Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-28
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
Storm and Flood.

StOfIll ana f1OOQ-
EDGAR, Nebr., July 2S.-The most
violent hail storm ever experienced in
Nebraska visited this vicinity early
Yesterday morning. Hailstones fell
with such force as to shatter window
panes, sash and shutters. Trees were
| left bare of leaves and branches, and
growing crops literally pounded into
the ground.
MooRHEAD, MIMI, July 2S.-A de-
struetive hail storm struck Clay county
Yesterday, beginning near the town OF
Comstock, passing northwesterly to
Sabin and reaching as far as Glundon
and Stockwood on the east. In many
cases the destruction was complete.
ST. ANTHONY, Iowa, July 2S.-A
storm of large proportions struck this
place Sunday night, and as a result
every building in town is wrecked or
badly damaged. 1t is the worst storm
that has ever visited this community:
ALEXANDRIA, Mo-, July 2S.-The
Fox river levee has broken in TWO
different places, and the water has in
undated 5000 acres of farming land.
If the water does not recede shortly
the crops on this area will be ruined.
PIrrsBURG, Pa, July 2S.-While
there have been storms and floods in
this vicinity in past years that have
caused greater fatalities, it is doubtful
if the cyclones which struck western
Pennsylvania last evening was not the
greatest in its history, in its wide
spread destruction of property. Two
lives were lost, one man fatally hurt
and number of people seriously in
jured.
At Mcdonald, Pa, last night the
rainfall was unprecedented. Small
runs were quickly turned to rivers,
which swept all before them. The
streets were swept clear of boardwalks,
which lodged against bridge spanning
an ordinary small creek just below the
town. This backed up the water until
the lower portion of Mcdonald was for
time inundated. No lives were lost,
but the damage to property will be
heavy.
Several coal mines in the vicinity Of
Mcdonald were flooded. Near Cecil,
six bodies have been recovered from
the mass of debris in Cecil valley. Oil
wells and shanties occupied by oil pro-
ducers and workmen are thickly located
along the banks of Cecil creek. The
torrents swept through them, giving o
time for escape. Samuel McKinney's
house was swept away, carrying with
it his wife and two children. Two oil
men sleeping in their shanty were
drowned, as was also girl named Nc
Elhaney, who lived in the village of
Cecil. The cloudburst which swept
the Cecil valley is said to have also car
ried away miners boarding house,
near Bridgeyille, resulting in the death
The valley, at this point was covered
by eighteen feet of water.
The railroad bridges are washed
away and the tracks for half mile
near Bridgeville are covered with
water. John Fiegus and George Miller,
with several companions, were in camp
on the banks of the Allegheny river,
near Aspinwall. The wind tore huge
limb from tree and it dropped directly
upon the tent in which members of the
club had sought shelter. Fiegus's skull
was crushed, Miller was pinned to the
earth and his back broken. Five other
members of the party were held to the
ground under the heavy limb, al! Sc
verely injured. Their more fortunate
companions came to their relief and
summoned medical assistance.
John Aufholder met his death while
striving to reach place of shelter from
the hurricane. Just as he reached it
with his team heavy sign was torn
from its fsstenipgs and crushed him
down in his wagon. Death was instan-
taneous, his skull being crushed and
his back broken. Many buildings were
unroofed, hundreds of trees up-rooted,
electric wires Frustrated, windows shat
tered, outbuildings and even some
dwellings upset and ruined.