The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-29

Actual rain, steady, continuous and
wet, and real mud, natural mud, mud
not made by the street sprinkler, were
welcome arrivals in the city yesterday.
After two months OF parching drought,
the shower was worth thousands oil
dollars 1t was gentle, but continued
long enough to soak into tho earth sew
oral inches, and in a short time the ef
feet was seen in revived vegetation
The dry and dust covered leaves were
washed clean and their color came back
and the grass seemed to rise toward the
rain and reach for more,
The rainfall seemed to be- general,
but it will take as much more moisture
to make any impression on tho dried
up small streams or tho nearly dried up
large ones, The ground was so thor
uughly dried out that all the rain that
fell was absorbed in fow minutes, aud
twanty.four hours more OF Just such
gentle, continues showers would be a
blessing.
The atmospere was quickly and per-
ceptibly cooled, though still warm
enough, and people became cheerful
under tho influence OF tho knowledge
that the drouth was ended for one day,
at least, The fear had prevailed that
the dry spell would continue all week.
and then a rainy season set in for State
Fair Week, but it now looks as ii the
weather conditions would favor the
fair. Washington and Parkersburg do
not feel as gay about it as Wheeling, as
their fairs are now in progress. Coun.
try people, however, will DO glad to
iorego the pleasure Of the fair for the
sake OF the sadly needed rain.
Lust evening about seven o'clock, the
rain, which had been continuous from
about p. M, though of varying inten-
sitY assumed the proportions OF a
storm. From 5 o'clock it had rained
hard, thut from seven until almost mid.
night the water simply poured down.
The cutters wore quickly overlooking,
sewer mouths in many parts Of town
were inadequate to carry off the water,
and few sidewalks were overnowed.
Ono or two cellars were invaded by the
water, but the only damage that could
BIO heard OF was In the block partly oc.
cupied by tho 1NTElLIGENCER establish
ment.
Tho water did no harm in tho INTEL.
LIGENCER cellar, which it entered FROM
the alley between there and the Opera
House, but in the Mctrs cellar number
OF rolls OF printing paper were wet and
seriously damaged, and in Kirbach 4
Helmbright's cellar, adjoining q large
stock OF notions was endangered and a
part of it injured.
Up TO 10 o'clock last night, tho guage
on the Reilly block roof, as taken by @.
Schnepf, the government observer,
showed that the unusual amount OF 81
inches OF rain had fallen during the
day. The night storm was accompa-
MED by very high wind. This tore oil
Mr.. schnepPs signal flag, tore it in
pieces and broke the rope. No.other
damage worth mentioning was heard Of.
The creek was running out strongly
last night, showing that the rain was
general and far.reaching, md afiording
a hope that If usual conditions prevail
the river may DO expected to rise some.
what. q
II there is one class OF tho people
that haited the steady rain with Joy, it
was the agricultunsts. Tho unusually
extended drought has been the means
OF inhicting almost incalculable damage
to the growing crops in this section
and iorlseverat weeks the tanners have
been praying constantly for water
to wet tho parched face of the earth. 1t
certainly looks as though the present
rain will last long enough to thorough
ly satisfy the farmers, and will be the
mcans OF saving from destruction great
quantities OF almost withered vegeta-
ton. Corn particularly has suffered
heavily. and but for the very season.
able fainlthere would not probably
have been over third OF tho usual
crop in this section. As 1t is there
will not be- nearly full crop this sea-
son.
The dry spell didn't hurt wheat very
much, but other cereals suffered great
ly, but 1t ia hoped that the rain will
cause the avoidance Of much LOSE.
Fruits now. ripening will gain much
from tho rain, tomatoes and grapes
especially being saved from almost total
loss.
Along upper Fourteenth street the
wind pla$ed havoc among tho fine
ahaie trees, planted two years ago on
that thoroughfare. Along Eoff on.each
o dc tho damage waslparticularly heavy,
On every square II number Of trees were
blown down or torn up by the roots.
That the storm was general and
severe is shown by the fact that the
| Associated Press last night sent out
n notice to newspapers that on account