Night of July 21, 1896
Cloudburst damages Tunnelton
A severe nighttime cloudburst damaged or destroyed a substantial portion of Tunnelton and ruined nearby crops and fencing. Contemporary reports mentioned possible loss of life, but no names or confirmed death total have been located.
Research status
This entry has been checked against its named source.
The timeline wording accurately reflects the source listed below. This status does not necessarily mean the event has been independently corroborated against additional records.
Sources and further reading
Where this entry comes from
The Clarksburg Telegram, July 24, 1896, p. 7, "A cloudburst at Tunnelton"
Research notes
What the evidence establishes
The Clarksburg Telegram described the Tuesday-night cloudburst as having destroyed one half of Tunnelton, ruined crops and fencing, and reportedly taken lives, but supplied no names or particulars.
A Parkersburg telegraph report in the New-York Tribune on July 23 used still more dramatic language, saying the town was almost wiped out and that four people were reported missing. It did not identify victims or confirm deaths.
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