Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-13

great masses Of foam, causing waves
three or four feet high. The water
soon invaded the excavation Tor the
abutmentS Of the new bridge, and cut
away the bank at the northwest corner
of the temporary wooden bridge until
the sidewalk sank about foot, and
compelled the authorities TO prohlols
travel over the west sidewalk OF the
bridge. Police were stationed
there to warn people away,
and about 10 o'clock officers went
down aud drove the spectators oil the
b. & O. treStle, warning all present
of the danger of the structure going
out. The stream seemed TO be cutting
into the soft bank of underground on
the south side Of the creek, and fears
were expressed that not only the Il. ~
O. bridge, but also the Goshorn prop
erty might be undermined and carried
off. Up TO 10 o'clock the darkness pre-
vented the large c0ncOurSe Of spectators
from getting very satisfactory view
of the water, but at that hour the. cleo
tric lights were rugged up, and thence
/ forth the view was Il grand one. An
enormous amount of drift went down,
among other things being many shocks
of corn fodder. and dozens OF big yellow
pumpkins were seen gliStening in the
electric light, thousands in all being
carried into the river, indicating That
much bottom land had been flooded far
lup the creek. There were rumors diloat
| in the city, during the early evening,
/ that there had been loss OF lie al
| Elm Grove, and that the big iron bridge,
mt the Iniirmary. had been carried away,
but enquiry at Elm Grove proved that
these stories were without foundation
/ in fact. The flood came mostly out oil
| Little Wheeling creek, reports from
| Elm Grove up TO ten o'clock stating
that the big creek was not very high,
/ although there were apprehcnSionS that
| II would come out heavily during the
night. The big creek must have come
out heavily after that hour, for at 1870
this morning the creek was still rising
lat Main street, and large quantities oil
heavy drift was going out. Is. " o.
bridge No. lSi. at or near Triadelpha,
was carried away, and the PlttSbnrg eX-
cursion train, which pulled out from
| this city about seven o'clock. was COM
pelled to come back, after reaching Elm
Grove.
At quarter of three this morn
/ ing the creek was higher than at any
time during the night, and DRIFT was
running very heavy.
There was bad break in the line OF
the L. Il O., at Benwood, and the
train was stopped on the Bellaire
bridge. where It was compelled 20 re-
main for several hours, while the break
was temporarily repaired. No reports
/ have been received up TO eleven O'Clock
from the other railroads in this vicin-
ity, but they undoubtedly suffered
through the washing out of culverts
and from landsideS. Most of these
| breaks will doubtless be repaired by this
morning and trains running as usual.
All the other streams in the vicinity
Of the city, such rs RoggS' run. Me-
Mechen'S run, ,lim'S run, WhiSley run,
Woods run, and the streams generally
on the Ohio side of the river, ran out
with great force, doing much damage to
farmers along their banks, reports Of
which will hardly get In for day or
two.
Quite n serious accident occurred at
the residence of Mr.. Reuben Ochsenbein,
Mt the west end of Bridgeport, resulting
from the flood. 4 large quantity OF
water, from small stream in the vicin-
ity of the house, ran into the cellar, ana
after the rain was over Mr.. OchSenbein
and his son Charley, the latter aged
about eighteen, went down to see what
damage had been done. Mr.. OchSenbein
stood on the steps, while his son went
into the cellar. a large can OF gasoline
was kept in the cellar, and this had been
leaking, the stuff flowing ont on the sur
face of the water, where IL generate
large amount of iGilammaDle gas.
When the boy went into the
cellar with the light there
was violent explosion, and Charley
was burned frightfully about the head,
neck aud hands, his wounds being very
painful. A physician was sent for, and
then Mr.. OchSenbein went into the col
lar himself with light, although much
of his hair and mouStache had been
Singed off by the first explosion. n see
ond explosion followed this visit, and
Mr.. Ochsenbein was burned fully as bad
Is as his son, neceSsitating the services
of a physician. The house was set on
fire by the first explosion, but fortu-
nately the flames were e4tinguished be-
fore much damage had been done. The
accident was a strange as well rs Sc
riOus one.
During the prevalence of the storm
there was quite display OF electricity,
aud several telephones were burned out
about town. They were soon repaired,
boVaVpr