Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-31
Minister Seriously Hurt and Two Worshipers
Are Killed.
ANOTHER CONGREGATION ALSO SUFFERS
steeple of Edifoe Blown into n n Touse
Of Worship. ~. y
OHIO VALLEY is SCENE OF DlsAs,
Terrific wind sweeps Through Por-
tiOns of Ohio, PenBsyIvania and
West Virginia, Doing
Great Damage.


ciercest wind storms ever known in this
section struck the city today just before
noon and did almost incalculable damage
TO property and injured many people, many
OF whom will die from their wounds. Scores
OF houses we're unroofed, many trees were
blown down, mill stacks toppled over and
telegraph and telephone wires were gen.
orally demolished.
The most serious accident was the un-
roofing Of the Knoxville Presbyterian
church in Knoxville. The church at the
time was filled with an Easter congrega-
tion numbering about 600 persons While
the minister was in the midst Of his ser
mon, particularly strong gust of wind
blew over the large chimney and lifted II
portion Of the roof of the building. The
bricks from the chimney crashed through
the roof and carried huge piece OF the
hardwood ceiling, measuring about 40x2O
feet, down upon the worshipers in the
pews.
Panic Among wOrshipers.
An indescribable panic ensued and a
frantic rush was made for the doors and
windows. At least forty persons we're
caught by the wreckage and more or less
hurt. or this number five may not re-
cover. The more seriously injured are:
Dr. r. J. Phillips, 40 years of age may
die.
Curtis Ray Knight, probably fatal.
Clarence McNulty, may die.
+. Byron, serious.
David Smith. 80, serious.
Joseph Adams, 81 badly crushed.
Albert Schmidt IA, both arms broken
and head cut.
John Mayer, H. head and face cut.
Thomas Mechlin, IS. arms and head cut
Evan Jones' %, serious.
Mrs. Rachel Schultz, 50, arms broken.
The tow boat Belle MCGOWAN was blown
over In the Ohio river and completely
wrecked Its crew was rescued.
Jones & Laughins had fourteen OF
their furnace stacks blown down. necessi-
tsting the shut down OF a portion of their
plant for weeks.
Crash Interruptr BenedictIOn.
AS Rev ). W. English, pastor Of the
Robinson Run United Presbyterian church.
rear Mcdonald, was raising his arms to
pronounce the benediction, lightning struck
The church spire and 1t toppled upon the
roof, crushing 1t and iniuring a number
u worshipers. two of whom will die.
The injured are:
Robert Patterson. aged 10 years, will die
Leon Averill. aged IL wears. will die.
Mrs. John Patterson. mother Of Robert.
Mrs. Mary Patterson.
Miss Mary G. Wallace.
Mrs. Averill. mother OF Leon.
The spire and part of the roof OF the
church at Mcdonald was torn off and the
building considerably damaged.
The Noblestown Presbyterian church was
also unroofed. The Forest Oil company
had between 200 and 300 derricks blown
down in its Mcdonald region and consider
able damage was sustained to it's pipeage
system.
The once of the Monongahela connect
ing railroad in this city was destroyed by
fire this evening because no alarm could
be turned in. either by telephone or tele-
Eraph The Armstrong Cork company's
plant was unroofed and much damage done
TO machinery and stock. Reports from the
suffered more or less from broken tele-
graph poles and crippled service.
Havoc All Along the Line.
Belated reports from nearby towns up
10 midnight show that the wind played
havoc in every town in it's track.
At Mlngo Junction, o., the wind caught
the big structural ore bridge OF the Ma
tional Steel company's plant and whirled
A. along the tracks until 1t was stopped by
another ore bridge, which was sent spin
ming to the end Of the track where IL fell,
a shapeless mass of iron, The bridges cost
900 and will take ave months to rebuild.
At Belle Vernon, Pa. thousands OF dollars
will be required to repair the storm dam
age. The American Window Glass com
pany's plant was unroofed, several smoke
stacks being blown down and a wall blown
In. Several OF the houses belonging to the
company were wrecked.
At Greensburg. Pa. the damage was con-
ell O - II L..
Keely Jones plant was carried away and
cast into a fsh pond a third Of a mile dis
tant
The churches dismissed their congrega- =
tions and while many Of the congre gat ons
were lingering about the First Presbyterian
church doors, waiting for the storm to
abate. the great eupola OF the edihee was
caught by the wind and toppIeG into tn
street. Curlously, a heavy fragment of
the steeple was carried over several hous g
aud across a vacant lot and cast through a
window Of zions Lutheran church For
tunately, no one was hurt.
At Jeanette, Latrobe and New Alexan-
dria. number OF houses we're unroofed,
but no great damage done.
MIL Is Blown Down.
At Washington. Pa. the new bar mill Of
the Grimm Tin Plate company was blown
ooNhi cutalllnB u loss OF NlVtVOO. Ine plant
was completely wrecked.
Five houses owned by William Campbell
we're blown down, aud the Roman Catholic
and the Third United Presbyterian churches
were considerably damaged Many private
residences lost roofs and windows. II is
expected greater losses will be reported TO.
morrow when the country districts can De
heard from.
More than $500 lights Of glass In the
Phipps conservatory OF Schenely park were
broken and much Of the gorgeous Easter
flower display ruined,
The Montana apartment house and the
Idaho building. which adjoins IL, were
partially destroyed. The roof OF the bis
forge plant at Rankin was lifted on and
carried many yards away.
The damage In the MonOngahela and Tur-