Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1899-05-04
TERRIFIC STORM.
This Section had one of the
Most Storms on Record
Wednesday.

Number of Places Struck-N0t Very
Much Damage dOne-Tank set on
Fire at the Pump Station-Great
Crowds of People Watch it Burn
Officials of Company Here-Cannon
Used to Avert Danger of Spread Of
Fire-BilIey stellar hurt by Prema.
ture Discharge.
The most severe electrical storm
that has ever visited this section
was experienced here on Wednesday
afternoon about three o'clock. The
lightning was severe and a great
many places were struck. The storm
was accompanied by a great deal OF
hail and heavy rain.
The storm was the result of the
combination of two storms that met
over the town and then proceeded
to do business For half hour the
lightning flashed almost continuous
ly and one place after another was
struck The thunder was incessant
and the fall of hail played a merry
accompaniment TO the other noises.
Hail stones were picked up some
time after the storm was over that
were larger than ever seen here be-
fore. They must have been tremen.
dous when they firstfell The older
people have never seen anything to
compare with them.
The first place struck in town was
a tree in the Presbyterian grave
yard. Ed Shanks and Major NJ
yum were standing near and the
shock knocked the former down.
A horse in stable near by was also
knocked down. Neither the man
nor the animal were very badly hurt
and were all right in a few minutes.
Col JOS MeDermott's new house
on the lower end of Spruce street re-
ceived bolt This struck on the
roof and tore off lot of material
besides knocking down one Of the
force of carpenters at work in the
building which is yet in the process
of construction.
A barn was struck on the West
side but very little damage was
done to it. None of the bolts seemed
to be very destructive except the
one that hit an oil tank on the hill
above the Pump. Station.
The tank was struck about three
o'clock. Shortly afterward the news
spread over town and it attracted a
great crowd of people. They began
to 90 out in the afternoon before
the tank got well under way and
kept it up until after midnight
The tank was number sixteen and
it stood near the top of the hill. But
one was higher up than it, The fire
burned slowly at first and after the
top had fallen in it began to burn
furiously Vast sheets of flame
mingled with the column of dense
black smoke making a sight that
was very beautiful and terrible
The officials of the Eureka Pipe
line company were at once notified of
the fire and they started here on
special trains arriving about nine
thirty. Mr.. Serafford and Mr. Alex
ander were the frst to arrive. They
brought large force of men with
them and these were put in with the
men secured here to strengthening
the leyees and in getting things in
shape for every emergency.
The fire when the officials had come
was raging furiously and orders were
given to shoot the tank in order to
prevent the burning oil from over
flowing. The cannon had been
brought out some time before this
and the crowd had been attracted
principally to witness this.
Hundreds had been attracted by
the fire and when the cannon was fir
ed there were not far from fifteen
hundred people on the ground. They
watched all the proceedings with
great interest and were more than re-
paid for the work Of getting to the
scene of the fire.
Thirteen shots were fired into the
tank near the bottom and the oil
mourning out of the holes took fire and
spread all over the basin around and
added very much TO the beauty of the
scene.
While the piece was being served it
was discharged prematurely and Billy
ST Clair was badly hurt. He was
ramming acharge of powder home
and the powder exploded blowing the
rammer out of his hand and burning
him severely. His hand was badly
bnrnad and his hearing seriously df-