The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-06-30
A Cyclone.
IMMENSE LOSS BY A HAIL SToRM-$25,0 600
WORTH OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.

IMMENSE LOSS BY HAIL STORM-$25,0 0t
WORTH OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.
On Saturday last, the most disastrous
storm ever known in the history Of August,
swept over the lower part of the county ant
| left waste and ruin in it's track. The storm
started below Parnassus, where the rain and
hail fell in torrents. Messy Creek was higher
than it has been known for years and much
valuable property was destroyed. The partic
ulars of the loss in that section we have not
learned but it is said to be very heavy. Among
the losses were Messrs. Daggy, Zimmerman
J. H. Todd and others. The storm passed
across by Burke's mill Mr.. Sam1 Byers lost
field of 500 bushels of wheat, besides grass,
fences, &C., and others in the neig hborhoOd
including Mr.. Thos. Burke, were greatly in
jured the corn and grass faring particular bad.
The fury of the storm seems to have spent
its force on the Shenandoah River. It COM
menced near the residence Of Hon. Jno. F.
Lewis and swept up the river. Its course for
half mile wide and three miles long was
marked by ruin almost absolute.
AT MR.. DAVID sCHULERs Ss
the loss was not so great but nevertheless
severe. The farm of the
MISSES YosT
was almost ruined, the crops being destroyed,
fences swept away, timber crushed and de-
struction everywhere.
AT AMOS SCOTS
the crops were destroyed and the barn partly
torn away
~ei. TAYLOR wAGoNER's
farm adjoins the above, and here the same
destruction to crops and fences resulted. Mr.
Wagner had just completed new frame ell
to his house, which was torn away by the
fury of the blast and the main portion of the
house turned on its foundation Mrs Wagner
and her two little children were in the house
at the time, and the mother, fearing death from
the falling timbers, wrapped her children in a
blanket and attempted to make her way to
neighbours. On the route one ofthe children
escaped from the shelter of the blanket and
was SO badly pelted by the hailstones that its
life was Imperfect At last accounts, however
there were strong hopes Of its recovery. Mrs.
Wagner and the other child were painfully
bruised about the head and body by the de-
scending blocks Of ice, some of which are said
to have been as large as a hen egg.
THE DEPOT OF THE s.v.R.R.
on the land of Mr.. Wagner had its roof
blown Off and some of Of its timbers mashed
Inee AT MR.. HENRY B. HARNsBERGER's
one hundred and twenty-five acres offine corn
was completely riddled, about one-third of it
being entirely destroyed and the rest stripped
Of blades. The corn was waist high and
one of the finest crops in that section of fine
crops. Much of Mr.. Harsberger's wheat had
been cut and shocked, and this was scattered
everywhere, some OF it being carried into ad-
joining fields. The portion standing, about
one hundred acres, was at least half destroyed,
the grain being beaten into the earth. His |
vineyard of about two acres was ruined, every |
grape being knocked from the vine and the |
leaves stripped. The garden was also destroy
ed, and q carriage house with new buggy in
it was blown down and the buggy smashed to
splinters. Mr.. Harnsberger says that he nev-
er saw rain fall as it did. The low lands were
3 perfect lake, the water standing oyer them
in a solid sheet. In addition to the loss of
farm, fences, &C., Mr. HarEsherger's timber
was broken up so that much of it Is worthless.
Great pine trees were snapped off as if they
were pipe stems, and the young timber crush
ed beneath the falling mass from above. His
loss Is between $4,000 and $4,000 Z
As illustrative Of the strength and fury of
The storm the following is related by Mr..
A pile of inch plank was lying
about forty yards from tenament house on
MS place. One of the boards was caught up
~ the wind and hurled through the house,
penetrating the Misunderstanding and plaster
ng as if they had been paper, tearing the
mantle piece away, and butting up against
he chimney on the opposite side OF the house
rom the place of its entrance. /,
,.s AT BERNARD TEALE's,
lext to Mr.. Harnsberger, the corn and wheat
rop was destroyed entailing heavy loss /,
81 fGzat WIN. wIsNER |,
lso sustained heavy loss. The chimney of his |
ouse was blown down, crushing the roof and [
!. ~. s s. K. l
dmitting the water in perfect sheet. His ,
rops were ruined as well as those of ]
1r, Fountain Kemper, Frank Brooke and {
thers aga.,ifi ss3n5f lteu |,
The storm left the valley and spread across 4
trough Browns Gap, carrying everything in i
Is way. On the other side ofthe mountains E
reat damage was also done.
This is the most fearful visitation known in !
he history of the valley. 1t was more destruc-
i've to the Immediate section than the great Z
Gods of Years gone by. Various estimates I
re made of the damage occasioned ranging s
rom $25 900 to $50, 900, but as yet it is impos-
ible to even approximate waste so wide
pread and complete. Many Of the sufferers !
an lily afford to bear their loss, for their
ghole dependence was upon the crops. siaH /,
Vallev r. R..