Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-10-19
A GREAT STORM.
Unusually Severe Gale-Houses Blown Down
Railroad Wreok-Other Damage.


Unless those West Indian ssaS and
islands quit breeding those destruc-
tive storms We will have to annex
them to the United States and subject
them to the rules aud regulations Of
the weather bureau of our govern
ment One of the worst storms ever
known in this section was Matched
down there last week. 1t swept up
the coast, carrying death and destruc-
ton at the rate of forty miles an hour.
1t reached here Friday morning. The
angry looking clouds began 10 empty
themselves of the rain before noon,
and the wind increased as the day
wore on until by night there was q
bowling gale into which few persons
cared to venture. Umbrellas were OF
little account, and il was an unusually
good roof that kept out the dsshing
rain. Nearly all night long the wind
blew terribly and the rain poured
down in driving sheets There were
some persons in town who never went
to bed at all for fear of the storm.
A great deal of damage was done in
one way and another. Timber was
blown down and fences leveled, while
many buildings were injured more or
less. The building being erected by
contractor James Lloyd for Nelson
Wilson in TrusSell'S Addition had
been raised and q large part of the
weather boarding put on. The heavy
gusts soon set it rocking, and some
time during the night the structure
was blown from the foundation.
About half the lumber in it was bro
ken TO pieces. a large locust tree
was blown down and upon DR.. Neil
sons study at the Episcopal rectory,
causing some damage to the build
ing. Many trees were blown across
the public roads, but were nearly all
removed the following day.
Reports from various points in the
county tell of other damage done.
The roof was blown from the house of
Frank Manning near Cha rlestown.
\ large building belonging to Mr..
George Eyster at Halltown was blown
down.
The railroads suffered greatly. The
wires along the Norfolk and Western
Railroad were blown down all along
the line. There were no trains on
Saturday at all except the accommo-
dation from Shenandoah, which man
aged to creep to Hagerstown and
back. There was big landslide near
Elgin, and although n very large
force of men was put TO work the
tracks were not cleared until Sunday
noon. Passengers aud mails were
transferred from one train to another
until the obstruction was removed.
The b. Il O. Railroad had a bad ac-
cdent at Miller's Hill, - miles west of
Martinsburg, Friday night. The rain
and wind combined caused land
slide that deposited tons upon tons
of earth and rocks on the tracks A
train composed of an engine aud five
cars of express matter dashed into
the obstruction. The engine was
thrown over on its side, the cars de
rallied, more or less smashed up, and
one of them thrown down the bank
and into the Potomac river. Engi-
neer Dyche and Fireman PSnnelI were
both hurt. Mr. Dyche received a
scad and some bruises. Mr.. Pencil
received u cut on the back of his head
and severe Commissions about the body,
but no bones were broken and no
fatal result is anticipated. The tracks
were cleared by . O'Clock Saturday
morning.