The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-17


subsequent damage to the B. & o. railroad
freight depot resulting from the rafters OF
the roof Of the former depot being blown
onto it An account Of the storm in
detail will be found below.
LIrTLE CYCLONE FoR A CENT.
Yesterday afternoon at 8 o'clock a re-
porter Of the ISrELLIoEScER was standing
on Water street summing himself, and
watching the whitecaps on the usually
quiet surface Of the Ohio. He tried to
draw on his imagination and picture the
semblance OF therut1ed bosom oil the river
to the billowy ocean, but 1t was no go
there wasn't enough water expanse, and
a sudden gust Of wind blinded his eyes
with dust and compelled him to seek
shelter. On opening his eyes he saw an
obscuring cloud OF dust, dirt and rubbish
lust rounding the north end oil the
i'Pewikyn depot. There was o propelling
power behind that eddying cloud that
meant business, and the reporter was on
the watch for Developments. OF course 1t
was wrong to wish house blown down,
or man or two carried up in the air, but
a reporters wishes are not entirely philan'
throphic, as he ouly desires TO give the
readers OF his paper something interest
ing. In the time it took TO jot down
this aggressive thought, the whirlwind,
coming up Water street, struck wagon
belonging TO Mr.: Fred koehier, baker,
residing on the South Side, and turned II
over, spilling the driver into the street
and causing the horse to rear and plunge
in manner that threatened 10 add 10 the
devastation OF the wind by making kind
ling wood out Of the wagon. The wagon
was righted, however, the horse calmed
down, the bread busted of, and the
driver proceeded on his rounds to his Gus
toners. The wind also playfully wrench.
ed of the awning in front OF the Linga.
man House, and tore shutter of one OF
the Stamm House windows, besides toss.
ing bundle OF bags of an express wagon
and rolling it down towards the river, and
6lling the air with shingles from the
houses in the vicinity OF tue leyee.. The
W, n. Chancellor arrived from Cincinnati
about the time OF the outburst, and exper.
fenced considerable difficulty in landing,
This blow was but an Introductory over.
ture to the bowling blast that followed
later in the afternoon, accounts Of which
are herewith appended.
SECOND GALE.
Apparently the storm had only come on
the first time to view the field, and then
retired for reiniorcements. About half
past four the clouds began to loom VI
threatenipgly in the west, and the wind
began to increase It's force, until at FIVE
o'clock it was blowing perfect gale. Ap
parently the storm came down the valley
Of the creek on the Ohio side OF the river
and spread out, taking in belt extend
ing in width the whole length OF the city
The fiercest wind lasted only very few
minutes, but succeeded in working con
siderable destruction in that time.
The most serious effect In the city wa
the partial unroofng OF the freight she'd
OF the p, W. & Ky. Railroad Company
The entire western half OF the roof OF the
building was torn from is moorings ant
lifted bodily into the air Tor several yards
where 1t apparently hung suspended for 9
second, and then was torn into shreds ant
hurled TO the ground east OF the depot
Several OF the large tmbers supporting
the roof alighted upon the roof OF the B.
o. Company's freight depot adjoining the
other on the east. One beam twenty-five
feet in length, and eight inches By
twelve in thickness, was thrown up
ward as though shot from can
non, and fell endwise, piercing the
corrugated iron roof OF the B. & Q
depot, as II 1t had been paper. Severa
other similar timbers also struck and
broke the roof at other points; and ont
pierced the heavy brick wall OF the freigh
office at the north end Of the building, ant
remained imbedded there. The slate roo
OF this portion OF the structure was also sc
badly torn up by the flying missile tina
1t will be necessary TO replace 1t through
out. The damage TO the b. & 0. company
property Is yariously estimated at from
three to five hundred dollars, while the z
W. & KY. Go. 5 loss will reach somewhat
larger sum.
A flying timber struck an employe O
Joseph Speidel & Co.'s, who was standing
at the door OF the establishment on South
street. A mule team standing near tool
fright from the noise, and started TO rur
away, but were caught aud held fast by
the b. & o. telegraph wires, which haC
been broken by falling boards. Numerous
windows on South street were also
broken. Hogsheads, barrels and boxes
were blown from South street north "a
Sixteenth, and west TO the river, and FOL
q brief time the scene was animated in the
extreme.
AT TIE NORTH END
the storm also did no little damage. A
section about twenty-five feet square o.
the board roof Of Sweeney & Sons black
smith shop, in connection with their
North Wheeling foundry, was removed
aud scattered about over the empty space
adjoining.
The ferry boat plying between Martins
Ferry and the First ward was caught by
the gale midway across the river, and
blown about ut the sweet mercy OF the
storm. The larboard smoke-stack was
snapped of at the lower end and blown
down, striking the pilot house in It's fall
and damaging that structure slightly.
This was about all the serious damage
resulting In that part Of town, but numer.
considerable In the aggregate, are also re-
ported.
ACROSS TIE RIVER.
Martins Ferry portion Of the heavy
roof Of the casting room Of the Benwood
blast furnace was torn of, and hurled
about, falling to the ground in a twisted
mass Of several tons weight. The section
measured perhaps twenty-five by forty
The lofty Foster pole, erected by the
Rannhlicnns Of Bridgeport on the "Plazan