Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-05-23
TKRRIFIo HURRIoANE.


Demolition Of GRlreAes, DHelliRgs 0nd School
Houses-Loss of Ltfe-Great Destruction
of Property-1eei9eat on tie CoViRstoH q
Lexington Railroad Damage Of The
RfrT.
EFrUm the Cineiunati Gazette, Ct yesterdAyl
One of the most terrific tornadoes ever
known, visited our city yesterday after
uoon between three aud four o'clock, which
resulted in the complete demolition of
large number of buildings, the partial de-
struction of churches and hundreds Of
dwelling houses, the death of four men in
the citySanG of two by drowning in the
river, injury of several women and chill
dren, smashing up of an engine and bag
gage car on the Covington & Lexington
Railroad, and the miscellaneous tearing to
pieces and turning upside down and inside
| out of things generally. The elements OF
the heavens seemed to be turned loose for
the express purpose of demolishing every
thing above ground.
The storm came from the northwest; and
when viewed from point high enough TO
give one clear view of the horizon, ap-
peared TO be cloud densely black, eX-
tending about two miles in breadth, and
rushing forward with fearful raPidity.
1t was accompanied by lightning and
thunder and torrents of rain, which were
sweptintO every crevice. Thewind struck
with fearful force.
The new Commercial Office Building, at
! the northeast corner of Race aud Fourth
streets, was one among the thousands
which suffered. The rornice of the build
| ing was zinc and the roof sheet iron; but
like piece of paper they were ripped from
their places and scattered for distance of
one square. The compositors of the Office
were at work at the time, and the first in
timation they had of the fury of the gale
was the absence of the roof and the clat-
tering of bricks and mortar about their
HEADS 1t is needless to add that they va
Gated the premises with an astonishing de-
gree of rapidity, carrying the news of the
disaster to the occupants of the lower stO-
ries in an incredible short space of time.
DAMAGE AT THE RIVER.
We have obtained the full particulars of
! the capsizing of the Virginia Home, yes
terday. The Home left here about IL
o'clock with four barges in tow, and had
only got up to jamestown, about two
miles above here, when the storm came on.
She was run into shore and tied up, but
the force of the wind was so great that it
parted her lines and caused her to drift
out into the river. Capt. Curly, seeing
the imminent danger OF ther situation,
had the two ladies who were on board
placed on one of tho barges. The boat
| Immediately after separated from the
barges and drifted out into the middle of
the river where it received the full force of
the storm, causing it to capsize and turn
| hull upwards. All on board went over
with the boat, and two young men are
supposed totbe drowned.
! The steamers Jesse X. Bell, bound from
this port for Pittsburgh, and the Liberty,
bound from Wheeling for this port, colli-
| ded a short distance below Raccoon Island,
tearing away the larboard guard of the
Liberty, and knocking out nearly all her
stationary tenders. The Jesse K. Bell
sustained but little damage. The acct
debt occurred about 8 o'clock Monday
evening; the proper signals were given by
both pilots, but we learn that after the
signals were given, the pilot of the Bell
blew his whistle three or four times and
rang the bell, and the pilot of the Liberty
supposing he wished to hail the boat or
put a passenger on board, commenced
backing the Liberty. The Bell, however,
kept coming up, and caused the collision
as recorded above.
THE KENTUCKY CENTRAL RAILROAD.
The terrific tornado which swept with
destructive noEeE 0ESE the 1fitE teFaaHE.
= ON the Kentucky Central Railroad about