Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-04

NTI VI dt9 oNIAH0 Clinton,
yesterday afternoon at half past five
O'clock
The path of the storm was perhaps ,twen-
ty-bve miles long by four miles wide, as re-
CARDS hail, and six or seven miles, as re-
CARDS rain, and all along its path great
amount of damage was done 70 buildings,
trees, shrubbery etc. \ number of build
ings in both country and city lost their
roofs, and many thousands Of lights of glass
were broken, while horses and people ex-
posed TO the fury of the storm received
sound humping from the Jumps OF CONCEAL
ed moisture.
THE CITY ESCAPES.
The loss to the farmers and gardeners
north Of this city, along the river will
reach thousands of dollars, and will ser
iOusly iniure their prospects for tine season.
Very fortunately for this city, the cen
tire Of the storm passed north OF town, be-
ing most severely felt in the vicinity of the
Top" mill, where five tenement houses
lost their roofs and a good many panes OF
glass were fractured. Had the storm
swept a mile further south, along the val
ley of Indian Wheeling creek, thus cutting
across the Island and the central portion
Of the city, the loss in broken glass alone
y
lars As it was, not few hOuseholders
on the upper portion OF the Island and in
the extreme northern part of North Wheel
ingwill require the services Of "a glazier this
morning, while timers will also be in Incl
dental demand Five windows were
broken in the Hotel Behler.
HOW IT STARTED.
All during the day the atmosphere was
decidedly warm the thermometer at
Schnepf's ranging as high as 81 degrees at
three o'clock and at intervals during the af-
ternOon muttered thunder was heard in the
west. betokening the approach of u storm.
The clouds gathered and dispersed several
times, as though the effort 10 get up rain
ana a blow did not suit the weather king,
but about a quarter of five the elements
seemed to concentrate for grand effort,
and there was superauous amount of
sharp lightning and rolling thunder, with
sharp dashes of rain. AT twenty minutes
after five the rain ceased, and the Say
overhead and in the east cleared of good
deal, but in the west and northwest the
clouds banked up and took on that charaC'
teristic gray watery color, which residents
of this city and vicinity have so often, OF
late wears, found omlnOus OF coming
trouble.
1T COMES OVER THE HILLS.
The storm broke over the hills back OF
Martiss Ferry about twenty minutes OF
SIX, a stiff gale driving the heavy rain be-
fore IL in great white sheets, atfording
spectacle which was eagerly watched from
this city for five minutes or more. When
the storm swept across the river and spread
south over the city, the binding rain shut
out everything from view, ana Tor SIX or
eight minutes the wind whistled past with
a velocity which threatened TO lift many
roof. Then the sky grew brighter for
moment, and about the time many observ-
ers thought the worst was passed the clat-
ter Of hail-stOneS was heard, and in few
seconds they were falling thick and fast,
many Of them half 10 two-thirds OF an inch
in diameter, in this city and up tojtwo inch
es in diameter above town. Fortunately,
they did not seem to be frozen very solid,
many being merely rounded Jumps of half
CONCEALED snow, else hedamage in Wheel
ing would have been much greater than 1t
really was.
VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE.
A REGISTER reporter was on the east end
of the new Island bridge when the ap-
proach Of the hail was first heard, coming
across the Island, and the clatter of the ice
upon roofs and the bridge floor sounded
like the trotting of cattle over long bridge.
When the hail ceased, the view up the
river in the direction OF Martins Ferry
was both peculiar and alarming The hill
tops were hidden beneath clouds of white
vapor from tue great mass of hail upon the
ground, and this vapOr was blown south
ward in great masses like the volume of
steam from an exploding battery of boil
ers. Similar clouds of vapor could be seen
rolling over the crests Of the hills north of
Mt Wood, along the river, and the spec
tacle was watched with deep interest by
many persons upOn' the river bridges.
When the vapor had thinued out little, IL
was seen that the hill-tops back OF Martins
Ferry were white with hail-stones. they
seeming 10 be especially thick in the or
chards, aud at dark it still looked as though
there had been heavy fall of snow upon
the hills.
FOLLOWED A FAMILIAR PATH.
The storm seems to have nearly followed
the path Of the cyclone of lSSS, and from ali
along its path last evening came reports of
damage aud loss. The main portion Of the
city escaped. although a good deal OF hail
fell as far down as the Eighth ward. ltwas
heavier the farther north one went, reach
ing it's maximum short distance north of
the Top" mill, where it passed over the
hill. On the upper portion OF the Island
the wind threatened TO capSiZe several
houses, and a good many panes OF glass
were broken here aud there. In North
Wheeling five tenement houses belonging
10 the Wheeling Iron and Nail Company,
and situate lust south of the mill, were
stripped of the tin roof. which was rolled
up in great bundles, to the CONSERVATION Of
the inmates. who fed out into the storm.
supposing for the moment that the build
inSs were Jumbling about their ears. Many
panes OF glass were broken in buildings IN
that vicinity, one house having thirty-two
lights knocked out.
THE loss ABOVE THE CITY.
North of the city, along the bottom gar
den farms. the destruction was terrible,
and the loss will foot up something like
i've thousand dollars between Wheeling
and Gisnu's run. distance Of three miles
Haii stones fell as large as an inch and q
half in diameter, covering the ground two
inches deeD in places, and doing an i'm
mense amount of harm to fruit trees, hot
houses, etc At John Lasch's two large