The Portland daily press., 1888-07-21
HORRIBLE SCENES IN WEST VIRGINIA.
The Dead In Their coffins Floating
Away.
And the Living Torn from Their
crumbIIng Homes
Latest Particulars About the Great
Cloud Burst.

WHEELING, w. Va, July 20.-Authentic
reports from Triadelphia, near here, show
that the destruction wrought there by the
where else. Fifteen families are homeless.
They saved nothing. Half the village Of
six hundred inhabitants has been swept
away, but all the residents except those
drowned escaped to the hills.
The storm extended sixteen miles east Of
West Alexander, Pa. All along its way Is
desolation and inconceivable horror. Where
the Triadelphia school house stood, the creek
is now raging flood. Not yestage even Is
found Of the school house. The whole
south half of the town has disappeared, as
clean as If it never had existed.
The Baltimore Il Ohio Railroad. Pittsburg
division, is practically destroyed for 10 miles.
The Western Union Telegraph Company
lost forty miles Of wire and most OF its
poles.
Reports coming in from all parts Of Ohio
county, indicating that the storm was more
disastrous TO life and property in the country
than the city. 1t cannot be stated how many
lives were lost. The loss in this city Is
known TO be ten, with a number reported
missing. Caldwell run, which passes
through the eighth ward, was the scene OF
great havoc. Three houses were swept
away and all the members drowned. They
were Mrs. Barbara Stencil. her son, Herman
Stencil, Alice and Annie Wingert, OF VIII
lonsburg Ohio, Mrs. jain Homan, Mrs.
Thomas Hawley and four children. uer
husband, who was In the yard, was swept a
hundred yards down the sstream, but man
aged to reach the bank Only two bodies
were recovered There was great damage at
Elm Grove, Triadelphia, the drowned at
these points being Mrs. Jane FOye and her
two daughters, William CASTOR and wife;
Mr.. Caulbell and two young men uamed
Bowman. Mrs. johnson, a widow, aged
60, residing in Clinton, this county, died
from fright.
A later despatch says that 20 persons are
known to be drowned. Among the numbers
Is the Sheriff Of Marshall county.
Two cemeteries were washed out and the
coffins with the bodies in them fi0ated down
the river
A visit to the scenes Of. the flood shows
that the work Of destruction has been but
feebly portrayed. Language cannot do JUS
tice to the ruin and desolation east Of the
city from Elm Grove, almost to the West
Alexandria line. The Pittsburg Division
will have practically to be rebuilt from Elm
Grove to the State line. Six large and costly
bridges are washed away, the track is lifted
from the road bed and twisted into all con-
ceivable shapes. At some places it Is impos
sibe to discern where the road has been.
Several Of those who went down with the
Baltimore Il Ohio bridge over Wheeling
Greek at Main street were doubtless strang-
ers and their absence is not noticed. -Four
men and three boys on the bridge when it
went down have not since been heard from.
The revised list Of the persons who perished
shows total of 10.
The fall Of water from 6 to 6.55 D. m.
Thursday by gauge at Triadelphia was 6g
inches. 1t is Impossible to give any details
of the losses tonight. The sufferers cannot
estimate their own loss Every resident of
low grounds in the entire valley has suffered
damage ranging from 500 to $4,000, while
even those on the hills lost valuable crops,
fences, etc. The b. Il o. Company's loss
will reach S35O.O00 at the lowest estimate
The county's loss on roads, bridges and
schoolhouses will be 100000 The loss Of ten
other concerns, including the city. foot uI
g47. ZOO