The Wilmington morning star., 1944-08-03

- OAAS VI WV OAAAA0 A~NsS0Ap
shattered by a 60-mile-an hour
hurricane late the day before
that did damage estimated by
Police Chief Bruce Valentine
at approximately $1,0OO,090.
Mountainous waves that roar
ed in from the sea played
havoc with the concessions
along the boardwalk fronting
on the ocean, demolishing
some, hurting others back as
much as so feet and badly
damaging all others.
Ocean front houses along the
entire southern section of the
beach were tossed about by
the churning waters that cut
loose most Of their foundations
and left them at crazy tits
like the hats of drunken sail
ors weaving down the street.
The northern section of the
beach was spared the brunt
of the storm, with the ex-
ception of the first score houses
adjacent to the boardwalk dis
trict. These houses, for the
most part, we're tossed about
like match sticks and more
heavily damaged than most of
those in the southern section.
The main boardwalk on the
ocean front was damaged be-
yond repair, all ratings and
seats being ripped away and
tossed inland on top of batter
ed in concession stands and
on the ground. Sections of the
boardwalk itself caved in or
were ripped apart by the
storm.
AS the first rays of the sun
played On the subdued waters
of the ocean that were filled
with debris that threatened to
curtail bathing for several
days, the first of the thousands
who were evacuated late yes
terday afternoon and early last
night began to return to their
homes, eager to see what dam
age the storm had visited.
Unprepared for the devasta-
ton wrought on the water
frcS1t because of the lack of
signs of any storm along the
road from Wilmington to the
beach, with the exception of
few scattered signs and trees
blown down, the evacuees
were greeted by a special de-
tail of 100 Fl. Fisher soldiers
on military police duty and
directed to the city hall, where
temporary 24-hour passes were
issued to all residents as a
precaution against looting by
persons having no business at
the beach.
Queen City buses, some fill
ed by persons who had been
waiting inside them at the bus
station since 4 am, began
leaving Wilmington at 6 am,
along with the first of hun
dreds of automobiles that car
ried many score others back
to the beach. By ! am, long
winding line of several hum
derd people stood in front Of
the city hall awaiting their
turn to get passes before pro-
ceeding to their homes.
Greeting them was the rear
view of ocean front houses sit
ting at crazy angles, a huge
pool of water in the road be-
tween the city hall and the
business section and scores of
stranded cars imbedded in the
sand up to their running
boards.
The central waterfront along tn
boardwalk section presented tn
worst spectacle on the beach. Tn
few houses built directly upon tn
walk at the northern end wer
battered in and ripped apart b
the huge waves that left the ir
side of whole houses exposed t
view, plumbing fixtuers, furnitur
and clothing tangled about eac
other.
The Red, White and Blue bowl
ing alley at the northern end c
the concessions was blasted apa1
by the wind and waves. The sid
boardwalk beside it running fror
the ocean to the Royal Palm hote
and the bus station was buckle
and shattered, and overturned life
guard stand tossed up from tn
beach smashed in the center {
the debris that Uttered the walk.
The Western Union office wa
wrecked. A Play the Rats col
ceSsion across the walk from Yves
ern Union on the oceanfront boart
walk was hurled back so feet b
the force of the storm. Two othe
ball concessions on the corn'
had disappeared.
The merry-go-round was St
there, the horses heads St
proudly held aloft, but the horse
names were awry and ticket DO
es, electric light signs and Sit
ratings were pounded to piec'
among the animals.
Another one of the life qua.
stands picked up by the wav
on the beach was tossed in tt
midst of the ferris wheels ste
frame.
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