Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-04-04
The Deadly Cyclone.

hundred persons and incalculable
destruction OF property.
The tornado came with violence
almost impossible TO conceive or de-
scribe. 1t first struck the south
eastern portion of the city at Eight
zenith street and swept path five
blocks wide. diagonally, reaching in
! Jagged and ragged line TO South
street. With such frightful velocity
did it come that it leveled every
building in its path.
To show its immense power 1t seized
! the most substantial structures made
! of stone and iron and moved them
| down like wheat Solid structures
made for the special purpose Of
warehouses to contain large stocks Of
| heavy material were Frustrated as
with an aerial fail.
When the people recovered from
! the shock incident TO the awful sud
/ denness with which the cyclone struck,
| they ar once began the work of res
( cue. Inky darkness enveloped the
/ desolated district, and piercing
shrieks and sickening groans that is
sued from the great piles Of debris
| that blocked the streets added horror
/ to the awful scene.
The people were dazed. There was
/ no light, the gas and electric light
! connections having been broken, and
/ those who were unframed scarcely
! knew in which direction to turn or
where to commence the work of res
cue. Sharp flashes Of lightning re-
yealed rhe chaotic condition of af-
fairs. and in short time jagged
tongues of flame shot up in various
portions of the wrecked district,
adding to the peril OF those buried I'M
der the ruins and revealing the neces-
ity of prompt action. Then came
heavy rain, which, however, did not
uuench the fires that in few hours
were burning tiercely in many
places.
All night the men toiled without
ceasing. Morgues and hospitals were
! improvised and as fast as the dead
and wounded were uncovered will
! ing hands bore them tenderly away.
| In the mass of ruin on Seventh street
a man. his wife and little girl were
seen wedged under the debris, and,
although they shrieked and moaned,
and although the spectators made
almost herculean efforts TO relieve
them, it was impossible TO save them
and they were burned in the presence
of helpless hundreds.
When daylight dawned upon the
working hundreds the full extent of
the calamity stood revealed for the
| first time, and the brave tOilers were
appalled, with the magnitude of the
| task that was before them. \ terri
tory fully three miles long and half
mile wide was swept clear of the
row upon row of buildings large and
small that but few hours before had
completely covered it, while all that
was left was tangled mass of twisted
iron, shattered stone and splintered
| timber. 1t was an awful spectacle,
and the pitiful groans from human
beings imprisoned in the wreck
caused many n face to blanch and
many heart TO quail.
Probably the greatest loss OF life
occurred at the Falls City Hall, which
was in the centre of the tornado. In
the lower rooms Of the hall were 80 or
IS children, with their mothers and
other relatives, taking dancing les
sons There were at least 125persons
on the lower floors and 70 more at
tending lodge meeting on the upper
floor when the terrible wind swooped
down upon the building. The entire
structure in less than five minutes
was IL shapeless mass of brick and
mortar, burying 200 helpless victims,
of which number few escaped unin-
jured. The work of rescue was con
centrated at this point and herculean
efforts were made to reach the bodies
OF the victims. As soon as the roof
ing was removed and the mass of
brick beneath, the first sight that met
the eyes was anything but hopeful.
Ten women, locked in each others
arms. were drawn out of the debris.
Mr.. James Hasson, whose wife had
been at the meeting, was foremost in
the work, and the first person whom
| he drew out of the ruined building
was his wife. who died in his arms.
| He laid her by the side of the Others
who were dead and continued to work
for the living.
| Inside of the next hour thirty men
and women We're drawn out dead,
! but with no wounds on their bodies,
and it is thought all met their death
from suffocation.
1t is thought that the total number
| of lives lost in Louisville will not eX
coed hundred and fifty at furthest.
| The damage to property Is very
great, but no estimates are given of
the total loss.
The storm extended through adjOin-
ing States and did great damage to
villages and farms along its paths.