The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-08
FATAL CLOUD BURST.
West Virginia Devastated by a
Furious RainstOrm.
Many Lives Lost and a Vast
Amount Of Property Destroyed.

Never since the disastrous flood Of August,
1866, has Wheeling, W. Va, been visited by
such tremendous rainfall as occurred on
Friday evening. The storm commenced at
10 o'clock at night and ceased at in the
morning. There were number OF deaths
from lightning at that time, and not less
than twenty-five drowned. OF these ten were
lost in the Caldwell Run, eight were drowned
at or near Triadelphia and West Alexandria,
in the eastern part of the county, one near
Bridgeport, on the Ohio side of the river,
one, ex-Sherif Kemp, Of Marshall county,
near Benwood, w. Va, and two or more on
lower end Of this city. The destruction OF
property exceeded half a million Of dollars.
The limits of tho storm are sharply defined,
commencing in the neighborhood Of lCadiz,
Ohio, it swept in path about twenty miles
wide in a southeasterly direction through
Mount Pleasant and st. Clairsvllle, on
through Bridgeport, Bellaire and Martins
Ferry, where it crossed the Ohio to Wheel.
ing; on through Elm Grove, Clinton and
Triadelphia to West Alexandria, on the
Pennsylvania line, where it spent its force.
The storm broke over Wheeling, w. Va,
about o'clock, and rain came down
in sheets. There was no let up until 7:3O, tit
full showers, however, coming up afterward.
1t was not long until the streets were like
rivers and the cellars Of dwellings and busi-
ness houses flooded. After the storm was
over it was one swelling tide OF wrecks, and
when the moon finally shone out about lO
o'clock it looked upon a terrible scene of
disaster.
The most frightful effects Of the storm
were experienced on Caldwelrs Run. The
narrow channel of this stream made the rush
ing water an irresistible flood, sweeping
everything before it. During the rush Of the
waters the Market street iron bridge and
Main street stone bridge were crowded with
1t was an appalling sight and at the same
time fascinating. The Baltimore and Ohio
wooden bridge, just below, soon became
an object of interest as the sweeping
flood was leaping against it with terrific
force, and its timbers cracking beneath the
strain. A large crowd gathered at this
bridge; and in spite of warnings many per.
once and without warning the bridge was
swept away, and above the sullen roar of the
water and the cracking of the timbers could be
heard crics Tor help from those who were car
ri., away with the bridge. A number who
clung to pieces of timber were swept into the
river in the twinkling Of an eye, and resi-
dents Of the island opposite the mouth of the
creek plainly heard the cries Of distress as
they drifted down the Ohio. More than
twenty persons per1shed on this structure.
The greatest disaster occurred on Caldwell's
Run, where ten persons lost their lives and
large amount Of property destroyed. The
run is very crooked, and the flood as it swept
through the city toward the river was
churned into foam. Two bridges were swept
away and about five miles up tho run six
houses were washed away or rather were
! - g. -&, lxy% %t,a ko,, IL
OF the current that suddenly swept down on
them.
The destruction at Triadelphia was more
appalling than anywhere else. Fifteen fami-
lies are homeless and saved nothing but what
they had on. Half this village Of GOO in
habitants was swept away, but many Of the
residents escaped to the hills
William CASTOR, aged sixty years,
wealthy and prominent man who owned the
famous CASTOR Orchard, was drowned, as
was his wife. Mrs Gatson's remains were
found near Elm Grove, two miles below her
ruined home, and were hanging over
a barbed wire fence when dis
covered The body of Charles Caulbell,
aged fifty, was found among some
driftwood Mrs. Jane Fay, wife Of Moses
Fay, and her two daughters Alice and Belle,
both Of whom were grown up, were found
dead near Elm Grove. The bodies Of two
brothers named German, both young men,
were recovered in meadow where they had
been hurled by the furious waters.
The whole farming country was denuded
of crops, and in many cases the soil was
washed away over large tracts. Hundreds
of heads Of live stock we're drowned, and the
desoation is general over a total area Of
about 300 square miles. The railroads, the
Baltimore and Ohio, Cleveland, Lorain
and Wheeling, Ohio River, ST. Clairs-
vile and Northern st. Clairsville, Southern
and Pittsburg, Wheeling and Kentucky, lose
heavily. The Baltimore and Ohio, between
Wheeling and West Alexander, Penn, has
nine bridges washed away.