The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-07-28


immense pipes, The volume was 90 larp
that the narrow valley was filled with M
raging torrent. The frame dwelling,
stables and slaughter houses gave va
IKE pipe.stems, and the debris from th
wrecks were swept down along the lin
OF the plank road, their weight bein
augmented every moment.
In tho district lying west of Chestnu
street and north Of line parallel will
North avenue the waters ro;u 10 n heich
OF fully twenty feet. In some places I'm
occupants Of dwellings were unable 4
escape in time 10 save their lives, and Il
many instances the force of the wateI
rent structures into splinters. After car
rylng away a large number OF fences and
0uthouSes, the flood struck the dwelling
occupied by Henry Mattern, and hls wiIa
and two children were all drowned, The
next house was that of John Winller
who, finding the flood endangerlpg his
barn and stock, he, in company with hid
brother, started out to the horses. Mrs
Winkler remained in the house. and in
less than five minutes the water filled all
the lower rooms, Mrs. Winkler called
lor assistance, but before aid could reach
her the building gave way, and she was
engnlted. Further southwark was the
dwelling oi John Shearlng. As soon as The
waters commenced rising Mr.. ShearinV
moved his family, consisting OF his vile
and two boys, aged four years, 10 tho hin
side, in what he supposed to be place of
safety: The children were sleeping
soundly, but ono Of the little fellows was
aroused by the storm and rolled over an
embankment into the angry flood below.
LIS pody was recovered this morning.
Inc extensive glue works were the
next TO succumb to the action OF the
water and were totally destroyed. A
short distance below these works was a
small building occupied by Mr.. August
Kykot and lamily, embracing his vile
and two children. The family were un.
aware OF the destruction which was
sweeping down on them. The building
was carried from It's foundations and the
occupants in 1t. Mrs. Rykoft, bruised and
bleeding, was rescued from the torrent
several squares distant, but both children
were drowned.
At the corner oil East street and MOdi.
son Avenue the waters seemed TO deyiaIe,
In triangular shaped house at the inter.
section Of the streets named, resided Mrs.
Cougdon, widow, who had three children,
one boy and two girls; young man nam.
cd Arnold and another, a cripple, named
Rogers, were in the house at the time
Inc entire number, with the exception OF
Mel Cougdon, were lost. Young Arnold
had gone into the house to rescue some OF
the inmates, but fell victim to the des.
troying element.
About o block below the intersection of
Madison Avenue and East street the tor.
rent again united and swept down with
redoubled fury to the low lands, embrac.
ing Concord, O'Hsra and portion OF
Chestnut streets. The course OF The flood
was probably 200 feet wide, and buildings
frame and brick, fell before the deyastat.
ing element, as though they had bean
sand dwellings. Stables, workshops and
debris Of all kinds mingled together in
one confused mass, making it absolutely
impossible for the spectator to discover
even the street lines. In some instances
tho houses were literally turned upside
down. On O'Hara street the building of
Alderman Balster was reduced 10 its
original elements, and one of his childrou
drowned. The rest Of the family escaped.
On the same street family named
Flch, consisting of Jacob Fuch and
vile and one child, are lost; also Joseph,
q brother of Mrs. Fuch. In another
house almost. adjoining, resided Jacob
Meter and vile and two children; all the
family were lost except one child. The
bodies OF the three were found this morn.
ing. On Chestnut street, at the intersec-
tion Of Spring Garden Avenue, the water
attained a depth Of fully twenty feet, but
the buildings withstood the force better,
and in only one instance was any serious
damage done. A large frame building
occupied as beer hall was moved from
it's foundation and 1oated directly across
the street, completely obstructing the
way. 1t is estimated in this district that
about seventy dwelling houses were de.
stroyed, but no estimate has been made
OF their value. A large number OF peo.
plc are missing, and It is thought that
many bodies are still in the debris. As fast
as recovered they are taken to the various
undertakerS in the city, and 38 arc now
known TO have come from this dlrtrict.
Tho following Is the list:
Mr.. and Mrs. Meizler; Conrad Gent
ger and wife; Mrs. Mary Cong
donj John Winkleri Jacob Hich-
nopter, Mrs. Henry Leopold and
four children, Archibald Arnold; the
body Of female and the bodies Of seven
three boys and four girls, have
not been identified; Mrs. John schafer
and three daughters; Henry Mattern,
vile and two children; August Bolster,
son OF Alderman Bolster; young man
named Humbsrd was drowned while al.
tempting 10 rescue a family on Ohio
street; Emma Rykof, aged five years;
a son OF John Shearing, aged four years;
q little girl, apparently about five years
old, not identified; Mr. and Mrs. Huff. |
nagle; the body OF boy named Hubber.
Spring Garden avenue lies to the south |
Of Butchers Run, and is separated from
II by high hill. In this valley the same
scenes were enacted on a smaller scale
as regards loss Of life. II would be i'm.
possible to give anything like q detailed
account Of the damage that has been
done 10 dwelling houses in this vicinity.
those that were not totally destroyed were
very greatly damaged. Beyond Cedar
avenue fortunately there were but few
lives lost-at least, as far as could be
ascertained. Some two or three are re-
ported. A man named Michael Slaughter
vas in tavern about 0 o'clock, and when
The danger became apparent he seized
:hild in his arms and rushed through the
door into the street. he and the child
are supposed to have been drowned. At
he loot OF Spring Garden Run the loss Of
lie was fearful. On Centre street some
parties In skitf discovered man hang.