By the time the afternoon of August 3, 1885, was over, parts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden New Jersey suffered extensive damage from a relentless storm. Lives were lost and there were many injuries. Two boats on the Delaware River were extensively damaged.
Witnesses described a “cone-shaped cloud amidst a blackened sky.” Further investigation indicated that a strong tornado has struck parts of both cities.
Meteorological Conditions – Monday, August 3, 1885
There isn’t a whole lot of weather information available for that time period. Daily Weather Maps, issued by the U.S. War Department can be found at the NOAA Central Library. These surface maps were valid as of 7 a.m. each day.
Surface weather map valid August 3, 1885, shows an advancing cold front across the Great Lakes. Map Credit: US. War Department.
An area of low pressure was situated in southern Canada and an attending cold front extended down through the Great Lakes region. Since the front was already off the East Coast the next day, it was advancing at a pretty good clip.
The morning temperature in the Philadelphia area, on August 3, 1885, was around 70 degrees and the dewpoint was listed as 63. With a cold front moving toward the area from the west, we can assume that the day was quite warm and at least moderately humid.
Since there were eyewitness reports of the sky becoming extremely dark, it’s evident that thunderstorms developed in the area. One of the ships in the Delaware River that were extensively damaged, Major Reybold, departed at 3 p.m. so we know that the event occurred later in the afternoon.
Strong-Devastating-Deadly Tornado
According to philly.com, the steamboat “Major Reybold” departed the Arch Street Wharf in Philadelphia at 3 p.m. for its daily trip to Pennsgrove and Salem. The boat never made it to its destination due to an encounter with a devastating storm.
According to newspaper reports from the Associated Press, there were about 50 passengers aboard, but since tickets weren’t sold for the voyage, the exact number isn’t known. There were also around 14 deckhands.
Western AP Headlines from the Philadelphia area tornado that appeared in the Fort Wayne Gazette. Article Clipping Credit: Tom Malmay.
A tornado appeared in an instant. Eyewitnesses described the sky turning “black as the blackest night.” They also described a “coneshaped cloud”.
A ferocious wind swept Pilot Emery Townsend and Captain Eugene Reybold into the Delaware River. One of the passengers indicated that the storm began as heavy rain but it was followed by extreme wind with a rotary motion. The Pilot drowned and the Captain suffered severe injuries.
It was also reported that several passengers jumped into the Delaware River and were rescued.
The ship suffered extensive damage but no reports of deaths, although it’s possible there were. Most newspaper accounts indicated that there were eight to ten injuries. The ferry boat “Peerless” was also severely damaged in the Delaware River but there were no reports of injuries or deaths.
The steamship Major Reybold in a 19th-century postcard. Published by Clinton Bowen. Credit: Wikipedia -Public Domain.
Prior to passing into the Delaware River, the tornado struck Philadelphia around Greenwich Point and it demolished part of the Philadelphia Salt Manufacturing Company.
It then crossed the Delaware River into Camden, New Jersey, where it veered slightly east. Damage was extensive in the northern section of Camden. Many homes had their roofs totally ripped off. Numerous injuries were reported, many by flying timbers and collapsing walls. There were also several fatalities.
The tornado then traveled north, moving briefly over the Delaware River before striking Philadelphia again at Port Richmond. From there it tore through the city’s 25th Ward (Richmond District), unleashing even more fury.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer “ Port Richmond all along the track of the tornado, presented a dreary, devastated, and disheartening appearance.”
Exact details of this event remain sketchy but the death toll was reported to be seven. It was likely more than that. Unfortunately, there were no photos of the tornado or its damage. It was reported that the tornado left at least 200 homeless in the area.
After careful review, The National Weather Service determined that an F3 tornado with peak winds up to 206 mph. that left a trail of destruction across the area.
