The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-14
THREE CLOUD BURSTS,
AND THE DEVASTATION WROUGHT.
4 Terrific Cysioa' Sweep. osr . Portion 0
KAniaI City, wr.elIns Stores. Dwellings Aad
CharehSs-LOss Of LINs-StOrIss OF
HOndsrfsi E,eaps.-Othsr Items

KANSAS CRY, May ia destructive
cyclone swept across the southern part Of
the city shortly after 5o'clock this evening,
unroofng or demolishing buildings for q
distance Of two miles, the track OF the
storm, ranging from a half block to two
blocks in width. A number OF persons
were injured and some fatalities are re.
ported, but the loss Of life is probably not
SO great as might be expected in view Of
the destruction Of property. Nothing def.
mite can be obtained, but the loss to proper.
ty is estimated in the hundreds Of thou.
sands.
SATURE OF THE sToRN.
The day throughout bad been stormy.
From early morning heavy showers fell at
intervals, accompanied at times by gus,y
winds. At about half past 1 the clouds,
which had been especially threatening
along the western horizon, gathered dense.
ly over and a little west OF Wyandotte. Out
OF them grew dark, iunnel.st aped
cloud which started northwaId actoss the
farming lands ives: Of Wyandotte, and
crossing The Missouri River passed into the
country northeast OF the city. About ten
minutes later a second cloud formed near
the same place where the first originated
and followed the course OF the
Kaw River to the Missouri River,
and down the latter TO Raado'ph
point, ave miles, where it seems to have
disappeared in the river, throwing large
volumes OF water to great height. This
clo1d did very little damage, but twas fol.
lowed few moments later by third
and more terrific one, which laid waste
buildings and trees and fences in
its path across the southern portion I, I the
city. 1t seems to have started near the
place OF the preceding ones, southwest OF
the city, and touching q portionIof the
suburb OF Armstrong.
Across the city, ut the stoCkyards, the
Exchange was unroofed, and other build
iugs damsged or destroyed. Then passing
on 1t struck the summit OF the bluh
which marks the western line OF the city
proper, at the corner Of Dripps and Six
teenth street. Moving sohtherIy, II passed
along between Fifteenth and Sixteenth
streets, veering slightly at times, The en-
tire progress, from the beginning OF the
first 10 the end Of the third cloud, occupied
about half an hour.
Loss OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.
At ll:30 O'Clock three deaths had been
reported and as many more not likely to
recover. Many persons are more or less
injured, but as reported only q few
dangerously. The loss OF prop
erty Ia now roughly estimated
at 100000. While none OF the finest
residences Of the city suffered, yet many
houses Of well.tod do citizens are RACED
and cottages and shanties innumerable
torn to pieces. The escape OF those in the
path Of destruction is marvellous, and sto-
ries Of almost miraculous delivery arc
beyond number. TheEnglish Lutheran,
Church, corner OF Oak and Fourth, a
brick building, was completely wrecked,
the walls seeming literally to fall into the
earth. But fifteen minutes before large
Sunday school gathered in the building
had been dismissed. Had the scholars
been within the church, the loss OF life
must have been fearful.
MIRACULOUS ESCAPES.
AT Fifteenth and Campbell streets jos
Ryan, a grocer, was, with his iamil., :
supper in the basement beneath the store
when the wind struck the building, blow
ing away everything above the ground floor
as though swept with broom.
None Of the family were hurt.
On the West Side a gentleman sitting
at window OF his residence was blown
through window on the opposite side Of
the room into the area below, and some
what hurt, went TO the assistance ofothers.
The damage by the first wind across the
country west OF Wyandotte was principally
to fruit farms, aud this loss is placed at
thirty Thousand dollars.
David Reed farmer, hurt, may not re-
cover. P. W. Matthews with Two year
old child in his arms was blown 800 feet
through the air and dropped unhurt. Mrs.
Smith and FIVE others Of the family while
sitting in a farm house, the build.
ing was lifted up and carried
over their heads. None were hurt.
VIM. Dudley's house was blown over
and caught FIRE and the wreck consumed.
A large number Of families are rendered
homeless, as many OF the houses are so dam.
aged as TO be considered unsafe until
repaired. Speedy shelter has been
provided for ali and Mayor Gibson has
Issued proclamation calling meeting Of
citizens TO. morrow evening for the organi-
zation Of systematic relief work.