Lancaster County PA News - Disasters

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Lives Lost in Boating Accident

The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) May 6 1807

Lancaster, Penn., April 21

A melancholy accident happened on Sunday last, at the Conawago Falls, a little below Middletown, the particulars of which, as far as we can ascertain, are as follow: An ark, loaded with seven hundred barrels of flour, having on board six hands and four passengers, left Middletown on Sunday morning during a heavy fog, and in attempting to run the Falls, the ark struck a rock, immediately sunk, and every person on board perished.

A few days since a boat, said to contain 400 barrels of flour, upset below Columbia, and the owner of the boat lost his life.

Queen Street, Lancaster PA Destroyed by Fire

March 20, 1811

From Kline's Carlisle Gazette

Extract of a letter from a member of the Legislature to the Editor, dated Lancaster, March 2d, 1811

"I have to inform you of a dreadful conflagration which took place in Lancaster this morning, between the hours of twelve and one o'clock; it is understood that the fire was communicated to a stable by a woman who was out at the stable at a late hour attending to a cow that had calved the evening before. She had taken some coals of fire into the stable for the purpose of steaming the cows elder, and dropped a coal by accident, and which set fire to the stable, to which were three horses, a cow and a calf, four hogs and one goat, all of which were consumed, together with four dwelling houses, one smith shop and back buildings. The buildings which were consumed stood on north Queen street, and where it originated was the fifth door north from the first cross street from the Court house on the west side of north Queen street. The wind blew from northwest, its progress could not be stopped until it consumed all the houses that stood from where it first originated until it reached the corner house, at the Cross street: among the houses was Mr. Dickson's Book Store and Printing Office. Mr. Dickson's loss, independent of his dwelling house, is estimated at 3000 dollars.

The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
August 11, 1819

We learn with regret that the barn belonging to Mr. John Eberly, of Elizabeth township, adjoining the plantation of Mr. George Illig, was on Thursday afternoon, the 22d ultimo, destroyed by lightening, together with a vast quantity of fine grain. - Lancaster paper

The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
August 18, 1819

Fire - On Monday evening last, befor sunset, a valuable barn of Mr. Samuel Slaymaker, in the northwest border of this city, filled with wheat and hay, were consumed by fire, applied with an unknown incendiary - Loss about $1000. - Lancaster Intel.

The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
October 6, 1819

A fire in Strasburg, on Monday evening last, consumed 3 dwelling houses and a stable. The principle sufferers are, Messrs Shindle, Sides, and Lewis Smith. A person in the borough is suspected of firing the buildings - Lan. Int.

The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
December 29 1819

The barn of Mr. Jacob Gamber, 7 miles from Lancaster, on the Marietta road, was destroyed by fire on the evening of the 20th inst. His barn (says the York Gazette) was burnt last summer and one burnt on Monday evening, was a new one not quite completed. The fire was accidental, the carpenters, to finish it more expediently worked in it by candle light, and not being sufficiently careful fire was communicated to the building, by which an individual had a second barn destroyed within a year.

Lancaster, March 17

Fire - On Thursday evening last week, the barn and stabling of Mr. Henry Landis, 4 miles from this city, on the road to Reading, were destroyed by fire, with 2 horses, three horned cattel, and 36 sheep. It is said the buildings were fired by a boy, between 13 and 14 years of age, who lived with the family - Intel.

Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
June 26, 1822

Union, Pa., June 11

Distressing Calamity

On Wednesday last about ten miles south west of this borough, the house and household goods of Elias Parshall were completely destroyed by the explosion of 22 lbs of gun powder! The powder, it is supposed was set on fire by a child, not quite three years old, whose mangled parts were found in different directions!! Fortunately the remainder of the family were at dinner or the parent and only two more (children) were hurt, and they not seriously. This is another warning to the retailers of that articles, to use the utmost precaution is using and handling it. - Genius.

Fire!

About 11 o'clock on Friday evening last, a fire originated in the kitchen attached to the house of Mr. Quarles, innkeeper, in Columbia, Lancaster county, which consumed the tavern house of Mr. Quarles, and the dwelling house of Mr. Briggs and Mr. Gonter. It was with much difficulty and exertion that the house of Mrs. Stump was saved, the roof having been repeatedly on fire.

From the Paradise Hornet, May 10

On Wednesday night last, between the hours of 11 and 12 o'clock, the Dwelling House of Mr. Benjamin Fraim, two miles from this place, was struck by lightning which completely burst it asunder. The account which Mrs. Frain gives of it is this

"That when the lightning struck the house, it appeared as if it was on fire - she lay in bed and could not move, being nearly suffocated, until the house burst asunder, when she was immediately relieved. Mr. Frain was from home during the night. The lightning struck the chimney which stood in the centre of the house - it then separated, part going down the south side, and the remainder down the north. The barrel of a gun which was standing in the room was torn from the stock. A tin broad tray which was standing on the Stove was considerably melted; also, an iron chain and pot hooks in the chimney. The stove stood at the head of a bed where the children were lying and was partly covered with the melting drops of the bread tray. The nails in the floor were drawn out, and the apprentices who slept on the second story were thrown up in the bed.

Out of 8 windows, only 3 panes of glass were left unbroken. The lightning having left the house conveyed itself to the pump, and form thence to the stable, where it killed a fine Shoat. None of the family were injured, and when they left the house it was on fire, but happily extinguished of itself.

July 21, 1824

Lancaster, July 9

On Tuesday evening last, a very heavy gust of wind, accompanied with rain, was observed to pass a short distance north of this city. We have since heard that a tornado or whirlwind unroofed a barn near Binkley's bridge, and continued to overthrow everything that came in its way, until it reached Mr. Porter's near Soudersburg, where it done considerable damage. Houses and Barns were unrooted, and fences and tress prostrated. The following have reached us: Jacob Rohrer's barn unroofed. John Landis' (Limestone) house partly unroofed and wagon shed destroyed. Benjamin Witmer's house unroofed. James Porter, a barn and tenant house unroofed; from the latter a feather bed was carried a considerable distance, and lodged on a tree. - Journal.

Since the above was in type, we have been informed that Samuel Huston, Esq., lost the roof of his Merchant Mill, which was carried a considerable distance by the violence of the wind. - Ed. Intel.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) November 24, 1824

Lancaster, Nov. 16

Fire

On Friday evening last, a Barn and an adjoining Stable, situate in West Walnut-stree, near Queen, owned by Messrs. Montgomery and Messersmith, with their contents, were consumed by fire. There were in the barn at the time the fire broke out, about 200 bushels of grain, owned in part by Mr. Lovett. On Saturday morning a woman, suspected of being the incendiary, was taken up and lodged in prison. - Intell.

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