The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-06-19

SEVERE SToRMs--STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. An
unusually severe thunder storm passed over a
portion of Hartford county, on Monday after
ternoon. The lightning was very vivid and the
peals of thunder terrific. At Forest Hill, light
ming struck the end of Mr.. Charles l.. Wallis hay
house, which contained quantity of hay, and
in very few moments flames of fire burst from
the hay house and two barns near by with
which the hay house was connected. The hands
from gravel train at Forest Hill and n number
of the neighbors hurried to the spot aud saved
nearly all of Mr.. Vail's corn, by throwing it out
of the reach of the fire. Besides this only a wagon
or two and some agricultural implements were
saved. Mr. Vail lost about 100 bushels of wheat,
10 tons of hay, quantity of farming imple-
ments and machinery, all of his harness, %
barrels of vinegar, Nc. The hay house, two
barns, wagon house and granary with nearly all
their contest, were entirely destroyed. The total
loss will probably amount to between 81, 900 and
49, 800, on which there is an insurance of 81, 500
in the Farmers Mutual Company, of York, Pa.
The hay house was not protected by light
ming rod. There was, however, an old iron
lightnng-rod, mperfectly insulated, on the old
barn, seventy feet distant from where the light
ming struck.
A large tree in Mr.. VIM. Davson's yard,
near the wagon house, was struck by light
ming and torn to pieces the air being filled
with an odor resembling that of burning sui.
phur and gunpowder.
large locust tree near the residence of Mr..
G. Smith Norris about mile and a half south
of Bel Air, was also shattered by lightning.
The storm which came from n northwesterly
direction, changed its course, near Mr.. Hanson
Coles, on the Bel Air and Abingdon road and
appeared to pass on towards Churchville, Per-
rymans and Aberdeen.
In the neighborhood of Churchvlle and Cal
vary it resembed cyclone in its effects The
clouds seemed to converge from the northeast,
northwest and southeast Trees of all kinds
were torn up, twisted and broken; rain, MIN
gled with haib fell in torrents, penetrating
every crevice as though it came from the earth
instead of from the sky. On level ground stones
as large as II mans fist were washed about and
deposited here and there in carloads. At Mr.
VIM. Webster's place number of mlk-pans,
which were in an open place, were filled nearly
to the top with water, although the rain lasted
but little more than half an hour. Fences on
the farms of Messrs. VIM. Webster, John Der
rickson, Geo. Beaver, James W. Handy and
Others were blown down.
At Major A. NJ. Hancock's place three
apple trees were Frustrated, fences were blown
down, potato patch flooded with water and
mud, some of the rows being entirely covered
Several old cherry trees near Smiths Chapel,
on the road from Churchville to Aberdeen, were
blown down and large quantity of fencing was
leveled to the ground on Mr.. Divers farm.
At Emmorton there was only slight sprinkle
of rain and at Abingdon the dust remained
thick us ever.
In the neighborhood of Fountain Green the
rain was mingled with hail. locust tree in
Mr.. c. E. Kerr's yard was blown down. 1t
came near falling upon Mr.. Kerr.
Near Level the storm was also particularly Sc
we're. Trees and fences were blown down,
much damage being done.
large oak tree on Mr.. Henry d. Farnandis's
farm, near Bel Air, was struck by lightning, aud
near Woolseys Shops, on the Bel Air and
Churchvile road, several trees were uprooted
by the wind.
On Tuesday Mr.. John Armstrong, living near
Chestnut Hill, missed some cattle and later in
the day he found them lying dead under tree
iu the woods, having evidently been killed by
lightning. They consisted of bull, cow, a
heier and steer
Five sheep We're also killed by lightning, ON
Mr.. Jacob Gross's farm, near Jarrettsville.
On Tuesday evening another terrific thunder
storm occurred 1t came from souherly d.
rection. The lightning was vivid and frequent
and the peals ofthunder shook the houses in Bel
Air.