Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-07

ing with it almost every obstacle in its
progress. The water in Little Grave
creek was five feet higher than was ever
known in the history Of the stream.
The rain commenced to fall about eleven
o'clock and fel in torrents until 2:3O.
1t was an incredibly short space Of time
after the first drop of rain fell until the
streams were bank full, and residents
along the ,owlands were leaving their
homes for places Of safety. The water
extended from hill to hill and carried
on its angry bosom all MANNER OF de
bris. including farm products, sections
of fences, household furniture, etc.
A Register reporter drove over a por-
tion CT the devastated district yester-
day, until his progress was stopped by
wash-outs in the roads and the absence
of bridges over the streams. The Rog-
erson oil field is about wo miles east OF
Glendale, on Little Grave creek. Here
the damage was great, although it was
reported that none of the oil demicks
were washed away. Two rude frame
structures used as "speak-easies" were
lifted from their foundations and car
ried away. An Old building which was
formerly a meeting house. but was later
used as a boarding house for the oil
men. was also carried away A one
story frame residence occupied by a
man named John Ross also fioated
off
The damage to the farms all along
the valley of the creek is incalculable.
The growing crops on the hill-sides
we're entirely destroyed. The water
washed away the soil, and carried the
corn, potatoes, etc. with il to the creek.
The reporter found che man gathering
UP potatoes which had been washed out
from the earth, and looked like they
had toen cleaned and prepared for mar
ket. They were found in large guam
titles. and the man stated that he could
gather at least forty bushels. When the
stream started to swell the people aban-
doned their homes without ceremony,
and fed to places Of safety. In some
places in the bottoms. the creek was
quarter of a mile wide, and the ground
was covered with mud to the depth CT
several inches.
Harvey Rush lost his stable, new
wagon. and one OF a valuable team Of
horses. the ether escaping. At Glen
dale. where the Wheeling Natural Gas
ComLany's line crosses the railroad 10
cross the river, there is a break in TIE
pipe. and the gas from the Cameron
field had to be closed in. 5. \. Cock
ayne who lives near McMechen, esti-
mates his lCss alone at not less than
81. 600. including 400 bushels of wheat,
several ton of hay. which we're swept
off the fields, and several head Of
blCoded stock.
The cloud-burst extended also to Mid
die Grave creek. The same reports
come concerning the loss to growing
crops. The barn OF Jerome Potts. with
its contents. was reported washed
away. 1t vas reported that house
went down Little Grave creek in the
morning, with some person inside call
ing for help, but this could not be veri-
ned.
RAILROAD PROPERTY DAMAGED.
Both the railroad bridges at the mouth
CT Little Grave creek. Just above
Moundsvi..e, were washed away. and the
camp ground switch is seriously dam
aged. The low grou3d between the
main tracks of the b. & o. and the
camp grounds was flooded to the depth
Of about ten fee,. The trestle over the
creek on the switch. was washed away,
and also a large section OF the track
and the fill.
The raging water first tore out the
south abutment of the B. & o. bridge. 4