The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-13
FIERCE THUNDER STORM
Accompanied by Heavy Wind
and Rain and Some Hail
RACES OVER THIS SECTION.
The Damage IN the City Slight, but
Grave IHiaEy to Property and one
Fatality Result In tho Coun-
try Barn Burned,

One OF the seYerest storms ever ex-
perienced in Wheeling and the vicinity
visited the country from Powhatan,
twenty-five miles south, to Martins
Ferry, on the north, and from st. Glars
vile, eleven miles west, toa considerable
distance east OF Wheeling, about D O'Clock
last night, and continued with undated
t~ierceness for perhaps half an hour, The
storm lasted till late In the night, but fora
time between 6and 7 o'clock as fierce
lightning, as terrific thunder, Us heavy
rain and as strong winds prevailed as
often visits this section OF country,
The storm was first observed In the
West, where 1t blaSkened the sky to
dense darkness, only relieved by jagged
streams OF vivid lire at intervals, 1t
came onward rapidly, and In five min
utea after the ominous signs were first
observable the rain was dashing on the
earth like particles OF solid matter, In
q short time hail began to fall mingled
with the rain. The stones were as large
as birds eggs, and struck against win
dows with threatening sharpness,
In the city the damage done was not
great. The most serious result was the
breaking or ~loosening, from what cause
can only be imagined, OF the cross wires
which support the conductors on the
electrical railroad. One ofthese on Main
street, lust south OF Fourteenth, parted,
letting the wires almost touch the tops
Of the cars, This delayed traffic seri.
ously all evening, and was q source Of
grave danger tothe employees. At Aotf'
mann's tannery, Centre Wheeling, q
number OF the cross wires let down. 1t
was said this resulted from pieces oil
bark blowing from the high piles upon
the wires.
The drawback to travel on the street
railway from these sources was most
serious, the men having to alight and
place the trollles on the wires by hand
as often as they came oil. The heavy
rain washed u huge bank Of earth and
stones upon the Baltimore 4 Ohio rail,
road track in tho Narrows, south o.
Benwood, catching the train from the
east there, which Is due here at 0:O5 p
M, and delaying 1t several hours. The
train was finally run back and trans
ierred to the Ohio River track al
Moundsville, and brought to the city
over that road, arriving about a. m.
As usual Wheeling escaped very for
~tunately, considering the damage
wrought by the storm al. other places
near by.
BARN BURNED.
About twenty minutes past six a Vivic
flush of lightning illuminated the west
erD sky Just over the brow OF the hill
back OF bridgeport. In a fOw moments
almost before the reverberaton Of thu
peal OF thunder following the first last
had ceNsed to sound, another broad trail
OF fire rent the cloud ut the same point
aud almost instantly, II seemed o brlgh'
, red fame sprang up on the crest OF thu
hill. At first 1t was hard totell from thu
city, whence hundreds O peOple watched
the fire, whether the fine, large residence
there, or the barn beyond 1t was burn
ing, but very soon the outlines OF thu
house were sharply marked against TIT
mass Of flame, showing the fire wa
beyond the house. 49,,
The barn was entirely destroyed, thu
fire continuing visible from the city. EoI
full hall hour. its contents Of hay
!, and other iniammRble stuff made I
stubborn blaze, 1t was a total loss, will
a horse, a COW, a wagon, sleigh and farm
implements. II was the property OF Mr.
lGbarles Adolph, who is a heater, EN-
icloyed at the EtBa mill, and lives OF
The hill top. The loss innsE he Grftt!
severe to him, as he had Just got thing!
fixed up in good shape. His loss viii
reach nj least $500, perhaps $1,000, and
iii thn inanrnnnn he had was S20l,