The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-01-24

LitIEp-SIOltY OF THE DAM
AGE NEAR WHEELING.
Saturday night and Sunday morn
Ing, one OF the worst wind storms felt
In this section for some time. played
havoc The Wind followed tho heavy
rain Of Saturday night, first becoming
violent about midnight, and ragged with
unremittlng violence until yesterday at
noon, when the weather moderated
somewhat. Sunday afternoon the tenn
perature was falling slowly, and an az
gregate fall of about twenty degrees
was predicted by the weather bureau.
Early Sunday morning the storm was
particularly violent, and its effect was
first felt on tho river, which became I'M
usually rough. The waves were re-
markably large for an inland stream,
and the wind was OF such severity that
steamboats, In some cases were compell-
cd TO put to the bank for safety. All OF
the packets were late In passing this
port on Sunday. With the exception OF
the Virginia. The keystone State, from
Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, was due at s
a. m, but she did not reach this port
until 6 o'clock last evening" Her officers
reported having had severe struggle
with the storm between this port and
Parkersburg.
While the Virginia was at the wharf
boat Sunday morning at o'clock. q
hard gust OF wind bore down upon the
boats and resulted In intilctlng some
damage to the wharfboat, whose after
spar was triDped. The wind was from
off-shore and when the spar was trip
ped the Virginia and the wharfboat
swung In to the bank and the wharf
boat was grounded heavily, so heavily,
In fact, that It was Impossible to pull
her Off. This, however, was not q SER
ious matter for the reason that the rlv-
er was rising at the time and 1t would
be only the matter OF few hours when
the boat would be afloat again. This
occurred late yesterday afternoon. The
hull OF the wharfboat sustained no
damage, happily.
AS usual, the telephone and telegraph
companies suffered from the fury Of the
storm. Some Of the city wires OF the
telephone company were down, but the
most serious damage was inflicted on
the long-distance lines north and north
west Of Wheeling, communication with
q number Of towns being suspended
during the day. The damage was be-
ing repaired with dispatch yesterday
afternoon.
Yesterday afternoon the Postal Tele-
graph Company was unable to handle
any business. both OF its wires out OF
Wheeling being down. AT p. IN.
man had been sent up the river along
It's line to repair the break, the loca-
ton of which was not at that hour
known here. The Postals wires from
Wheeling are TO Pittsburgh via Steu-
bcnville. and It was expected the breaks
would be repaired last night.
Manager Tracy, of the Western I'm
ion company, said the storm had
wrought some damage along his lines
IN this vicinity, but that he was able
to accept business for any point not
withstanding the storms work. Seven
wires were down In Benwood, and
heavy string west OF Bellaire were
RACED. During the afternoon. a numcr-
Gus force Of lihemen were at work re-
pairing the breaks.
It was reported that the roofs OF the
Baer grocery building and OF the Nc
Mechen preserve works, on the South
Side. had been carried away by the
wind. but the rumor was an exagge"a-
ton.
All over the city there were number
less cases OF slight damage caused by
the storm. Wooden signs. bill boards,
awnings. etc. were leveled, and several
plate glass windows were broken, in
Guiding one at Kennon's grocery. on the
South Side. At White, Handley G. Fos-
ter's furniture store on South Marke.
street. the tin cornice was torn away
and following this accident plate
glass window was fractured
The two sky-lights at the Opera
House were blown away early in the
morning. Stage Manager Richardson
was busy until after noon repairing the
damage.
On the steel bridge. one OF the trolley
wires Of the Wheeling Railway Com
pany was blown down in the afternoon
and Is result traffic was impeded
somewhat until the line wagon arrived
on the scene and reset the wire. II was
dangerous place for animals and Pc
destrians until repairs were made.
AT MARTINS FERRY