The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-06
DEATH IN THE TEMPEST.
GREAT DESTRUCTION or LIFE and
PROPERTY BY A TORNADO.
Seven Person. Killed and Fireen wounded
by IA Failing Tree mt Picnic-A House
| Washed - way and Six Occupants Drowned

seven Person. Killed and Fineen Wounded
by "a Falling Tree mt ~ Picnic--A House
Washed Away and Six Occupants Drowned.
PITTSBURGH, July 5.-As the details of
yesterdays storm come in from the rural dis
tricts, its destruction Of life and property proves
to have been greater than was at first reported.
Thus far the record shows thirteen persons
killed and fully twenty-five more or less hurt.
The greatest destruction of life was mt the
SharpsburG German Lutheran church picnic
in Ross Grove. large number were present.
including the pastor OF the church. the Rev.
Charles Waltz. and his family. All were enjoy
ing the day TO their utmost when the storm sud
denly swept through the grove. uprootng trees.
some forty or fifty being torn up. The rain foil
in torrents. and tho lightning was vivid that
many of tho party were almost blinded. In an
instant. without warning. seven OF this num-
ber. who but few moments before were
full OF lifc were ushercd into eternity
A number sought shelter from the storm in
covered grocery wagon owned by Mr.. Conrad
Reithmiller the horses having been detached
The wagon stood by a large sugar tree. prob
ably threo feet in diameter two feet from the
roots. They had no sooner than got safely
within the wagon than the storm broke over 1t
with renewed fury. A thundcrbolt struck the
tree. splitting II. and tho hurricane insisted in
breaking It of at the roots. II fell with a tor
rifle crash on the wagon. smashing 1t to pieces.
and killing almost instantly seven persons in
side, and badly injuring the others At the
same time several other large trees were pros
tratcd. falling upon children. who were not
quick enough to escape from under them. The
following. is "A list of the Killed and wounded:
killcd.-Mrs. Conrad Reiihnilcr. II years
2ld Mrs.; hIs keiihmiilers miller Snild, year pd VII
years old thoth are sons OF Mr.. Peter Prayer.
President Of the .Sharpshurg and Etna Savings
SRarpsbure: Sophia Si4indeimay. is years years old.
of Sharpsburg; Mra. Stoepner 40 years Old of
pa N oa neGpcr o Mrs
sibc that she was killed Knocked into the run.
and carried into the river.
dren. one ayoung lad Is years old nll seriously;
LIZZIE Crafts, Is years old; ssriouSly threo
fatally injured, and the two others have legs
broken John Leutz. % years old; Geo. Leut2.
- years old Michael Schrumm. Sharpsbure;
Miss Annie Geisler. probably fatally; Miss Li2-
zie Burgund, fatally. The Rev. Charles Waltz
was injured by a branch OF a tree. and has been
The storm ragged with terrible enect at Sandy
| Creek. ton miles from this city. II was almost
as disastrous 10 life ms al Ross Grove and tho
| damag" to property was much greater. nearly
| the whole OF the village having bcen made a
wreck. the flood which rushed down the
| places. washing away houses and bridges AMI
| greatly damaging the crops; Auner Corners
| house was WNSntu AWAY. In II Wtrn Afnfr
! Conner. his wife and child Ira Long, n man
| named Boyd. and stranger who had taken
refuge there from the storm. They were, all
| Conner, and Mr.. Long We're recovered this
morning. The bridges are al gone and tho
coal tracks are torn up. II was the most terrible
storm that over visited that part Of the country.
| The telegraph wires are all down. and the poles
will have g be replaced;
| At tho Ross Grove station number were
stunned by lightning. A man named Miller.
| who lives in Irving avenue. Allegheny was
| Watson was badly shocked. The farmers re-
fused 70 open their doors 10 receive the injured.
| might demand II they, would give shelter TO
| those who we're injured. hut their appeals and
| offers OF money We're refused. Doors were
! kicked IN NJ one or two houses and plaecs found
! for the wounded. At least twenty buildings In
! the county are known to have been struck hy
| lightning. Among thcm were Cosmos oil Re-
| nnery. loss s2OO0O; !. VI. Brure's house. stable.
! and elevator At WHk.nsburg los, $1,000 j. b,
with contents, loss sG 000. On all tho railroads
| running along the Allegheny and MonouEuhrlu
| rivers trains have been seriously detained 10y
Tho fury OF the storm was felt chiefly in tho
valley OF the Allegheny. Near the middle of tho
ing above the junction of thethree rivers an i'm
| mensc black cloud. carried up the valley hy a
| rapid current of air. Near ShHrpshurg six or
| seven miles up another black cloud was seen.
| borne by counter current The two came To-
gether with An explosion. In the fierce whir!
trees were wrenched from their roots, and
buildings rocked like cradles. This was thu
whirlwlnd which carried destruction to
iIhe I,b party at the picnic, IN the .h Ea7t
Of the storm passed little TO the north
and east, its course could he watched the moro
| favoraby and some remarkable atmospheric
| phenomena were witnessed. Tho first storm
approached from the north and wcst,, with
fierce gusts Of wind. brilliant lightning flashes
and heavy thunder. but not very much rain As
| this storm was passing, large black
| cloud began 20 approach from H." east. II
was when these storms met that the Cosmos
| refinery fire occurred. and the pyrotechnlc dis
| play was most vivid. In less than five minutes
dense volumes Of black smoke came rolling
over the hills. showing the destructive work.
| A quarter OF an hour later Il third storm arose
| from the southeast, the wind blowing "A perfect
hurricane In the east end Of the valley trees
were blown down, the forests swayed to and fro.
and young. solitary trees and shrubs beat to the
earth. The three storms met apparently Il little
| east OF the Hiland Reservoir. First ono,
then another gained the ascendency, and for
| half an hour tho wind changed direction almost
every minute At length the war OF the elements
hour rain fell down in torrents After
the rain had ceased but while the heav-
ems ems from horizon 70 horizon were yer eqck eqlcck
sun were reflected in moist and sOitencd hues
across the valley. The western clouds showed
q series q belts or zones parallel "ith the
horizon. Not n tinge of red-the prevailing
| sunset color-was visible. The lower belts
wero dark olive, alternating with narrower
| stripes OF rich brown and mellow greenish
| blue. with bands OF dark yellow, while above.
where the clouds were more irregular, the
| golden tints prevailed There were dozen
lretted borders oi brightest yellow, each shad-
| ing Off into II dark purple. giving greater prom
nence to the one above. The scene was not
gorgeous. but most decately beautiful. This
was the background and body OF the picture.
| In front tho rays Of the sinking sun, made vlsi-
BILE in hundred dverging lines by moisture
| still hanging in the lower atmosphere. shot
their Respondent light across the zones OF
olive and gold. draapnG lhe whole scene ip
celebration ofthe nations natal day.