Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-07-25
WHEELING DELUGED.
BY A TERRIFIC CLOuD RTrRsT
life and property DESTROYED.

RAILROAD TREsTLE BRIDGE GIVES WAY
WITH MANY PEOPLE ON 1T-uorrsro
SWEET FROM THEIR FOUNDATIONS.
Especial Dispatch to the Baltimore snr1
| WHEELING, w. VA, July 2O-Tba
cloudburst, which occurred here last even
ing about 8 O'Clock, was most appalling and
for nearly two hours rain and hail fell until
the city and the surrounding country were
Hooded. Creeks and rivers were swollen
beyond their banks, houses carried awav
and lives lost The best estimates of the
loss of life make not less than twenty. three
drowned. Of these ten were lost at Cald-
wells run, eight were drowned at and near
Triadelphia and West Alexander: one in
the eastern part of the county, near
Bridgeport, on the Ohio side of the river;
one, ex-Sheriff Kemp of Marshall county.
near Benwood, w. Va, and two or more on
Whisky run, on the Ohio side, opposite the
lower end of this city. This list of dead is
being constantly added to, and several
cemeteries were washed out and bodies
encased in collins swept out to the river.
The destruction of property is not so great
reach in tho neighborhood of 81, 500, 900.
The wooden trestle of the Pittsburg
Division of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road over Wheeling creek, at Main street,
gave way about half-past nine O'Clock.
There were a number of men and boys on
| it when it fell, and they were carried down
with the wreck. Many were picked up by
men in skiffs at points below the bridge,
aud tugboat saved many more. There
were at least % people on the bridge when
it gave way, and some of them were prob
ably drowned. Several chung to timbers
until rescued. Some of those on the bridge
were doubtless strangers in the city, at
tracted by curiosity, and their absence is
not noticed. So far as can be definitely
known there were four men and three boys
not since heard from on the bridge when it
went down. The Is year-old son of Daniel
Richie and IL. year.old boy named Eddie
| Hathaway are missing.
The loss of life in this city is known to
be ten, with a number reported missing.
Caldwell's run, which passes through the
eighth ward of this city. was the scene of
the greatest havoc. Three houses were
swept away and all the inmates were drown
ed. They were Mrs Barbara Stencil and
son, Herman Stencil; Alice and Annie
Vingert, of Miltonsburg, Ohio, nieces of
Mrs. Stencil, John Holman, and Mrs. Thos.
Hawley and four children. Her husband
was in the yard and was swept one hundred
yards down the stream, but managed
to reach the bank in safety. Only two
bodies have been recovered. Alice Vingert
and Mrs. Stencil.
The destruction at Triadelphia was more
appalling than anywhere else. Fifteen
families are homeless, and saved nothing
but what they had on. Half this village Of
600 inhabitants were swept away, but all
who did not escape to the hills were lost.
| Where the Triadelphia sehoolhouse, large
building of six rooms, stood, the creek is
now raging flood, and not vestige of
even the foundation remains. The whole
south half of the to Wn has disappeared as
clear as if it never existed. A search this
morning resulted in the discovery of a num-
Der of bodies at and near Triadelphia. The
body of William GastoR, aged go years, a
prominent and wealthy citizen, was found
near Elm Grove. His wife's remains were
found two miles below Elm Grove, hanging
on barbed wire fence. Charles Caulbell,
OF the Wheeling News Letter. aged 40 was
found among the driftwood. Mrs. Jane
Fay and her two grown-up daughters
Alice and Mary--were discovered a short
distance below Triadelphis, and the bodies
OF two brothers, named German, were
| found in meadow, where they had been
hurried by the furious waters. Mrs John
son, widow. aged 60 years, residing at
Cllnton, QleQ from fright.
The storm extended sixteen miles east of
West Alexander, Pa, and the scene all along
the way is one of desolation and inoonesiy-
able horror.
The Wheeling relief committee, which
recently raised funds for the Rowlesburg
sufferers, expended the balance for provi-
sions and sent them to Triadelphia.
reports are coming in from all parts of
Ohio county this morning, indicating that
the storm was more disastrous to life and
property in the country than in this city.
1t cannot be stated at this hour how many
lives have been lost.
The Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad, Pitts
burg Division, is practically destroyed for
10 miles. The Western Union Telegraph
Company lost 40 miles of it's wire and most
of the poles.