The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-07-27
NEWS AND GOSSIP.
A FATAL CLOUDBURsT.

A FATAL CLOUDBURST.
The greatest disaster which eve
befell Little Kanawha valley il
West Virginia, occurred on th'
night of the 18th inst. It came in
the shape of a terrible cloudburst
which completely flooded the val
ley, destroying many lives, carry
ing off thousands of dollars in prop
erty, and running crops for miles.
The deluge fell about dark and con
tinued to come down in torrents fol-
several hours, doing much damage
to the city of Parkersburg. The
worst of the storm was on the lower
side of the Kanawha, filling the
small tributaries from bank to bank.
In three hours the river raised six
feet, and ran out with such velocity
that it carried everything before it.
Three lives were lost near Peters
burg. In the valley all fences, crops
and much live stock were destroyed,
more than half the dwellings were
carried off bodily and landed in the
corntields. In Clay district fine
church and several houses were
wrecked. Several steamers on the
river We're also wrecked. The worst
story of all comes from Morristown,
q small village near the head of
Sucker creek, where the cloudburst
concentrated all it's fury, and came
down on the village about midnight.
totally destroying it and many of
its inhabitants. First reports gave
the number of lives lost as eleven,
but later news indicated much
greater number as having been lost.
The houses were picked up and
hurled against each other in such
short space Of time that there was
no chance for the people to escape.
Pond creek, in Jackson county,
rose ten feet in an hour, as the
result of the cloudburst there. The
water spread from hill to hill and
carried all before it. Four men
took refuge in a mill, the mill was
washed away and all were drowned.
Thomas Black and his newly we'd
ded wife were washed from their
home and persisted. The loss to
property is immense and will run
up into the millions.
NoV DIVIDED By DEATH.
A pathetic story comes from
Rockford. H., of an aged couple,
Mr.. and Mrs. George j. Lassmelch,
each over rs years Of age, who have
been in poor health for some time.
Lately they got on a street car
and went to the end of the line,
walked to the river and jumped in.
The bodies were recovered the next
lay four miles delow the city. The
only cause known for the double
suicide is old age and poor health.
STRUCK By LIGHTNING.
Lightning has been very disas-
.rous in some parts of the north
vest this season. Last Saturday
lightning struck the house of Sam
lel Layster in Whitewood, Dakota,
turing a heavy storm. A son of
Lsyster, aged % years, was instant
y killed. The house caught fire
and was totally consumed together
With all its contents. A small child
vas severely shocked by the same
stroke of lightning that killed its
brother, but it will probably recover.
4 bolt descended at Fort Mead and
wrecked the school house occupied
~ the government. Several head
# stock were also killed on the
ange near the same place. News
20 mes from Bismarck, Dakota, of a
Rild, terrorizing scene that was wit
,essed near Standing Rock agency
ate in the afternoon of the 18th
nst., when terrific thunderstorm
vas at it's height. The lightning
Vas darting in vivid sheets in every
Erection, and had struck several
lines near by. The Indians were
Vild with fright and rushed bowling
nd whooping in AFFECT terror to
be shelter of their wigwams. AT !
ast a binding fash of lightning
ccompanied by a deafening clap
t thunder, came down and actually
hook the earth. The lightning
truck a wigwam q few rods below
he agency, in which were huddled !
We frightened Indians, instantly !
illing White Horse and Black Ea-
le and injuring another so that he
ill not recover. The other two
'ere 80 severely shocked that they 8
'ere unconscious for hours. Re-
orts from many widely separated
oints in Montana and Dakota re- .
ort severe storms on the same :
ate, 18th. The weather has been !
hot in places, and crops !
re burned up by the heat; in 9TH :
rs they were destroyed by water.
he streams were said to be rising
nd serious overfows were feared. :
. heavy thunderstorm occurred at :
cincinnati, Ohio, on the 10Th and
CODED a portion Of the city. The
|hio canal broke at York street and {:
number of persons were rescued