The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-06-03
The Hail storm In wheolIng--A
Furlous Blast -Euermous Hnit
Stones aud n Great Fall OF Water
Grent Damage TO Property, . .fll i.n

Ihe hntt .htOr" IN "hooliug--A
Furious Blast Euormous Hnit
Stones aud Great Fall OF water
Grent Damage 10 Property. - : ., =, , .g
About 8 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
dark and heavy. cloud. apparently q short
distance above the earth, overcast the sky.
This suspicious looking omen suddenly grow
darker still and the atmosphere became close
and sitting. All at once terrific blast Of
wind burst upon us and swept everything
before 1t. The dust was go thick and blind
Ing that nothing could DO seen for few
seconds, but when the largo and heavy
drops of rain had laid the the drifting dirt,
the scene was Que Of terrible yet peculiar
significance. Not q moment was allowed 10
merchants for removing the goods which
were In front Of their stores, or tho house
keepers for closing blinds, doors or shut
tiers, and these moveables, together with
roofs, chlmneys, &C., were flying In every
direction, as II an earthquake had shaken
the city from her foundation. Horses 1T
tached 10 or disconnected from their vehicles
were madly plunging through the thorough
fares, endangering life and limb TO unfortu-
nate pedestrians. Before the wind had
ceased, aud II listed but a moment, the rain
had changed to hall, which ratified against
the windows for q moment, and then per-
forated the glass as the Jumps Of congealcd
water grew In size. Tho sound upon the
pavement and the roofs was like the rapid
firing Of musketry, and so great YVES the
force OF the stones that shutters were
smashed, and even the window sashes broken
and beaten to pieces. Not only this, but
the walls across the rooms from the windows
were indented and the plastering In some
cases beaten of to the solid masonry. When
the storm was at Its highest fury, the hail
stones were Of the size OF mans clcuched
fist, and solid as canister balls, which they
very much resembled In appearance. They
were In most cases nearly round, being
slightly fattened on two sides like an apple,
with ANAL holes or lamentations, resembling
the place where the stem Joins the core, on
one side. In less time than Ii takes to write
II, the streets In tho lower portion Of the
city, or that part nearest tho riyer, were
wonderful balls of ice, and every window
facing the north, from which direction the
storm came, filled with broken panes. I.
In about twenty minutes Il was possibl Q
for a man to venture out without danger Of
having his head broken. The rain was
pouring down In torrents and the strocts
seemed like huge cutters or small rivers
bearing away boxes and debris upon rapidly
increasing currents. Here and there
large tree came floating BY with the
stock In trade of merchant mingled In its
to lamp posts and convenient corners. Tho
depth Of the hail and water on Maln-strect
was over three 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 IL impossible to observe their
Utility. ... yr.1...
In the country the damage to the vino
yards and orchards Is incalculable. The
Vineyards of Captain Crawford aud the
Wheeling and Belmont Wine Association
were each damaged to the extent Of %, 900.
The numerous graperios in the vicinity sui.
fered to like extent. The crop Of grapes
this year is doubtless three-fourths do
stroyed, and that Of next season materially
lessened. 1t would BIO easyto figure the
loss In this product alone as high as t25, 900.
OF the wheat and corn We will not attempt
an Wheeling W. Pa.) Inteat
gcncer, Mag 29h.