The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-21
to have pointed out to them the site o
the homes the dead had occupied.


boy and three girls.
Mrs. Barbara Stencil, widow aged
about Is.
Herman Stencil, her son, popular
young dairyman known to number OF
prominent citizens who were Ibis patrons.
Misses Alice and Annie Wingert, OF
Ohio, aged 10 and q years
respectively, who were visiting Mrs.
Stencil, their aunt.
John Holman, who lost-liis lie while
making heroic effort to assist the
Stencils.
1t was reported Thursday night and
early yesterday morning that John Bow
man, II well known resident OF the run,
was among the drowned, but before noon
il was reported on good authority that
he had been seen and talked to.
Diligent inquiries made rs to any
losses OF life above the toll house failed
TO elicit any news OF other deaths and it
is believed that the ten named consti-
tute the roster of the dead up CaldwelPs
run.
Mr.. Howley narrowly escaped the
same sad fate that befel his family. At
the time the waters began to surround
his house he stepped out and went TO
the stable in the rear for the purpose
OF releasing COW so that it might have
n chance for its life.
HOwley expected that possibly his
stable might be carried away, but 1t
never occurred to him as ut all likely
that his house would go.
AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE,
He had released his COW and was about
to wade back to his house when there
was roar and torrent OF water look
ing like wall, and dashing up waves as
high and threatening as those Of the
ocean came rushing down. There was
crash and his house melted away in
the turbid food before his very eyes.
Scarcely had this occurred when he was
sucked into the current. After hard
fight with the swift and cruel stream he
managed to gain footing on the bank
one hundred yards below. He was
taken in charge by friends, but he is in
half-crazed condition, and mourns for
his loved ones in truly pitiable man
ner. Howley formerly worked in the
| MIL III DtllNuuu, HuJ VI lNlG A4S llllS bSELA
employed ut the l.aBelle.
The farm houses occupied by the
Hawleys and Stencils stood close to-
gether on the south side OF the run, a
short distance east OF McCOlloch street.
The Hawley house went TO pieces as
soon as the first great wave struck it.
The Stencil house swung from its foun-
dations and iloatcd down about one
hundred feet, where it lodged for Il few
seconds, then was lifted on another
great swell that came from above and
Instantly crumblcd
HoHMAX's DEATH.
1t was while the house was lodged
awaiting its complete destruction that
Holman attempted to go from his house
to the assistance OF the Stencils. lie
was th0 only one in his home excepting
n little girl, whose name was not learn
ed, whom he had called in out OF the
rain when it commenced, she having
been passing ut the time. It's supposed
that lie felt safe in leaving her in the
I house alone, US the building is astrougty
constructed one and had bravcly with.
stood the shock OF the first swell, the
only damage that was done being the
carrying away oil his kitchen, q small
out building. :,
Hohman's wife and small child arc
visiting friends in the country. Word
was sent to them yesterday OF the Gu
lamity that had hciallen them.
The body OF Alice Wingur was found
In lot OF rubbish near the Eoh street
crossing late Thursday night, and early
yesterday morning the body OF Mrs
Stencil was recovered in another pile o.
broken timbefs near the i. q o. shops
Both bodies were taken to the under.
taking establishment of Philip thinner
man, where Coroner Schultz held in
quests. James Fitzgerald, who wit
messed the awful death these uniortu
mates met, gave his story. practically ~
the circumstances related aboYc, and {
verdict was found in accordance there
with.
THE suDDESNESs OF THE CHANGE.
The devastating stream that causct
such sad hayoG along the valley became
such in less than one hours time. From
Gniet, sparkling stream, ripping DYE
rocks, it swellCd TO \ mighty river iron
one hundred to one hundred and fifty
Yards wide and from ten to twenty fee
| IN depth, that rushed to the river Will
an angry roar, carrying almost every
thing before il. II seemed to touch ant
wash the base Of the hills that line boil
sides OF the narrow valley, while tht
waters appeared to haye 4 peCulial
swirling motion that licked up every
thing it touched.
Those who watched the torrent IRON
safe points explain this appearance ant
much OF the destruction in this manner
They saw that commencing ut the bridg,
leading into Mt. Zion's cemetery ant
even iurthep ont it was almost in
yariably the case that The drift wOulC
clog under and on the bridge, thus
forming dam, The rise was SO rapiC
that in no time there would be back o
this dam an immcnse body Of water
Suddenly there would be snap, thl
bridge abutmcnts and drift would dis
appear and tho water would go GU
through the passage thus made, sucking
everything that was movable after it
In places this suction was such thaJ the
hard pike road vas left without an inch
OF the two or three feet af the maclda'
miss Of which it was composed. The
cost to the county in repairing this, uI
important road, and replacing the
bridges will be enormous, and is likel!
to result in the leyying Of an eStr'
special tax.
DESTITUTE FAyIILIEs-A DESERVING CASE
The people living along the run as faI
back as tbs Mt. Zion cemetery are fol
the most part working people with bu
small means apd many months TO feed
The cottages In which they live were
with but few exceptions within reach Of
the angry waters and the dwellings that
we're not more or less damaged were few
and laF between. There were other
houses that we've destroyed rs were
IIowley's and StenzeFs, but the occu'
pants were fortunate enough TO escape
with their lives. They saved nothing
else, however, and their present condi'
tIop il one well meritlnG kindly
| charity,