Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-03-31
TEMPEST
Brought Injury
and Death.
Churches Wrecked by
the Storm.
Many Hurt by Falling Bricks
and Timbers.

Pttsburg, March 31.-One of the
fiercest wind storms ever known in
this section struck the city Sunday
just before noon and did almost incal-
culable damage to property and in
jured many people, some of whom
may die from the effects of their
wounds.
Scores of houses were uproofed,
many trees were blown down, mill
stacks toppled over, and telegraph
and telephone wires disabled.
The most serious accident reported
was the unroofing of the Knoxville
Presbyterian church in Knoxville.
The church at the time was filled with
an Easter congregation. While the
minister was in the midst of his SER
mon a particularly strong gust of
wind blew over the large chimney and
lifted a portion of the building. The
bricks from the chimney crashed
through the roof and carried huge
piece of the hardwood ceiling, meas
uring about 40x20 feet, down upon the
worshipers in the house.
An indescribable panic ensued. and
frantic rush was made for the doors
and windows. The eXcitemcnt was
soon quieteu. and the work of rescue
begun. AT least forty persons were
caught by the wIeclIage, and more or
less hurt. OF this number five may
not recover. The moro serious injured
are:
DR.. Il. J. Phillips. aged 40 years,
concussion Of the brain. may die.
Curtis Ray Mcknight. wears, in
ternal injuries, both legs crushed, prob
ably fatal,
Clarence McNulty. II years, internal
injuries, badly crushed, may die.
Fletcher Byron, fracture at base of
brain, serious.
David Smith, 80 years, arm broken,
head cut, and badly battered; serious
Joseph Adams, 81 years, badly crush
ed.
Albert Schmidt, IA years, both arms
broken and head cut.
John Meyer, II years, head and face
cut.
Thomas Mechlin, IS years, arms and
head cut.
Evan Jones, % years, serious: scalp
wounds.
Mrs. Rachel Schultz, 35 years, arms
broken.
None of the others injured are seri-
ously hurt.
In none of the other accidents re-
ported throughout the city were there
any serious injury to persons. though
many narrow escapes are recorded.
The tow boat Belle McGowan was
blown over in the Ohio river opposite
Saw Mill nun and completely wreck
ed. Her crew narrowly escaped
drowning, but all were finally rescued
by harbor boats.
AS Rev. j. w. English, pastor of the
Robinson Run L. b. church. near Nc
Donald, was raising his arms to pro-
nounce the benediction, lightning
struck the church spirc and it toppled
| uilpu tlt IOol, 'TuSulilS IL duu III JuTlng
n number o. worshipers, two of whom
will die. The injured are:
Robert Patterson, aged 10 years
skull fractured; will die.
Leon Averill, aged II years, skull
fractured; will die.
Mrs. John Patterson, mother of Rob
ert, severely lacerated and bruised
about the body.
Mrs. Mary Patterson, arm broker
and badly bruised.
Miss Mary C. Wallace, badly bruis
cd.
Mrs. Averill, mother of Leon, heat
and arms cut and bruised.
The spire and part of the roof Of
the U. p. church, at Mcdonald, wa,
torn off and the building considera
bly, damaged. but no one was injured
The Noblestown Presbyterian churcl
was also unroofed, but the congrega
tion escaped injury.