The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-21

by Mr.. W. NJ. Dunlap on his premises
at West Liberty, where the rain filed {
tub to depth Of GI inches, standing in
an open field, though some OF the water
was seen to splash out.
At Triadelphia the rainfall was So ter
rible that Capt. w. A. Mccoy, a well.
known resident Of that place, says that
while he was walking through the rain
with child in his arms he noticed the
child strangling, and had he not thrown
his coat over its head he believe it would
have drowned in the sheets OF descend
ing water.
4 story is also told by Captain Nc
Coy which as forcibly illustrates the
terrific character OF the rainfall. He
went into house to assist woman out.
When he entered there was about two
inches OF water on the road. AS he
came out three minutes later the water
was up TO his arm pits! The food come
down like an advancing wall.
When the Elm Grove train stopped
Just beyond the Woods run bridge,
there was little water, but before the
passengers could alight the cars were
surrounded by water.
SOME OF THE LOSSES.
It is impossible to give anything like
IN estimate OF the losses at this time.
Those who suffered cannot themselves
form an opinion OF what their loss will
be. The mud and debris is not cleared
Off their floors, and the wrecks OF their
houses have not been found. Then to
print list OF the losers would be, al
most, to print n directory OF the county
outside OF Wheeling. The INTELLIGEN-
GER Yesterday printed a very good list OF
the main losses in the city, whicE needs
no revision but some additions. Dr.
John W. Morris's office on the Twelfth
street was flooded three feet deep, and
he lost some valuable papers, including
Masonic documents he cannot replace.
The main loser will be the B. 4 o..
Railroad Company, which suffers dam
age variousIy estimated at from $3.50, 900
to $500, 900. The latter is probably nearer
the truth. The loss to the county, dis.
tricts and State on the National and
other roads, bridges, school houses and
other public property will reach S6O, ,OOO..
The Elm Grove Company loses ut least
$4,000. Mr.. Hutchinson, the Elm Grove
merchant, and Mr.. Kimmins, who own
ed the building in which his store was
located, will lose jointly at least 5000.
", r. Chambers & Co. lose 5000. II.
G. Hunter, brick manufacturer at Tria-
delphia, loses from Sl,4Q0 to $500 on
house and brick yard. An indefinite
list OF similar estimates might be made,
but in no case are the figures definite.
EXTENT AND CHARACTER.
The storm was not only unprecedented
in volume and destructiveness; it was
unique in its origin and character and
much interest to the student
Of meteorological phenomena. Its area
was about thirty miles in length by not
more than ten in brcadth-that is to say,
from point few miles beyond st.
Clairsvilie, across the river, to West
Alexander, beyond the Pennsylvania
State line, and from Benwood, on the
South, to Short Creek, on the North.
That SO great volume Of water fell over
SO wide an area in so short time will
probably be discredited by those who
make study OF storms. The statement
will doubtless he regarded as an exag-
geration; but il the scientific weather
observer could but see the traces OF the
work OF destruction he would doubt no
more.
The dwellcrs in the valley of Woods
run say the storm came from the north,
the roar of the waters up the valley be-
ing heard before the rain began to fall.
At Triadelphia, the people had their
attention attracted by the roar OF the
storm Off to the southwest before the
rain began, and warned by the ominous
noises, escaped to places OF safety. AT
Bellaire the storm is said to have come
from the southwest, while ut Portland,
on the Ohio side, up the river, the clouds
came from the northwest.
The fact is the storm was four distinct
storms which, each rivaling in volume
past storms Of magnitude, united into
one and sent their combined floods
upon the earth. Hence its volume and
fury. The clouds could be seen from
the city, with riffs cross.shaped between.
The sun shone in the space thus left for
n few minutes while the rain fell; then
the dark banks OF cloud rolled into one,
and with Il crash like that of artillery
tho storm broke md the floods came.