The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-12-26


following account OF IL:
Agreeable TO my own observations
and taking into view the observation
Of several others, who saw the light
rise up previous to its spreading, the
origin OF the phenomenon must have
been between the west and northwest
from me, at the distance Of about Ave
and six and twenty miles, at or near
Buckeye bottom.
The first report was rumbling and
by information was heard upward OF
two hundred miles. The subsequent
reports were distinct, not involved one
with another and regularly timed to
about two-thirds Of second, much
louder than cannon or other reports
that / have heard. They passed from
west to east about three. miles and
three-quarters above the earth, at the
rate of about thirty-eight miles a
minute.
Their distance from me when near
est was about six miles and two-thirds,
the distance from me to the last l
heard was about twenty miles and one
third.
Il am, dear sir, your obedient SER
want,
civilian RAYMOND"
(Mr. Robert Newman,
Centerville.
The year 1915 was known through
out the United States as the year with
out a summer. But little grain or
fruit matured north of the Potomac,
Frost Every Month.
in Harrison county there was frost
In every month of that year. While
the crops were very short there was
enough to supply the wants OF the in
habitants.
In the year 1920 occurred the great
est sleet ever known in this country.
cold rain set in which froze as it
fell, and the forest was bent to the
ground with 1t in every direction.
AS the sun the next day shone down
upon the woods, they resembled for
est OF glittering glass and presented
rare and beautiful sight. Every little
twig was as thick and looked like n
glass candle. Great trees were brok-
en- and for days the public roads were
obstructed by fallen limbs and trees
and nearly all one day the branches
could be heard breaking. Nothing like
it was ever seen before or since.
On the night OF November 10. 1888.
occurred what has always been spok-
en- OF as the night on which the stars
fell"
For hours the heavens were ablaze
with shooting stars, flaming meteors,
tongues and balls of fire and sheets
OF flame. darting in every direction
presenting a grand and brilliant
though terrifying spectacle. Many of
these as they approached the earth
seemed to go out or disappear.
This brilliant and unusual display
created great excitement and terror.
Many supposed that the end Of things
had at last come, and hundreds pre-
pared themselves accordingly and
prayed for protection from the threat
ened calamity.
Towards morning the sky cleared,
nature assumed its wanton aspect. Old
mother earth continued on its course
as usual and the people became calm.
Caused by Comet.
This phenomenon was probably
caused by comet passing across the
earth's orbit, causing meteoric show
er.
In the year 1928 considerable ex-
element was occasioned by the letter
"B" appearing on the blades OF wheat.
Superstltious people believed that this
letter stood for blood, and that 1t fore
told war or some other great calam-
ity was impending.
About the year 1888 a hurricane
starting on Middle Island creek below
West Union and moving eastward to
near Salem and Briston and then turn
ed northerly to the lower part of In
dian run.
Tho path of this blizzard was rather
irregular and at intervals would skin
OF jump over hill and resume Its gem
eral direction.
1t destroyed a brick house near
West Union and cut wide swath in
the timber, up roofing large trees,
twisting some from their stumps and
finging others hundreds of feet away
from the place of their growth and
destroyed everything in its pathway.
This is the only destructive wind
storm known to have visited Harrison
county since 1t was occupied by the
white people.
In the spring Of 1852 occurred the
great flood in Elk creek and the Yves,
Fork river, which carried away near
ly all the bridges and did immense
damage to growing crops, fences and
houses.
On June 5. 1859, occurred a heavy
frost, which destroyed every living
thing in the shape Of crops, fruit and
garden vegetables.
Some few wheat fields that were
above certain line on the hills es>
capped damage.
Corn was replanted and the wheat
fields ploughed under and sowed in
buckwheat and good crops were
raised.
In July. 1883, another great flood
occurred, which was more destructive
than the one of 1852.
Only Bridge Left.
The Maulsby' bridge was the only
one left standing on the West Fork
river in the. county. and not bridge
was left around Clarksburg.
January 1, 1910. Snow fell two
feet deep. Thomas Raymond says 1t
is the deepest snow since the winter
OF 1879 and 1880"
A very severe winter occurred in
1899, the thermometer ranging at
Clarksburg from February to Is at