, 1890-08-21
Details of Yesterdays Storm
at Wlkesbarre.
Terrible Scenes in the Track
of the Cyclone.
Four Hundred Houses Smitten
by the Wind.
The Financial Loss Nearly One
Million Dollars.
The wIlkesbarre Cyclone.

WMKEsBARRE, Aug. 20. As time
goes Cd the severity of the cyclone is
more and more demonstrated. Immense
buildings containing many people were
unroofed and in many cases almost de-
stroyed in the twinkling of an eye, and
this at an hour when the people were
about the streets amid flying timber and
debris of every cha racter. The city in its
most f~frequented part and around the
depots presents its worst appearance and
when it is remembered that passenger and
freight cars were lifted from the tracks
upon which they stood and laid on their
sides, while other cars were rushed slong
the track by the force of the cyclones
swirl. a small conception of its terrific We
locity may be- obtained. An unusual
centre of activity was noticeable in the
vicinity OF Lee park. The lower clouds
began scudding in great circles At tremen-
dous speed. Their vortex seemed close In
the vicinity, but to the north of the cut
lery works at. South Wilkesbarre. A
sudden gust ofewInd sprang mp and in >
I0O&Sut AaQ luCICAStu " = IDdI 4u6,
Vulcan lion Works, james Norris
foundry and the Keystone -four mill felt
the FIRST shock, the wind 'dashing the
heavy materials about like strsws. The
storm swept on up Main street, raziug
the buildings on the-west side of that
th~oroughfare. Then 1t struck the hand
some residences, stores, greenhouses, pot
terry works. ETC., along Nam street as far
a. Academy street.
The western edge of the storm extended
to the lower end of franklin street and
Dana place. Brick dwellings were I'M
rooted and upper stories torn away, and
some were leveled to the ground. South
Main and Franklin streets were complete
iy blocked with fallen trees, roofs, tim
bers and wire. Veering eastward, the
storm swept out Ross and Hazel streets,
then up South Washington street. ex-
tending a. tar east on Ross street as the
Hazard wire rope works. 1t followed
Washington street, wrecked St. Mary's
church, then jumped to the Lehigh VAL
lev depot, Jersy Central depot and Steg-
maire's brewery, and swept along the rail-
road to Five Points. Here it turned
east and again swept up Pearl street, and
out by Baltimore shaft No. 2, then DASH
ed up the mountains and spent itself in
the Hoods.
The scene at the Hazard wire rope
works wa terrible. The immense build
. ing -was- badly injured and in the debris
hythed sad and injured. the latter help
less until assistance came toithem.T Here
one of the worst phases OF the cyclones
work could be realized, ponderous machin-
cry being mixed with brick, morter and
general debris. in a confused mass. The
number of seriously injured men at these
works exceeds twelve, and there were two
killed.
Near the Delaware & Hudson railroad,
on Scott street. were houses occupied by
the families of James sMcGiuley and
james Helegan. All the members of
these two. families were at home while the
fearful destruction was going on, power
less to do anything for their safety. Both
houses we're leveled to the ground and the
inmates were held in by the debris. Mrs.
Eliza j.. MCKINLEY, aged about % years.
and . babe she held to her breast we're
Crushed tosdeath. John mckinley, aged
Is years. was crushed to death. Mary
Jane Ms0inley. Aslittle daughtery vas so
severely hurt and crashed that but httle
hope 10 entertained of her recovery. The
family of james Helegan could not be
found in the ruins OF their home and fears
are entertained that they all persisted.
The 9th regiment is on duty In answer
to q proclamation by the mayor. The
soldiers are assisting the police in main
tanning order and are everywhere eager to
assist and do whatever ia asked. A care
full estimate placesthe number of build
iass'demolished and partially destroyed
reach nearly, if not quite, 81, 900, 900.
Tho pumhar ~ kilIad 10 alavan. f~afallv
injured, ten; severely injured twenty