The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-07-02
4 Nother and Her I<1ye Children Per.
lsh In. . Flood.
WrceIlSo. ". Va, June Z

NaEEIIN0, ". Va, June a
Early this morning this section OF the State
was VISITED by most terrific and dcstruc'
tive seorm Of rain and hail, accompanied
with thunder and lightning. The water
ca,no down in torrents. rho narrow noun.
tain streams In the vicinity Of Wheeling rose
rapidly, and were soon transformed from
babbiing brooks to raging torrents. Along
the National Road bridges were swept
away, farms inundated and crops destroyed.
At Glenn's Run, four miles above Wheel
Ing, an appalling loss Of life occurred, an
entire family Of seven being swept away by
the food. The run is mountain stream
coming down narrow gully and winding
through the rich bottom land at the base OF
the hills. In . shady nook on the level
stood the home OF Frederick Straub. the
family consisting Of himself, wife and five
children. Now the husband alone is left Of
the happy household, and not vcstise Of
the dwelling remains.
Tuesday night S'raub and his wife, with
their five children, Fritz, aged eight, Mary,
nine, Louisa, five, Ferena, three and Albert,
two. retired rs usual at an early hour.
About ten o'clock he was awakened by the
rain, and looked out, but the stream did not
seem more noisy or swollen than usual, and
be went back to bed. An hour later he was
awakened BY his wife, rs the storm ut that
time was at its full fury. Fearing they
would be inundated by the run, which was
now roaring loudly, the children were awak.
ened and preparations made to get into the
road. There was only one door to the cabin,
and that faced up stream. As he opened it,
It seemed ~ though solid bank Of water,
. carrying with 1t logs, trees and small stones,
rushed under the bridge and against the
house. lie was thrown to the other end
OF the room, and it was Immediately
seen that there was no escape, as NO
!. one could walk against that stream.
. The husband tried to find IN AK to cut
I through, but that had been left outside
!. There was now nothing to do but to await
I their fate aud stare death in the face. Thu
' husband aud wife embraced for the las
. time. and the children were kissed, ant
vueO suUOcuIy tuCIV NSS ~ Os"eus I" AoSNAHt
!, to and fro Of the house, followed by sud
y. den collapse. The wife had taken the tw'
6 youngest, her babies, the father the mex
:. two, and when he found himself in tn
!, stream little Fritz was msnfully bufietini
|. the cruel waters, but soon sank from tn
gaze Of the agonizcd father. A moment o
y 80 later one Of the girls was torn from hi
arms by An overhanging bough, and tn
', other was struck from him by = log. All q
D. this time no had been hearing the scream
r Of his wife, who was now below him, bll
h those were now stilled, and nothing but tn
!, rush and roar Of the waters and the lou
e and heavy peals Of thunder filled his ear
- wife, children, home and money were q
ID gone.
40 For two hours he was In the water, b,
y. w unable to get on the shore on account OF I'll
Is. swift current. In the meantime he held q
'ie to the willows. About four o'clock he maj
=. aged to get ashore, and soon after reache
d. the house Of neishbor. The bodies
IH o Mrs. Straub, Ferens and Albert have be,
on recovered.
"S The damage In the valleys surroundi'
q. this city, caused by the sweeping away
IN IN houses and bridges and the destruction
t.. crops, Is estimated at so 900.