The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-06-07

THE HAIL-sToRM IN WHEELING.-About
2 o'clock Yesterday afternoon Il dark and
heavy cloud, apparently Il short distance
above the earth, overcast the sky. This
Notwithstanding omen suddenly grew
darker still. and the atmosphere became
close and sitting. All ut once terrific
blast Of wind burst upon Us, and swept
everything before 1t. The dust was so
thick and binding that nothing could be
seen for a few seconds. but when the large
md heavy drops Of rain had laid the drift
in. dirt, the scene was one Of terrible yet
peculiar significance. Not moment was
allowed to merchants for removing the
goods which were III front Of their stores,
or the houSckcepcrs for closing blinds,
doors. or shutters: and these moyeablcs,
together with roofs, chimncyS, &c, were
t1%iuyin every direction, aS if an earthquake
had shaken the city from her foundation
Horses attached TO or disconnected from
their vehicles were madly plunging
through the thoroughfares, endangcr-
ing life and limb OF unfortunate pc
dr,trian,. Before the wind had ceased,
and il lasted but 4 moment, the rain had
changed to hail, which ratified against
the windows for Il moment, and then per-
fog~.-rd the class a. the Jumps of congcaIcd
water crew in size. The sound upon the
Ig,rmrrt> and the roofs was like the rapid
1iriug Of mu>k"trE, and 50 great was the
force Of the stones that the shutters were
smashed. and even the window sashcS broken
and beaten to pieces Not only this, but the
walls acro>> the rooms from the windows
were intcutrd, and the clustering in some
cases beaten of TO the solid masonry.
When the storm was ut its highest fury the
llii>,onc> were of III" size Of mans
c!-arhru fist and solid AZ canister balls,
which they very much rrScmbled i'll appear
au,". They We're in most cases nearly
round, being slightly llattcncd on two sides,
like III apple, with small holes or indenta-
lions resembling the place where the stem
Joins the core on one side. In less time
than it takes to write il the streets in the
lower portion of the city, or that part near
est The river. were covered TO the depth Of
q foot with these wonderful balls OF ice, and
every window facing the north. from which
direction the storm came, filled with broken
plu">.
In about twenty minutes ii was possible
for man 10 venture out without danger wi
having his head broken. The rain was
poUrluy down in torrents, and the streets
seemed lik" huge cutters or small rivers
hearing away boxes and debris upon rapid
h-iurrra>iug currents. Here and there Il
Eu@r tree came floating by with the stock IN
trade Of amrrchant mingled III lis branches :;
carts and WAGONS were cljnying TO lamp
posts and convenient corners. The depth
al The hail and water on Main street WAS
over three tcct, and the heaps of ice in places
were nearly five feet high. At the corner of
Quincy and Main streets hccurrcnt turned.
end ran toward the river, down Quincy
street. The sewers We're Of great service,
I'm, Tor some time the depth of the water
rendered it impossible to observe their
utility.
In the country the damage to the vine
wards and orchards is incacuIabc. The
VINEYARDS Of Captain Crawford and the
Wheeling and Belmont Wine Association
were each damaged 10 the extent Of 5000
The numerous @rapcries III the vicinity
suffered 10 Il like extent. The crop OF
grapes this year is doubtless thrcc-ionrths
DESTROYED, and that OF next season mate
rally lc,>cncd. 1t would he easy to figure
the loss in this product alone as high a>
80. 900. Drthe wheat and corn we will not
attempt an c>timatc.-H Wheeling (H. Va,
MtcitgcHcer, Nay 10Th.