Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-08-08
De.criptjon OF the Storm on the Baiti.
p,nrc and Ohio Railroad.

letter from Washington 10 the Cincin.
nail Gazette gives the following interest
inc description Of the recent storm on the
Baltimore and Ohio Tolroad:
TWAS Friday morniDg-hve o'clock
and forly-Gve minutes-when The Storm
overlook our train, which was the htsi
train, due at Baltimore about o clock;
We had reached Mount Airy, Md.' shu
were about fifty miles west from ba!ti-
more. Two black clouds, one from Inc
east, the other from the west, met JUST
over our heads, and in an instant, quick
as thought, Geluge fell upon US. It did
not rsin-it poured in solid volume, as II
q lake had fallen, in mass, upon US In
three minutes the train ran into the mud
which had washed upon the track, and
we were completely anchored. This
proved our salvation, for the food could
not sweep Us of
The PalsPsCo was on cur Tight-a
small stream then, which man could cas-
ily leap across. 4 high ,auge Of hills or
mountains rose up al our left. The river
Law perhaps twenty feet below US. Soon
the track was completely submerged IN
water. The foods poured in torrents
from the mountain, rushing wildly be-
meath US, and threatening in It's frenzy TO
leap through the windows and carry US
down into the swollen stream. Such ter.
lldc thunder never before heaTd-one
pea! after another, al intervals OF only
few seconds. The whole mountain side,
and all the face OF the waste OF waters
were abIaze with lightning. Trees and
telegraph poles were shattered 10 pieces
near US By the electric current. The river
had now expended into stream mile or
more in width. Houses, barns. hay
stacks, logs and cattle were eeen floating
down the river. The river had now rls-
en- to the edge OF the track upon which
our train stood. Each moment We eX-
pec,eJ TO be swept down by the fierce
delugc that rushed down upon the track
from tie steep eide OF the mountain.
Escape seemed impossible. No living
thing could stem the flood that came down
the mountain. To leave the car was but
10 rush 10 q watcry grave. This all hap
pcncd in less time than il takes inc TO
w.ieii. But as il each wild, unharness-
cd element Of nature had We'd with the
o,hcr in their fierce war upon us, the hall
was added 10 the lightning, thunder and
rain. Hail showered down upon the car
a. ihckly az it could fall, and in blocks
of two or three inches in diameter. As
The nuggets Of ice fell upon the roof of
the car, they made sharp, startling noise
Ike the sound Of muskeMy near at hand.
One could not likcn the Irrllying roar OF
the clements now to anything but the
noise Of battle, with dea!euing rhunders
for artillery, and the rapid reports Of the
falling ice for the rattle Of muskeTy. II
was now SIX o'clock The passengers
il tho sleeping car had been cEoused by
the storm, and the conductor rushed in
end shouted "Fur Gods sake. ladies and
rertlemcn. leave tie car and 60 forward,
or you will be swept into the river" In
a moment al, rushed pell-mell TO the for
ward car, which had run OF tho track into
deep mud, and was anchored fast. Some
Of the ladies' were en- diSdGJWc, for the
night had been very hot, and many Of the
gentlemen wero only half dressed. But
now was no time for ceremony. In the
face f I, aih few care 10 mako toilet
Soon al the passengers, about sixty, were
in ono car together.
The bail was shalicrlng the window
glass to pieces. Almost all the glass on
both sides Of the cars and in the doors at
each end were broken, for We were in
whil.wud, and the rain dashed IN upon
US. Men turned pale, Iadics and children
cried with terror. Ii vas a pIufui scene.
but We were helpless, We were poworIess,
aaI tho clements bad u in their strong
arms. But, thank God, He who rules
the armies of Heaven, had each raging cl-
cmcnt ~ His mighty and mcrciinl hand.
The scene was how one Of unsurpassed
sublimiy. Tie torrents lcaping over the
tops Of trees, and the red and blue sifoaks
Of lightning robing them in garments Of
rczplendenl fire. the rush Of the waters
beneath Us mad!y plunging 10 the river,
the roar OF tie thunder and raIlc Of the
hail forming altogether scene Of terror
and subllml,y beyond all the powers Of
the widest Imagination.
For an hour and ten minutes the great
Jumps Of ice continued to DROP. Water
sull descended in flood. Now other
t.alns acre due, gong east, on the same
track we wore on. Who would 60 out
to put up the red sigma! no man was
strong enough TO successfully wade back
across the mountain torrents, and even II
he could do that, the hail would have Kill.
ed him. But The i:alns had all been stop.
ped.
In trying to describe this terrible ior-
nado. feel that have already wcarlsd f.
the reader Its impossible 10 convey
iull and correct idea Of l.. Eight hours +.
did IT thus storm upon US. No element
relaxed It's fearful warfare except the hail, .
which quit at ten minutes past seven. At
about two o'clock this storm, OF such IN .
prcccdenicd duration and fury, ceased.
We were sill. all safe IN she car. The .
water was three OF four feet deep upon .
the track, and the edge Of ihe river was
really flowing undsr the ear Soon the .
waters subsidized, and once more we stood .
upon the earth. Now We could see the
effects Of the de.uge around Us. A COW
and calf lay dead near the tram, SKATER .
4