The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-08-25

1 A Terrible Disaster Along the
line Of the b. a. Olive
Lives Lost Near The Town
Of Neutrality-suspicious. and
Crops Swept Away.
Wheeling Register 18th.
The heavy storm which swept
over this city and the surrounding
country, between the hoursof II p.
m. and 2 q. m. on Monday night
expended itself mainly in heavy
thunder and vivid and frequent
flashes oflightning, very liltlerain
falling in the city proper, and not
a great deal in the surrounding
country, much TO the relief Of our
farmers, who have lately been sur.
feited with rain siormsot an I'm.
usual character. In the section Of
country lying between the BAlti.
mnre and Ohio railroad and the
I0bio river, extending as far east
along the road as Fairmont, and as
far south on the river as Point
Pleasant, the storm was general
and fearfully severe, resulting not
only in immense destruction TO
property Of all kinds, but in the
loss Of at least FIVE lives.
Early in the morning it became
rumored about the city that the
storm of the previous night had
wrought great havoc along the rail.
road, and during the entire day ru
mors were rife that lives had been
lost and the Baltimore and Ohio
seriously crippled through the loss
of bridges. Enquiry at the B. &
10. Office in this city confirmed
these rumors as far as the railroad
was concerned, il being stated that
at least two bridges were down, one
at Liltleton and the other farther
east, and that traffic between this
city aad Grafton was at a standstill.
The early train east, which leaves
this city at 5:25, and the Cumbcr.
land accommodation, at 7;35, were
compelled to go around by way of
Pittsburgh division to Glenwood,
and thence over the COnnellsville
line to Cumberland, while freight
trains were either side tracked, or
were compelled 10 go and come The
same way. Trough trains from
the east and west were also run
around by way of Pittsburgh, but
as the distance to Cumberland is
only about ten miles farther, by
way Of the Cnnnellsville road, than
it is over the main stem, no very
serious delays occurred, mails ar
irving generally but an hour or
two late.
The telegraph lines We're, Of
course, down all along the main
line Of the road, and it was with
extreme difficulty that any relia.
Die data could be obtained, the
railroad people themselves being in
about as much darkness us Outsid.
ers regarding the exact situation
along their line. EARLY in the
evening, however, the large force
Of repairers succeeded in restoring
communication by wire, and trust.
worthy reports from the scene Of
the disaster were soon ut hand, cor.
roboratiug and in some reports Ell.
larging upon the rumors previously
aAOat in this city.
The havoc wrought by the Gle.
ments seems TO have been greatest
in the northern part Of Marion
county, north Of the railroad, and
along the valley Of Buffalo creek
and its tributaries, in Warrington
district. Buffalo creek runs west
from a point on the Monongahela,
just north Of Fairmont, the country
being very rough and broken up
into numerous nurrow valleys
through which run streams vary.
ing in size from mere brooks to
mountain torrents Of considerable
volume, but all capable Of being
augmented to dangerous size by
heavy and sudden rains. One Of
these tributaries, locally known as
Duncard Mill run, enters Buffalo
creek from the north about two
miles east Of Pennington, and near
the little village of Barracksville.
On the hanks Of this stream, and
elevated hut a short distance above
its head, stOod the house Of John
SnOderly, the family consisting Of
husband and wife, six children,
and Mr.. Snoderly's aged mother
The storm broke over The locality
about eleven o'clock and ragged
with violence for an hour OF more,
when the descending . torrent Of
rain was suddenly increased many
fold, as though a watef.spOut had
burst in the vicinity, and q mo.
ment later The rushing stream by
the cabin door was changed into a
mighty food, sweeping before it
logs, brush, rocks, and all manner
Of debris.
The inmates Of the house heard
the approach Of the torrent, and
Mr. Snoderly, realizing that his
house was too close to the stream
to escape the descending flood,
seized four Of his children and
placed them on q table, and then
started with the remaining two TO
carry them To a place Of safety.
Just as he left ths house, however,
the torrent burst upon the building,
sweeping the unfortunate inmates
out Of The dwelling. The elder
Mrs, snoderly succeeded in selling
projection Of an outbuilding, and
held on until rescued, some hours
afterward, but the wife and her
four little ones were swept away,
and nil drowned Mrs. Snoderiv