Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-05-29
THE STORM.
GREAT DAMAGE DONE IN ALL rHR SUR
ROUNDING COUNTRY, YESTERDAY
Several Lives Lost Across hs River, snd Along the
OhO-Buidings UnrOOisd and Crops Destroyed
But Little Harm Done In the City.

| Uh0-bplldlngS UnrVOloQ auu VisP' DS'
But Little Harm Done In the Ulty.
The storms of yesterday, while they dio
little actual damage in this city, extended
over a wide range of country, and in some
localities were very severe, damaging prop
srty to a large extent, and even causing
the lcss of several lives. A portion Of the
story of misfortune ia narrated in our teie-
graphic columns, in specials from Parkers-
burg, Clarksburg, Pr Pleasant, and else
where. while the loss occasionsd by the
elements in this city and vicinity IL
duly recorded below. Very fortunate
ly, this city seems to have missed getting
the full force of either the afternoon or
evening storms, the weight OF the former
| apparently passing south of town, while
the latter went north. Neither storm
seems to have extended over very wide
extent of country. In fact, there were, ap-
parently, series of local thunder storms,
extending along the river from Huntington
To steubenyille or Pittsburgh. These
outbursts, small in individual area, were
often going on simultaneously in several
localities, bat in NO place did they con-
tinue long.
The first outbreak in this city occurred
about two o'clock in the afternoon, and for
twenty minutes or so, rain felli torrents
On the north side of the creek little hail
fell, the amount increasing as one went
south, and in the Eighth ward there was
very respectable hail storm, the stones
rafting against window psnes rightlively.
but doing no particular damage, On the
Island the brisk wind which accompanied
this storm caught the big tent OF Clement
& Russells circus, which is located at the
suspension bridge, and ripped the canvas
open in lively manner. The audience
were wet good bit, and the performance
was abruptly terminated.
This afternoon storm was heavily dis
counted, however, by that which came up
from the west about six O'Clock IN the eve
ming. This storm came down the valley OF
Wheeling creek, on the Bridgeport side OF
the river, and from the northwest, and the
heavens had a particularly forbidding
aspect for time, the sky putting on an
ominous dark green tint, while
the clouds were driven toward the east
with great velocity. The lower edge OF
the storm was sharply defined, and it
looked as though no rain fell at this time
a couple of miles or so below the city.
The wind was very violent, and the
foil force of this was felt upon
the Island, where shade trees suffered
severely, o plumber being badly broken.
Several big trees in the orchard district
were also broken down. The rainfall was
heavy, and the capacity of the sewers all
over the city were taxed to the utmost.
The pressure proved too much for the old
sewer on Eof' street, between Eighteenth
and Nineteenth streets, and 1t caved in,
making big opening in the street. The
storm passed straight across the city, and
on up Wheeling creek, and in some locali-
ties, Judging by the drift which came down
the creek about half.past seven o'clock, it
must have been pretty violent.
Up the river, even at 80 small distance
as Martins Ferry, the storm was moro
severe than in this city, and about New
Cumberland and Steubenville a good deal
of loss resulted. At New Cumberland the
Presbyterian Church was unroOfed. At
Steubenville Huscroft's green house, west
of the town, was unrOOied, and the col
tents badly damaged. Several farm houses
and barns in the surrounding country Were
also partially destroyed, and many
orchards were severely handled by the
wind. In Steubenville proper several
houses were damaged.
"A rumor was current last evening
throughout the city, that the vicinity OF
Toronto was swept by n cyclone, but hap
PLY the report had no foundation in fact,
the storm there not being more severe than
elsewhere along the Valley.
The Western Union Telegraph Company
had many wires down going out OF this
city, but business was not seriously de-
layed.
-.
At BeilaIre.
An accident, which will result in the
death of Webster Costello, occurred in the
B. & o. yards during the storm yesterday
afternoon. Mr.. Costello ia section hand,
and was working with others on q gravel
train. He took shelter under freight Car
during the hard rain. In the thickest OF
the shower an engine moved the car. Cos
tsllo, being unable to get from under, was
caught by the trucks, and his left leg and
arm passed under the wheels Of several
cars. The leg is severely bruised at and
below the knee, while the arm is almost
severed near the shoulder. DR.. G. E. Kurz.
the B. & o. physician, attended him, and
he is being kindly cared for
at the National House. The physician is
of the opinion that both the leg and arm
will have to come Off The wounded man
must have been dragged considerable
distance, as he has painful bruises about
the head and body. Blood oozss from his
eyes and nose, and il is feared he Is hurt
internally. Castillo is q single man, and
lives with his parents at Burton's Station.
1t is likely that he will die, but there is
some hope OF his recovery.
Lightning struck ST. Johns rectory and
went down chimney without doing much
damage, except burning some woodwork
slightly.
At Martins Ferry.
At about six o'clock last evening, most
terrific rain storm broke over the city, and
in very few minutes streets, cellars and
low places throughout the town were
flooded. Hanover street, at the railroad,
was covered with gravel to depth Of three
or four feet, and below that the street was
filled from sidewalk to sidewalk with
raging torrent. The water broke through
the back door of Alex. Linn's saloon and
flooded the bar, while sll the cellars on
the lower fiat contained more or less water.
Back in the neighborhood Of Chas. Sea-
bright's home, the lanes and fields were
deluged. The run which crosses Fifth
street extended, washed away the
boardwalks and the bridge. and
carried everything before it to
the railroad. In the country the corn |
fields are terribly tron mp, especially where |
located on hillsides. Glenn's run over