Milford chronicle., 1942-03-06
Sussex Blackout Is
Pronounced A Big
Success BY Governor
ioontlnued from Flrst PaEel

CONTINUED from First PaseJ
lit until S:12 O'Clock. At that time
a telephone call was made from
Georgetown to the Lewes Power
House, where the switch was pull
ed that blacked out the street
lights. The street lights remained
out until S;42 o'clock.
During the Lewes blackout the
volunteer fire company answered
three test fire calls, going to and
from each fire" with dim blackout
lanterns. An ambulance and sta
tion wagon carrying nurses ans
wered test emergency calls and
carried the victims" to first-aid
stations in the Episcopal Church
parish house and the Presbyterian
Sunday School rooms.
Chief Warden w. Harold Brit
tingham directed the work of SO air
raid wardens in Lewes and all traf-
fic was stopped. "The town was a
black pit made more erie by the
bowling of the easterly wind one
warden said.
Governor Bacon and Major Bar
rett with Col. Charles H. Cant, CO.
ordinator of the Wilmington De-
fense Council, and Gerrish Gassa-
way. executive vice-chairman of
the State Defense Council, were
guests of the Milford Rotary Club
at a dinner preceding the black
out.
Violations Are Few
Only a few incidents were re-
ported in which persons unknow-
ingly violated the blackout regula-
tions. All residents and motorists
complied cheerfully when warned
by the air raid wardens.
One air raid warden warned sew
eral parked motorists about ex-
tinguishing dash lights and several
pedestrians were asked to turn of
flashlights.
Restaurants and the theatre in
Milford continued in operation
during the blackout but were
equipped with blackout curtains.
Some few homes were equipped
with blackout curtains but the ma
jority of residents turned off lights
IOf 0dlI nOuf.
Air raid wardens, identified by
white arm bands, stopped all Mil
ford pedestrians and after identify
ing them permitted them to pass.
First-aid stations were operated in
the Milford Memorial Hospital, the
Milford High School. and the COM
munity building.
oil of
cooperated with the Sussex County
test and an area extending three
miles into Kent county was blacked
out.
Maryland authorities at Delmar
cooperated and a large area in the
Maryland side of the border around
Delmar was dark.
Shortly after the Delmar fire en-
gines had taken up their scheduled
stations a fire alarm was sounded.
One of the engines responded to
the alarm and extinguished a slight
chimney fire in the Masonic Tenn
pie. There was no damage. Fire
men worked in the dark.
Air raid wardens in Delmar re-
ceived their first experience in
handling curious spectators when
a number of persons came to watch
the firemen. The crowd was dis
peFsed.
Mayor Lockerman of Delmar di-
rected 1876 men in the defense" of
that town. Tests were held with
the towns ambulance and first-aid
facilities.
Delmar residents said they could
see the reflection of lights from
Salisbury, Nd, but in the opposite
direction there was nothing but
blackness.
Vaughan N. Hastings, cOordina-
tor of SeafOrd's Defense Council.
said all lights in the town were eX-
tinguished as soon as sirens sound
ed.
Warming Not Heard
Persons in outlying districts
were unable to hear. the sirens,
however, and telephone calls were
made to order the lights out. Mr..
Hastings said corps of engineers
has been given the problem to work
on and in a few days a system will
be arranged for notification OF
those living in the outlying dis
tricts.
Mayor w. B. Derrickson of Sell
byville observed the blackout in
the Selbyville section from 100
foot high fire tower and said it was
complete. mot a ray of light could
he seen," he reported.
Col. Edgar B. Slayer, Rehoboth.
assistant coordinator of defense
for Sussex county, said the sea-
shore resort, already prepared by
previous blackout trials, was total
ly black during the half-hour.
Sussex county's coastline was a
void as far as enemy aircraft would
have been able to see," he said.
Perfect" reports were received
from Georgetown. Laurel, Bridge
vile, and other town officials.