Milford chronicle., 1944-09-22
MILFORD is HEAVILY
DAMAGED BY STORM
CONTINUED from First Pass)

!
where wires were down or where
trees blocked traffic. Many of the
streets were closed to traffic. The
workers were directed by Mayor
E. c. Evans and City Manager Will
lard Hall.
A tree was blown down in the
yard at the home of George S.
Grier. 1t hit the house in falling,
but did not damage. At the home
of the late DIR. G. Layton Grier a
big tree was split in two. Part of
it fell into the roadway and the
other part in the yard. A large tree
at Mrs. F. B. Shorts, and a large
one in the yard of l. d. Short, were
also blown down as were scores of
others throughout the city. Many
shade trees planted by the State
Highway Department along the
highways were uprooted or broken.
At Houston a tree fell on the barn
and corn crib owned by George
Armour. The corn crib was demol-
ished and the roof of the barn
was torn off.
Trees Block Roads
Several roads leading into Mil
ford were closed to traffic because
of the trees that were blown down.
Many of the back roads were flood
ed. Warnings were posted along
the highways cautioning drivers of
the danger of soft shoulders. Sew
eral automobiles were found ditch
ed and in some instances they had
run up into adjoining fields. Whe-
Their they had skidded off the high
way or been blown off could not be
determined as they had been
abandoned by their owners.
At the railroad crossing men
with red flags were stationed on
both sides of the track when the
rain shrouded the blinker lights.
They warned drivers to move with
caution. Several trees were blown
down in the Glendale Swamp and
some of them fell across the rail-
road tracks delaying trains.
Robert Ewing, So years old. of
Philadelphia, summer resident at
South Bowers Beach, was found
dead on the street at the resort
shortly after 5 o'clock last Thurs
day night by Fred Kenneck of that
place. Ewing was taken to the Mil
ford Memorial Hospital, where
death was attributed to a heart at
tack brought on by exertiOn while
he was walking against the gale
that was sweeping the beach. His
wife, Mrs. Mary Ewing. said he had
suffered from a heart ailment.
$3O,0O0 Damage To Boardwalk
At storm-swept Rehoboth Beach
which early reports indicated
was the worst-hit Delaware town,
with the possible exception of Mil
25O-foot freighter Thomas
was blown ashore of Della
ware avenue and was broken in
half by 100-foot-high waves a few
minutes after the crew of 80 men
was rescued with a breaches buoy
by Coast Guard crews. Boardwalk
alone at RehobOth was es-
timated at 100000.
Beach Areas Evacuated
Many residents of towns along |
the Delaware Bay-Bowers Beach.
Beach. Big Stone Beach,
Kits Hammock, Slaughter Beach
eft their homes following warn
ngs delivered by state troopers.
md went to points farther inland
% wait out of the storm. They re-
turned to find some damage but
heir worst fear, a 20-foot tidal
wave reported riding northward
With the storm, failed to material
re.
Highway Flooded
Highways over the entire state
we're flooded with water which
from the deluge of rain
hat accompanied the storm. Ditch
IS in most sections were unable to
Train off the water Immediately.
Many streams also overfowed their
,anks.
The Diamond State Telephone
company estimated that the storm
tut more than 1.400 telephones,
most of them in the lower two
ounties, out of service. More than I
90 lines were damaged either by
he high winds or the falling trees.
ielbyville was isolated by cable
ailura