The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-07-01
a TERRIFIC STORM.

yvheeiin. .Drcnoied by Heavy Rain and
= l.on,harded by Heavens Artiilrry-sev.
ern1 Houses Struck md tue Telephone
4 Service Knocked Dat.
The most terrific storm, even In this
stormy season, occurred last evening,
commencing about l,alf.pas. five o'clock
and lasting steadily for m hour. and be-
ginning again about $ o'clock, and con.
tinuing with more or less force until
late into tho night. N
The rain seemed considerably harder
north OF the creek than south, and at
Boggs' run 1t merely sprinkled. The
rain swept with undated force over d
stretch oil country from considerable
distance west OF the river 10 the eastern
State line. In those lintsthe rain fell
rs heavily rs 1t was ever known to, with
one or two exceptions, when veIitaDle
cloud.bursts occurred.
AS usual, oil the streets In exposed 10.
callties were quickly flooded. In many
parts Of town tho water agaIn got into
ceilnrG scarcely dry since the last storm.
Thick deposits OF mud and gravel were,
rs usual left ut all street crossings, and
in a few instances on the sidewalks.
The down pour did not cease nor weak.
EN- for u moment In the hour. I'D
THE STREETS FLOODED AGAIN. K
Chaplino street, from Tenth nearly TO
Sixteenth, was ono solid river from
curb TO curb. Twelfth street was al.
most no deeply covered. MARKET ran a
yellow tide on each side, and at Elev.
enth. Twelfth and Fourteenth the wa.
tor almost piled up. Almost oil the
streets caught It as bsa!y. In the city
tho rain did no serious damage, but ID
the county the already seriously injured
crops were all but ru:ccd. Grain was
beRten down, corn broken ana green
fruit knocked OH the trees. In this
way the storm did almoa. ipcalculablo
harm. ass
The lightning and thunder were start.
ling and awful. Flash after flash nl
vivid lightning waa closely followed by
crashing peals Of thunder, as sharp as a
volley OF musketry, indicating thIt the
electricity was doing execution close at
hand.
One stroke struck locust tree on
Fourteenth greet between McColloch
md Woods, blasting it ;a!o splinters
The copper telegraph wires OF the d. <
o. company just opposite the south door
OF tho City building were struck, and
the fluid ran along the Elres, q stream Of
leaped from wire 10 wire with cracking
flame, visibletill it rot to Marke. street. II
hound like tho violent explosion Of par
Tor palohea.
OTHER DAMAGE ~ LIGHTNING.
At the postollice, the lightning ran in
on the unused electric light wires, and
escaping at the loose ends, made hiss.
ing sound that was sufficient 10 render
the force very uneasy.
At the Wea:ern Union Telegraph
Office the blue flames played about over
the boarl1 so that nobody could get
near to close the wires aud bring tue
lightning urresters into use. For time
the Whole Office was illuminated.
At tho LaBelle pottery, Just as the
ateam whist!s was blowing the signal for
quitting time at G o'clock, lightning
| eiuSh VIC nbihtic auu huuChet4 IL ull.
AT Hoffman & Soma tannery the light
ming also struck, but did no damage to
speak of. 100"
The arnstnres OF four electrical street
railway cGrs were burned opt by over
charges OF electricity.
The compensators for reducing the
pressure from the main street
electric light wires to the house
wirea at W.. w. Twins drug. store
aad ct the p. 4 @. depot burned out,
stopping the current. Gas was used at
both places. s.-f s,
AT tho electrical power plant fusible
plug was burned out on one Of the main
w:rce, but no damage was done.
TIE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE BURNED OUT.
The telephone wires were heavily
.charged with lightning all the time.
Superintendent Wolf said the switch
board, Gu which tho Lightning arresters
are arranged, was one sheet OF lame
from the beginning to the end Of the
storm. About 6 o'clock lightning also
struck the wooden tower which sur
mounts tho building, starting flame ut
once. 1t burned feealy short time be.
fore it was discovered, and then an
alarm was promptly rung in. 5
The fire alarm wires had been so ser.
ioualY affected before this, however, that
they had hcc,: ringing the gougs, audit
was only by gueaS:n9 that any OF the
men could locate the fire. Considering
the difficulty under which they worked,
it is wonder that the apparatus got
out at all. As it was, it was somewhat
delayed, but after arriving did good scr
vice. and the fire was quickly put out.
Mr.. Wolf said last night that the
compauy's loss In monsy Yoald proba-
bly, not exceed $1,000. Ths exchange,
however, was knocked completely out.
Every wire was burned out, and Fl the
teicnhone1 in the city and vicinity we're
rendered useless. Every wi.e will have
10 be reconnected singly. and tested, to
ascertain what telephone it connects.
OFF AT LEAST A wEEE.
Tt will take from week to ten days
to get the exchange in thorough work.
ing order again. 1t is the intention to
take all the wires down and connect
with cables.
Superintendent Wolff said last night |
that he thought service could be restor-
ed ior the nejghboring towns by noon
to-day, at latest, but it is uncertain when
the city subscribers can again pse their
machines by even temporary arrange
ment.
In the meantime those people who are
wont to swear at the telephone as con-
demned nuisance can take rest, and re-
fleet chow blessings brighten as they
take their flight"
The iiremen bed an awful lob OF it
when they unreeied their hose at the
corner OF Twelfth and Main streets.
The streets werefuli OF muddy water, or
watery mud. oyer shoe.top deep, and
the crowd was packed on the sidewalks
densely, watching the white smoke pour
out Of the telephone tower. The flames
were first checked with chemical extin.
gulshers, which did good service. AT.
forwards one hose stream was turned
on, aud the fire entirely extineuished.
Tho ceiling OF the next story below in
the Peoples bank building was pretty
well wet, but not enough to do serious
damage. 81 27E.s
The friends Of the young ladies en-.
lNtt1 A. l