West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-08-30
A CYCLONES PATHWAY.
1t Cuts n Terrible Swath Along
the Atlantic Coast.
A Deluge Destroys Many Lives
and Much Property.

A terrific cyclone or water spout wrought
terrible havoc in the vicinity OF Wilmington.
Del, and its force extended as far as Wheel
ing, w. Va, whore great damage was done
by flood that resulted from this cause. The
cyclone originated at Stnl Pond. Md
krebb's cannery at that place was totally
destroyed 10y the cyclone at o'clock in the
afternoon. Nine persons were killed ont.
right and many others wounded. The wrec tx
took fire hat was soon put out. The other
damages there is great
The storm came from the southwest and
cut n direct limo for tho northeast liz was
next seen about four miles south of Whining
ton, Del. The path OF the cyclone was not
over two hundred yards wide There were
several strata OF clouds, which seemed TO be
no higher ulan the tree tops. They came on
with terriiic roar. like that OF distant thun
der or the Noise made by a train passing over
abridgo The first place which it is known
TO have struck is the country blacksmith
shop OF Theodore Bruce Bruce had eaten
his supper and hal gone To close his shop
when tho storm struck, and in few seconds
hardly q vestRe Of tho building remained. A
falling beam hit Bruce and crushed his skull
killing him instantly
Az Jonesville, ono person was killed and
seven were seriously wounded while n largo
number wcro badly wounded The danger
ously wounded are VIM Turner, blacksmith; ;
Mrs David Lentz, a farmers wife: the three
year-old child OF Charles Cathcart; James
McNih, coachman; Charles Cathcart labor
er. and two children named Foster.
The cyclone then continued i'm a straight
course, tearing up everything in It's way
Trees were torn up by tho roots, crops com
p!otely destroyed. aud nothing but sad
wnStc and scattered debris remnin
The beautiful residence OF General j. II.
Wilson, near Wilmington, although IL was
completely hidden in a cluster of trees wns
moved down like grass IL razed 20 the
ground large barn belonging 20 Mrs. Rog-
ors. a widow. Somo fine booded cattle were
killed, and Mrs. Rogers coachman was sori-
ously in iurcd
About n quarter OF mile distant from
here IL struck cluster o, three houses within
"a couple OF hundred yards OF each other
One was occupied by David I.entz, a trucker;
another by William Turner, blacksmith
and n third 10y family named Foster.
These houses were NIL shattered as though
mere egg shells Tho debris flew through
tho air. AMI was scattered about a milo
away Tho furniture, bedding and house
ho'd goods were taken up by the whiring
wind 0nd carried miles away. Turner was
fatally in .ure1, Gnd tho wife OF Lentz and
two OF the Foster household are seriously
hurt. The storm was then half a mile from
The outskirts of Wilmington.
After sweeping through n beautiful wood,
making n swath as with a scythe. IL struck
the big roling'mill owned by the Lobdell
Car w heel Company This mill, though un-
occupied. was stored with valuable machin-
cry and ready 30 start up at any time Moth
ing but the ilY-whcel could be seen standing
after the storm passed The loss thore Is
estimated at 500 TO S1OO0O OF
two frame tenement honses that stood on
the opposite side OF the road hardly vestige
remains 90 show that they ever existed
Charles Cnthcart, who lived in one, saw the
storm approach and ran out of the house
with his little child in his arms. He was
struck and fclled 20 the ground by piece OF
lying debris, and was seriously hurt about
the face and head. In falling he crushed the
child fatally.
The wifoof Tom Hamilton, who lived in
the adjoining house, escaped from tho build
ing. but just before tho storm reached her
she lay fiat on the ground with her children
underneath her and escayol unn .uret. The
cyclone next came within few hundred
yards Of striking tho steamer Brandy
wine, which was just coming from Phia-
delphia, loaded with passengers. 10 did hit
s.oop, londed with truck, and landed IL
high and dry on the bank After wre,king
n new bnTn IL passed over tho Delaware
River, where IL raised the water to the height
OF n three5tory brick houso.
10 cOnitnu sd its course over into New
Jersey, though 10 lost much Of its force in
the Delaware River. IL first struck the
Salem on. J.l brick works, which were
nearly demolished by the funnel-shaped
whiriwind The high smokestnck was blown
over aud nearly all the bull ling swept away.
The cloud then took a north westerly course,
growing crops TIE damage in that
county will amount TO many thousand
dollars
The cyclone seems 10 have extended in an
opposite direct on, and In West Virginia IL
caused n waterproof that inflicted serious i'm .
jury, and for the third time within six weeks
the Upper Ohio Valley suffers from a food
which has done fully 100000 worth OF
damage, but which, thanks 20 the slow rising
OF tho watcr. resulted in no loss Of human life.
as before, th3 railroads suffered grent dam
nge not less than six bridges on the line OF
tho Pittsburgh Division Of the Baltimore and
Ohio Road being missing i'm one county alone.
The bridges at West Alexander. at the Penn
sylvauia State line went ont ~ o'clock, and
were followed in half nn hour by three bridges
at Triadelphin A. O'Clock the iron bridge
at Film Grove, five miles from Wheeling.
went away. and almost nt the same time toe
big Baltimore and Chic bridge, Wheeling
collapsed with n crash which could be heard
Tor blocks At O'Clock tho big stone bridge
acrOs the creek on the line Of Main street.
an but ten yards cast Of the ra lrOad bridge
ast mentioned above went down.
1's bridge was built i'm 1912 aud
was ono Of tho landmarks of tho citv.
and with 10 went the Electric Motor
Hnci the H,iuch water mnin and the natural
an artificial gas limos. cutting OF rs. 900 peo.
pc fron light, fuel. and water on the south
side. The naturn gas mains were also
brck outside the city. and the whole popu.
lntion was without fuel OF this description.
AZ Elm Grove, W. Va. evory house was
submerged AMI the loss will rea n f2J. 600
The streams were nll higher than ever before