Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-06-05
rsr,,,,c uai, storm az wheeling.

bred thousand dollars. We quote l!om
the Register and Latehigencer as io'-
lows
About noon the heat was al It's greates'
hight, and remained IN nearly the same
condition ill 3 o'clock when lark and
heavy cloud, apparently short distance
above the earth, oyercas, the sky. his
suspicious looking omen suddenly ere"
darker still. and the atmosphere became
close anG sitting. All al once ief''tc
blast OF wind burs. upon Us and swept
everything before il. The dust was so
thick and binding that nothing could be
seen for few seconds, but when the
large and heavy drops Of rain had laId the
drifting dirt the scene was one OF terrible
yet peculiar significance. Not moment
was allowed 10 merchants Tor removing
The goods which were in front OF Their
stores, or the housekeepeiS for closing
blinds, doors or shutters, and these move
ables, together with roofs, iimbeTs' chin
neys, ETC., were flying in every dnec'Ion'
as if an earthquake had shaken the cry
from her foundation. Horses attached 10
and disconnected from their vehicles were
madly plungng through the thorough
fares, endangeling life and limb 10 unior'
lunale pedestrians. These quickly ioun"
shelter, as no sane person would long de-
iy the Almighty by remaining out IN such
blast. Before the wind had ceased, and
it did not last but moment, the ram had
changed to hail, which ratified against the
windows for a moment and then perforated
the glass as the Jumps OF congeaIed water
grew in size. The sound upon the pave
men,s and the roofs was like the rapid
firing of musketry, and SO great was lhe
force Of the stones that shutters were
smashed and even the window sashes bro
ken and beaten 10 pieces. Not only thus
but the walls across the rooms from the
windows were indenlcd and the plastcrng
in some cas.s, beaten off TO The solid ma
sonry.
When the storm was al lis highest iu-
~, the hail stones were Of the size Of
mans cenched fist and solid as canister
balls which they very much resembIed IN
appearance. They were in most case.
nearly round, being slightly hauened on
two sides like an apple, with small holes
or indenla,ions resembling the place where
the stem Joins the core, on one SIDE.
In less time than it takes to wife 1.-the
streets in the lower portion Of the city or
tina. part nearest the river were covered to
the depth of foot with these wonderful
balls of ice, aud every window facing The
north, from which direction the STORM
came, filled with broken paneS.
In about twenty minutes II wa9 posi-
! bic for a man TO venture out without dan
ger OF having his head broken and an oP'
porluniiy afforded for Witnessing the ct.
fecis. The rain was pouring down IN
torrents and the streets seemed like huge
cutters or small rivers bearing away bon
es and debris upon rapidly increasing cur
rents. Here and there large tree came
floating by with the stock in trade OF
merchant mingled in its branches {; carts
and wagons were clinging 10 the lamp
posts and convenient corners. The dep1h
of the hail and water on Main street was
over three feet, and the heaps OF ice IN
places were nearly five feet high. Al the
corner OF Quincy and Main streets the
| current turned, and ran toward the river,
down Quincy street. The sewers were
of great service, but for some time the
depth Of the water rendered II impossible
10 observe their utility.
A lady walking along Main street, with
an umbrella over her head, was lifted up
by the wind about as high as the top OF
the awnings, letting 90 of her balloons he
fell to the ground and was very seriously
injured,
Two gentlemen living on Middle creek.
near Triadelphia, were caught IN the
storm, and one OF them pounded nearly
to jelly By the hail. His life Is despair
ed OF.
A Mrs. Britt, living in East Wheeling.
while attempting to shut a window, cot
the artery OF her arm. on the broken lass,
and nearly bled 10 death before the flow OF
blood was stopped,
A man in the Central Glass Works was
irving 10 close a window shutter. The
wind drove his arm on to broken pane
of glass, nearly seyeIing the hand rom
the wrist.
The whoa, and corn is cut of close TO
the ground, and early potatoes that Friday
morning were ready to blossom, are de-
6Ioyed.
No, farmer escaped. Al! are moro
or less sufferers. Some OF them will
hardly raise enough to live on.
As matter of course. fruit and forest
trees were stripped bare Of leaf and
branch. Some OF the frUl, trees are de-
siroved forever.
The storm in great violence reached
Yves, Alexandra and West Liberty. In
its course 10 West Liberty il passed over
splendid farms. cutting off the wheat and
other grains, breaking and tearing down
the fruit trees and killing the spring
lambs. West Liberty is in ruins. in
fact wherever the storm passed ITS course
is marked with ruined farms, orchards.
VINEYARDS and gardens. The destruction
of stock will be immense.
ALLIGATOR RAcE-The enrc5prisIng cit
liens of Jacksonville. Florida. have been
amusing themselves with an alligator race.
Five voting animals were entered: the
purse was $50, bes; two in three. Spot