Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-06-09
A TERRIFIC STORM!
IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF
PROPERTY!
A Magnificent Exhibition of the
Elements !
Railroad Embankments and Bridges
Washed Away!
Great Damage to Crops by Washing
and Hail

Since Tuesday Of last week this vicini-
ty has been daily visited by rains, one or
two of them very severe. Saturday and
Sunday the weather was quite coOl, calling
into requisilion heavy clothing and fires.
Monday the weather moderated, and
Tuesday afternoon was quite warm and
sultry. In the evening the clouds gath
cred and thickened as the night ad-
yanced, and about 10 O'Clock there were
mutterings of thunder and distant flashes
of lightning. The storm kept gathering
force until about IL o'clock, when it
burst upon US in terrible fury, the
clouds hanging low and heavy, and the
electrical display being the grandest wit
messed hereabouts inlsifteen years. Rain
feli.in torrents, and after a time heavy
hail. Hhile all the time-a strong wind
blew from the northeast, and these. 'ac-'
compaHied by heavy thunder, which
caused buildings to tremble, and an al
most continuous blaze of lightning, to-
gether rendered it wild night, indeed.
The storm lasted about two hours, one
of which the rainfall seemed more like
unto the bursting of a watsrspout- than
a. rain storm. Spouting and cutters were
inadequate to carry the water off of
buildings and the streets, and conse-
quently it poured over the caves of
buildings, and as it rushed through the
streets resembled in the vivid lightning
roaring creek.
The damage to crops, especially on
hillsides, is immense-corn, wheat, and
other grain growing in that situation
was washed ont bodily, while the heavy
hail beat down and destroyed plants in
discriminatory. The damages from this
source alone will amount to many thou
sand dollars in this immediate vicinity.
Small streams became roaring torrents
within an hour, causing families who
live along them to fly for their lives,
leaving their effects to be ruined by the
water
Benoni Shields. who occupies the
house formerly owned by Pat. Costigan,
on the CadiZ pike, near the cemetery,
soon found the water roaring down the
pike and into his house, like unto
creek, and was compelled to carry his
family out to the hillside, wading waist
deep. His house and cellar were flood
ed, and their contents ruined, while his
garden was cleaned out as thoroughly as
though scrapers had been run over it |
and every bit of the soil scraped off. Mr.. |
Shields also lost his ice, his bees, and
his poultry.
The toil-gate- below Shields and the |
coal house were washed away The |
water was three feet deep in the house |
Of VIM. Dueker, in the same vicinity.
Fenceson the farm of Wm.- Jackson
were washed away, and his fields were
badly washed.
David Robson lost quite a lot of lum-
ber.
Ayers wheat field was badly washed. |
All the. foregoing are situated on jug
run. The road leading past them is so
illed with drift and so badly washed
that it is almost impassable. 80
The bridge on Little McMahon's creek
near McGrew's mill, was washed'o
rhe valley of that stream is badly wash
ID aud is filed with drift. An abut-
nent of the bridge near Chambers
school house was damaged.
Along the National road between the
loot of the big Hill and Bridgeport
here is great deal of drift, and one
bridge is so badly washed that some diff
guilty is experienced in crossing it.
From Martins Ferry we learn that
,he Cleveland & Pittsburgh railroad
bridge over Deep Run, one of the best
bridges on the river division, was wash
ID out, and that the county bridge over
Ilenn's Run was also washed out. Com
missioner Potts says he regarded the
after one of the strongest and best of
,he county bridges, that it stood twenty
i've feet above the stream, and that he
IAN scarcely credit the report that it has
been swept away. A house occupied by
/ family living across the river from +
Martins Ferry was swept away. All
i've of the children were drowned. The
ather saved himself by clinging to
pushes. The mother had not been found
when our Informant left Martins Fer
", and her fate is uncertain.
OUR RAILROADS..
Several bridges were washed away
IN the line between here and Quincy,
md ut Bamfield's about ten rods of the
rack WIS carried away, causing stop
,age of trains. We are unable to ascer-
ain the exact extent of the damage
Ilong the line, but it is considerable,an
will require some time to put the road
n running order. The company has
low tirst-rate track-master, and the
leeded repairs will be hurried as rapidly
IS possible.
The most serious damage was done
o the Northern road. We understand
I'll the bridges from Mr.. Isaac Crafts
arm to the creek were carried away,and
he report is that the entertainments are
injured. No authentic news
IS to the exact damage done there
an be obtained from the entire line,
however, before night. If the damage
S as great as is thought at this writing,
t will greatly delay the opening of the
'oad, and will cost quite sum of money
% restore the road to the condition in
which it was previous to the storm.
The damage to the road will reach
$1,000 to $4,000. This is more money
han the Board of Trustees has at its
disposal, and hence the situation is en-
The Board will meet to-
light "wednesday to consider themat-
er.
During the stoppage of the trains
nails and passenger will be carried from |
Warnock by omnibus.