The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-30
LIGHTNING'S WORK.
A POWDER MAGAZINE EXPLODED
by un Angry Flash from the ClOuds-TOr'
rlble Destruction Wrought to Property
and Llfe-Ths Shock Only Second
to that of an Earthquake,

CHICAG0, August SU,-AL D'lO OClocl
this morning in the midst OF heaV,
thunder storm the powder magazine be
longing to the Laaiu-RaHd Powder Uon
pany was struck by lightning, An ex
plosion followed which destroyed propert!
valued at $75, 900, besides killing one per
son almost instantly, fatally iRiurinl
three aud inaicting painful injuries ol
nearly twenty-five others.
The combined efforts Of hard-iough
battle, q cyclone and the witherIng in
luencs Of the lightning could not hsVepre
sented picture Of more object deaolRtior
and destruction than did the country To-
half mile in all directions from the ex
ploded magazine, The day had opened
gloomy. At o'clock rain began falling
Iuriously from immense banks OF clouds
Flashes OF lightning were soon chasing
each other across the whole Armanenl
until the heavens seemed abla2e, The
thunder was dea'ening, About O;l5 q
flash, which all agree was much brighter
than those preceding 1t, was followed by I
report that shook the greater part Of Cook
county. 1t was a sharp report, but, strange
to say, by most OF those who lived in tht
vicinity OF the explosion 1t was hardly dis
tinguishable from series OF thunder
Claps. All agree that there was tremen'
dons shaking Of the earth. Articles moi
stationary were thrown about as II they
were play toysin q giants hands. Men,
women and children were tossed around
at the will Of the terrible, relentless force
SCENE OF TuR CATASTROPHE.
The scene Of the catastrophe Ia about
two miles from the extreme southwestern
edge Of the city, near where the road set,
ties down into conventional country
highway. On one side wave great fields
OF ripening corn. On the other broad
stretch OF prairie runs for nearly mile in
all directions. On this are, or rather were
dozen plain but strongly built houses
with walls Of yellow brick, roofs ol
slate and strong iron doors. These
houses were magazines in which the bulk
Of the powder supply for Chicago was
stared. A few people OF the humber
class built their poor homes on the prairie
close to the warehouse containing the
deadly stuff and lived without fsar OF any
disaster from their proximity. Right il
the midst OF the magazines rose
the home Of NJ. J. Tieruey, Police
Magistrate OF the Town oi
Lake, in the limits OF which corporation
the warehouses stood. Tho house was
until to-day, an attractive looking dwell
ing, two stories high with a spacious yer,
anda In front, and surrounded by q num-
Der OF substantial outhouses. 1t over.
looked the Archer road, about forty feet
away. Three hundred feet northwest oil
the Tierney residence was little cottage
rudely built, surrounded by sheds, stables
and hog pens. The magazine OF the l.ailin
Rand Powder Company was one Of the
largest OF duzsn structures IN the neigh,
bornood. 1t was asubstantial brick build.
ing, 70x30 feet IN dimensions, with slate
roof and one iron door ol great strength,
The magazine was 800 feet east OF tue cot
tage OF j. q. Hughes and 700 feet from
the residence Of Mr.. Tierney.
THR EXPLOSION.
Just preceding the explosion q long
electric hamo seemed to burst from d
cloud directly over the Lallin- Rand maga.
zine. In an instant the air was filled with
flying missiles, masses Of brick and sheets
OF tin and large stones. Pieces Of timber
performed indescribable gyrations hun
dreds Of feet In the air, some falling back
close to points from which they started
while others shot oil through space with
frighttul velocity, only conforming 10 the
laws OF gravity after long flight. Stones
weighing from one hundred TO one hun
dred and fifty pounds were thrown into
fields miles from the sCene. Trees were
stripped OF their foliage, fences by the
mile were laid low, telegraph wires were
snapped like fragile threads aud tho prairie
bore seams as II OF thousand steam plows
Not a building within lnile OF the Uxplo.
sion escaped damage. The little cottage
OF John Guhl with its surrounding out.
houses was laid low, and in q moment
parts OF the exploded warehouse began
falling on the debris Of the cottage. Guhl'e
family consisted oil himself, his wife and
Carrie Hefnworth, II years OF age. The
latter was instantly killed, while Guhl
and his wife were dragged from the
ruins irightfully mutllated. Their horse
COW and swine wero all killed by the
conclusion and the bodies blown full Of
dirt, sand and powder. The ruins oI
9uhl's house Immediately took fire and
smoldering fragments burned out during
the day. The body Of Carrie Herdworth
presented q siCkening spectacle. Half the
most blown from their sockets and there
was a gaping hole in her forehead The
girls left arm was torn from the shoulder
The body was removed to the house o.
her uncle.
KILLED AND INJURED.
nLo ,lo.j o,J ,,,oIi,, i,,,,.,1- -