from the excess water. Eighteen
vessels had taken refuge behind
the Delaware Breakwater at Lew
es and small craft hugged their
piers. At Ocean City, Md, three
deep-sea fishing boats valued at
$1,000 each were reported missing.
Small boats were dashed aaginst
the Causeway and destroyed. At
ter night spent without lights,
other than candles and improvised
lanterns, the 1000 residents of
Ocean City awoke to streets lit
tered with debris and sand, smash
ed windows, roofless houses, sunk
en- boats, and a boardwalk one
fourth destroyed. Throughout Fri
day night, after the water had re-
ceded from the avenues, Coast
Guardsmen and volunteer firemen
worked to restore a semblance of
order. Mayor w. T. Elliott, who
estimated the damage would range
between $4,000 and 100000 post
poned a more definite estimate
until he had received reports from
various relief agencies. For most
of the day, the resort was cut off
from the mainland. At one time,
! five feet of water covered the
causeway leading to nearby Berlin,
sole means of communication with
the shore. F riday night, a single
shaky telephone circuit kept work
ers on the mainland in touch with
residents there. Before high tide
at 9 p. m. Friday night, the Coast
Guardsmen and firemen managed
to clear wrecked Shanties anc
boats from the causeway and re-
store travel lanes for automobiles
Baltimore Street, Ocean City's
principal business thoroughfare
was choked with a litter of varie.
gated debris swept inland from the
ocean-front and boardwalk a BLOCK
away Mayor Elliott said the
principal cost would be for clean
ing out streets and repairing the
boardwalk. Most of the north enc
of the boardwalk was damaged t.
such an extent that it will have te
be replaced, observers said. Every
street in Ocean City was Uttered
with debris from the boardwalk
Sand was two feet deep on severa
connecting avenues. The from
steps Of every hotel on the water
front were washed into Baltimor,
Avenue, a block inland. At leas
six families were left homeless
, when their cottages or cabins wer'
washed away. All day long, wave
| estimated at Is to 80 feet higl
pounded along the ocean front ant
the water was swept across tn
: narrow strip of land on whicl
! Ocean City is located. At time
the water was 80 inches deep il
, Baltimore Avenue and occupant
of houses and stores were compel
t ed to take refuge in the secon,
! story. The southern end of tn
boardwalk was swept away for
: distance of $50 feet, and at tn
/ northern end a section about LOO
5 feet long was destroyed. The re
! mainder of the walk was left warp
:. ed and torn, and for a distance O
!, a mile and quarter not leve
? section remains.