 The hurricane took a heavy toll on agriculture in the Mid @-@ Atlantic states . Rampant flooding outside Philadelphia destroyed fruit orchards , and in nearby Burlington , New Jersey , strong winds and heavy rainfall inflicted significant damage to crops on the night of July 18 , leaving entire fields of corn blown down . The Delaware River burst its banks at Burlington , inundating nearby lowlands . Notable flooding also took place along the Lehigh River . Telegraph lines north of Philadelphia were crippled , limiting communications in the storm 's aftermath . Throughout the region , downed trees blocked railways . 
