Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-08-28
Terrible Havoc Caused by A Fu.
rfous Tornado.

Bounced LIKE AN INDIAN RUBBER
BALL-Mr Loed and Ike solomon were
at the hotel in Harveysburg when the
storm came up, which was before sup
per. In town there was little more
than heavy rain, but it was noticed
that north of the place there was some
thing OF more serious nature. The
air was thick with flying debris and
the heavens were dark as night, betok-
ening storm of more than usual sew
Gritty. Yesterday morning on their
way home, Loed and Solomon came
through that region. and describe the
scene as terrible beyond description.
Houses were swept from the foundation
and literally torn into shreds, scattering
the pieces for miles along the path of
the storm. Huge trees, were twisted
off or torn up by the roots and carried
to great distances. Fences and crops
were swepIto utter oblivion. Wheat
shocks were blown into the air, and the
grain as completely threshed out as it
run through machine. The scene is
one of utter deSolation, and the loss will
be very great. But the most terrible
feature OF the storm was the loss of
human life No less than four persons
were killed. We have no means OF
estimating the amount of damage done.
Our informant says the path of the
storm was about l60 yards wide and
seemed TO extend for miles
The Charlottesville Jomndi has the
most detailed statement yet presented,
as follows: The storm of Tuesday
evening, which passed high above us,
visited some sections south and west of
us with great distribution, passing over
the northern part of Vermilion county,
and the southern part of Fountain in
the shape Of a furious tornado. 1t
seems TO have come from the north
west, first striking near PerrysvilIe,
and expending its greatest force on the
farm of Mr.. Marshall, about l-3 mile
north of lIarveysburg, Fountain county.
1t had travelled in about an easterly
direction, and seemed to strike the
ground with such force that il rebound
ed like a rubber bali, slipping farm or
two, and then striking again with great
violence. 1t cut an average swath of
about quarter OF mile in width,
which, however, narrowed down at the
most destructive point, on Mr.. Mar
shalls farm, to about 40 rods. In its
destruction of life and property proba-
bly, no tornado has ever visited the
country with such calamitous results.
In the first part of its course it took
down the residence of man named
Mack, and unroofed his barn.
"Of the families in the DESTROYER, S.
+. Sewers, in Fountain county, ~ the
most unfortunate. They had Just come
from the burial of a child that day. and,
of that household of five persons, but
one survives little boy with both his
arms broken. Mrs. Sowers,a niece who
was temporarily stopping with the fam
lily, and another person were killed
instantly. Mr.. Sewers, Sr., died We'd
nesday night, and his married son was
reported as dead Thursday morning.
The house is mass of ruins which is
the case of about everything OH the
place as far as known, the only other
case attended with loss of life was that
of Mr.. Semple. AS before stated, the
tornado's fury was at its maximum on
the farm of Mr.. Charles Marshall. Mr.
Marshall heard it coming and immedi-
ately proceeded 10 put his family in the
cellar. All were in but himself and
little boy, when the wind blew the door
shut, and he was unable 10 open IL.
They then started for the smokehouse,
hoping TO get in the cellar, but the
building was blown over on them, and
lodged on meat barrel which saved
them from being crushed They were
all uubnrt. Everything in the shape of
grain, timber, &c; is literally swept
away from this farm. Mr.. Marshall
said that he had 250 bushels of wheat,
Of which he does not think there are
now twenty-five lett. The wind carr-
ed the sbeaves up in the air until it was
almost black with them, whirling them
around in large circles as if they were
fssning from large funnel. The
woods are filled and sown with the
wheat. All his fine timber was des-
troyed.
A large bonlder, the lowest estima-
ton of its weight beiug 1900 pounds,
was moved several feet One house
was blown to pieces, and the floor
found over mile away. A very valu-
able orchard, one of two in that section
of country, was completely twisted to
pieces a large amount Of clothing
and bedding was blown into the woods
and torn into shreds. One man was
lucky enough in his misfortunes TO find
an old shoe out by his stable. in whicl,
he had deposited 500. lie also had
some silver pieces which were blown
around, but he succeeded in fndipu
them; all but one piece. The Craw.
fordsyille Reuiew gives additional par.
ticulars: ''In this vicinity we hear
that there we're nineteen persons
wounded, and several houses were
blown down by the storm. One man
bad just finished setting mp tbreshing
machine, and before anything could be
done it was struck by the hurricane
and not vestige Of the machine was
left to mark the place where it had
stood. 1t is rumored that one man
was carried away and las not since
been heard from. One man had Just
unhitched bis horse from his buggy aud