Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-08-23
THE Winds WORK.
About Forty Lives Lost in and Near
Wilkesbarre, Penn.
Houses Blown Down, Trees Uprooted,
Wires Torn on, Railroad and Other
PrOperty Destrnvrd.

ing was one of its most awful features. The
heavens were as black as night, and the wind
blew with most frightful velocity Whole
rows Of trees were blown down. Following
this hundreds of houses were unrooied par
tally blown over or completely demolished
and worse than all, the visitation of death was
sent upon number Of people. How many
were killed is not known. Large districts in
several sections of the city are in absolute
ruin. The damage will reach hundreds OF
thousands of dollars Passenger trains and
locomotives at the depot were blown over, and
every wire in the eity-electric light, teie-
phone and telegraph-is down. The deyasta.
ton is to be compared with nothing in the
memory of the oldest inhabitant Everybody
is rejoicing that no fires have as yet followed,
for the streets are impaS ible with trees and
fallen buildings, and the engines could not be
drawn through them.
The total death loss so far as ascertained is
twelve. -Four men are known to have been
killed in the Hazard Wire Rope Works. A
house on Scott street occupied by miners who
had just returned from work, fell in, and three
of the inmates were killed, The huge stack
OF the Kyle planning mill fell on man and
two horses and all were killed. little colorcd
girl was killed by falling building on South
Main street Two men suffered death by the
falling of q portion of Stegmaier's brewery,
and a third incurred the same fate through
the almost complete demolition of :. J..
Browns handsome brick business block, on
Fast Market street. There are undoubtedly
fifteen or sixteen other killed. Reports are
coming constantly to that effect Many poor
people have suffered heavy losses. Fully two
hundred buildings have been blown down or
otherwise damaged Many Of the structures
were of large size and great value.
The names of some Of those killed, as far
as known, are Evi Martin, baker, buried
beneath II falling smoke stack. His two
horses were also killed.
John Fritz, laborer in the spool mill at
the Hazard Works; taken from the debris
horribly mangled
Burrell Bendenmeyer, salesman for Hart
lee Co, grocers, instantly killed by falling
in OF Browns business block.
Samuel Rouse. machiuist at Hazard Works,
killed by falling timbers.
Peter Rittenmeyer was killed in Frederick
Jacobs hotel, which was wrecked When
removed his skull was found to be crushed.
Joseph Kern, prominent milkman, was
blown from his wagon Tie was found two
hundred yards away, lying on the Lehigh
Valley Railroad with his head crushed.
Adam Frantz of the firm of Jones & Frantz
who was struck by flying tmbers, died at nine
O'Clock. George Hamilton, employed for
twenty years in Stegmaier's brewery. Mamie
Thompson, aged six years, blown against a
house and instantly. George Hamilton, John
Klenkauii and Hungarian entered a barn
for shelter. The large double doors were
blown in, killing Hamilton instantly aud ia
tally iDjuring the other two.
Mayor Sutton issued proclamation call
ing on the members oftne Ninth Regiment 90
assemble at the armOry 10 aid in the police
supervision of the city. He also requested
all idle workingmen to report to him for labor
in clearing the debris, the city TO pay for the
same.
Berlin Nandermark was struck by timbers
His head was crushed and his ribs aud legs
were broken. lie cannot recover Max
Bramer, fatally injured by falling wall;
Jesse Houser, legs broken and internally in
iured by falling roof; Miss Mary Henwood
seriously hurt; while descending from a car
riage was blown fifty feet away; Albert Smith
a paper hanger ribs broken and head injured;
Jacob Falk, butcher, blown from wagon,
arm dislocated; NJ. Brinkman, injured inter
naly and arm broken; Jacob Bergot, butcher
blown from a wagon; arm dislocated; NJ.
Brnkman, injured internally and arm broken
Jacob Bergot, butcher, ribs broken and head
bruised; Ambrose Constine, liquor dealer,
ribs broken and injured internally.
A furious rainstorm set in shortly after the
cyclone, and drenched the exposed property
which lies in the track of the cyclone
Horrible was the scene in the Hazard Wire
Rope Works. Dead and dying lay on the
floor, and their heart-rending groans and
cries filled the air in the room. The cyclone
struck the rear Of the large brick building.
About 200 men were employed in the works
The roof and side walls were crushed in and
lay in ruins all about. The bricks and pom
derous machinery were scattered all over
When the storm was imminent the men
rushed for the door but many Of them were
caught in the ruins As soon rs the calm
succeeded the awful cyclone. men rushed into
al. Il IL. L
portion of the building uninjured, and lay
them on the floor. One by one they were
dragged out from under the debris. Three or
four were taken home. Rude beds Of mating
were made for them on the floor aud physi-
clans we're summoned. fearful women from
the vicinity lent their aid,
The scene was an awful one. 81. Mary s
Catholic Church il a total wreck. The entire
roof was blown off, and the workmen and
decorators used every sndeayor to make their
escape when the signs Of the storm came.
They all got out safely.
The great massive tower in the rear Of the
church was blown down clear 10 the base and
fell with tremendous force against the resi-
denee of Michael Cuogan, on Fell street,
smashing il. The inmates were all huddled
together in the hall and escaped injury.
st. Mary's parochial school, a brick build.
ing on Canal street, opposite the church, was
also wrecked The steeple and roof were all
torn off. The front portion Of the edifice was
leveled to the street. II is ruin. Appealing
to God when the cyclone was doing its deadly
work, intercediug for aid from where aid
alone could come, consolation in the midst OF
destruetiOn--this was the scene in the Ashley
street car, on South Washington street near
the Catholic Church when the furious cyclone
cut its path.
In the midst Of all the terror large tree
fell on the roof of the ear, and the passengers
gave themselves up for lost. Rev. John NJ.
Evans, of Long Branch, was within, endeay-
oring to appease the terror-strieken passen-
gers. lie led in prayer, and the passengers
silently joined him. The Hillman breaker,
North Canal street, was blown into shreds-
II will take months to repair the damage
before the miners viii be able to resume work.
The storm lifted the ID. 4 II. round houses
and carried them away, bricks and all. The
houses adjoining we're all demolished.
Approximate losses only can be given, as
follows; Hazard Wire Rope Works, 81, 900;
$. L. Brown, $4,000; St Mays Catholic
Church, $1,000; Malinkrodt Convent, 50 900;
Murray shaft ,00s; Hollenback shaft, s, 900.
Whitehaven lee Company - 900; Lehigh Val
ley depot, g, eGs Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany's round house. 5000. Ahlborn's pork
packing mousse 5000; Paine Toll house, 81, 900;
Dickson Manufacturing Company. 5000
In addition to these, hundreds of citizens
have suffered losses running from $3.50 70
5000.
Reports come from Sugar Notch, mining
town three miles from here that the destrnc.
| ton Of property is terrible, and that fifteen
persons were killed.
At Parsons and Mill Greek, four miles from
| here, coal breakersin all directions have been
more or less damaged, and tn number killed
will reach ten. Telegraph wires are down in
all directions, and communications all shut Of