The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-08-06

NfBaE llHAAIaeAAgAll1sa. a. Il Z u
Trees LeVeIed 70 the GIonnasJ
Bridges Blown Down and swept
Away, &c. \ Stst IA Z
From ~ IbIt.
On Wednesday, eth ulL, our town and
surrounding vicinity was visited by one
Of he most terrible hurricanes, accom-.
Danied by rain, thunder and lightning,
that has visited this section for ten or
twelve years past
About two O'Clock In tho afternoon, the
dull. heavy sound Of distant thunder and
the gradual disappearance Of the sun,
o'ercast with ominOus looking dark clouds,
ioreshadoTed on approaching storm; but
little did our people dream Of lis magni.
tude or severity rs Il gradually approach.
cd from tic northwest, Ehrouded In IL
vast and gloomy pail Of darkness Not
however, until near five O'clock did the
storm reach the town. Then there came
suddenly gust Of wind that sent doors,
windows and shutters banging and clang'
ing, and caused general stampede from
the streets for sheller. The black and On;
gTy looking clouds burst forth with fear.
iui and appalling fury upon the town, and
the rain poured down in perfect torrents
and was hurled and swept with great VIC
lencu by the furious winds, carrying death
and destruction 70 those who were so un'
fortunate 10 DO out alone In the elements
The bright and dazzling lightning fash
Is seemed 10 dance and play In perfect
ecStncy at the scenes below, and illumin'
alIng, ever and anon, the dark waves Of
the rigging storm, made the scene terribly
grand. Aifrighted women tainted away
and strong hearted men wore made weak
rs peal after peal Of the terrible thunder.
and blast afler blast Of the awful storm
came crushing upon the housetops. Huge
trees were uprooted and with fearful VIC
lenee hurled and twisted TO pieces in the
air;-fences, corn, wheat and hay stacks
blown down, and vast oceans Of water
swept through the streets in every direc'
ton. .
The storm ragged with fury for an houI
or more, and after the elements began 10
subside, the afiHghted pOpulace ventured
their heads through windows and doom
with thankful hearts that their lives had
been spared through the terrible ordeal.
We took walk around town after the
storm Ind ceased, and marked the path
Of the destroyer, and from whatwO could
see and learn, We are led to believe the
storm was general, cXtanding, as we sec
by the Pittsburgh papers, IRON that city
up the Mononglhela.
The following does not embrace one
half of tho extent Of damage done here,
RbOuts, but we give the information, show
ing the severity Of the tornado.
The heaviest part Of the storm, 1t seems,
Il we may judge by appearances struck
the University grounds, and leveled sew
entcen trees 10 the ground, blew Oft the
ton OF one OF the chimneys OF the old
building and smashed several windows in
tho now building. A huge poplar tree
thirteen feet In circumference, was broken
off about two feet from the ground and
whirlrd into the hollow below, Massive
limbs from beech, poplar and other largo
trees lay scattered all over the grounds
Just across the river, ut Dir. Cephas
Jacobs ldrty-iive Of bis apple trees were
torn out Of the ground By the roots, and
lhirty.lwu in the late Arnold property
orchard, were also "blOwn up"
The new and substantial bridge Of
Granville, across Dents run lcusting
$1,000 or $4,000, was liitel from ilS fast.
enings and dasheIl into the run, and part
Of Il washed into the river.
The Suspension bridge was severely
tested, and several times rose and fell ten
feet, swnying I'd and fro, while the iimbers
crcakCd and lrGmbled, und every wire
seemed strained 10 its utmost. The side
cables were Of invaluable service, and
held the huge leviathan fast to lis moor.
ings, though il was "oul Ofplumb' Of least
six feet when the storm was over
In Durbannah the storm played sad
havoc In the lumber yard Of McSSns. Fair.
child, Lawhcnd & Co, carrying Oft the
roof Of their blacksmith shOp and whlrl'
ing tremendous pieces OF lumber high in
tile mir.
On Front street a sycamore tree In front
Of Judge Berkshire's was blown down
also two apple trees Of DIR. Martins; ono
valuable "rambn" "belnnging 10 II. D.
McGcorge; two fine apple trees belonging
10 Daniel FOrdyCe; two windows blown
out Of II. Reeds house, besides innumerI'
BILE other trees blown down and Other
damage
On Min street the following trees wen
uprDOted: locust in front Of J. II. Hot
mans and two large locuSts. one in from
Of F. c. TaZicr's md one In front Of WIN
Pridc'S.
Two thousand gallons Of stone ware
were destroyed at ThOmpsOn'S pottery
and hundreds Of panes Oi glass were bro
ken out Of windows throughout the tOwT
by flying limbs from trees.
Al this writing il iS impossible TO an
nouncc the extent Ofdainage, aS We have
not hearl fully frDm the country buI
from the number Or hny and wheat stacks
blown down and corn lrvelcd IN the
ground near tOwn,wo imagine thHt the
/ destruction has bern great.
At the Falling Run the water WIS very
high, and Mr.. NJ. T. ChalianlS pig per
was washed away, and the bridge acrIs,
the road was entirely nvrrilnwn
Al over the surrounding hills we sec
mammoth lreeS uprOOted and other cvi
drnCcS OftlIc great power Of the storm
king; and il may be several weeks before
anything like correct estimate Of thu
probable loss can bc arrived nj.