The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-08-08
SEVERE STORMS.
Heavy Rains Throughout the State
Considerable Damage in the North
ern CotfnffeS.


Monday, and as far north as New York and
south to Richmond, Va.
In Maryland the rain was not SO heavy, ex-
cept along the northern tier of counties, where
considerable damage is reported. Jones Falls
was flooded and there was very heavy rain
fall in Baltimore city, but no special damage
was done. In Baltimore county some wash
outs and land slides occurred on the Northern
Central and Maryland Central railroads, and
the little streams were swollen and roads
and fields washed. The storm was very severe
in Hartford county, in the washing of roads
and fields, the swelling of streams and carry.
ing away of bridges. In Cecil county the
storm partook of the nature of cyclone. At
Wilma Harvey's mill was blown down. AT
Marley a paper mill was unroofed, and
barn on the Spencer farm, near by, was blown
down. In the neighborhood of Andora and
Fair Hill, in the upper part of the county,
crops and orchards were seriously injured.
In Frederick county the damage by the
storm was very great. Frederick City was
flooded, the streets looking like rivers. The
cellars and lower stories of many houses were
flooded, and families took refuge in the upper
rooms, from which they were rescued. The
inhabitants were aroused by the encroach-
ing waters of Carroll creek that flows through
the place. The fire bells rung out the major
part of the male population after midnight,
and women and children wrung their hands
in terror. Though there was no loss of life,
there were a number of very narrow escapes,
Lying west of the town is large amount OF
meadow land, and this was one sheet OF water
for acres around Several bridges within the
city limits were washed away, but the four
iron bridges which span Carroll Greek on
West Patrick, South Market, Carroll and
Water streets, withstood the force OF the
water, and remained intact aud unframed,
although for more than an hour they were
under water.
Along the course down which came the
prineipal body of water much damage was
done Lawrence Bentz had two hundred
feet of stone fence and long shed washed
away, entailing a loss of $500; George Brust
& Co., grocers, lost a large quantity OF flour
and groceries, and their loss will aggregate
over 81 900. Other losses are estimated as
follows: Eberts & Sons, hardware, 1000 !;
Paul Houser, brewer, lost all his beer and
vaults damaged, 81, 500; j. q. Hopwood,
timer, $500; Charles Halter, restaurant, a
total wreck, 81 900; Brown u Mckinney,
tanners, $500; P l.. Hargett u Co., agricul
tural implements, $1,000; Hardt Il Keefer,
lumber, 81 600; Besant & Knott, wholesale
grocers, 500; N. ]. Wilson, stone house,
$500; VIM S. Miller & Son, coal, lost 12O
tons of coal, &C., $1,000. Other persons sus-
tanning losses that cannot be estimated were :
J. D. Hane, carriage builder; Munrose
Walling. groceries; Edward Sim, livery stable;
r. G. Lamar, livery stable George Gresham,
coal; Nixdorff & Brookey, tanners; Geo. K.
Birely & Sons, tanners. There were nearly
a hundred houses inundated, and the loss of
furniture, &C., is unattainable, but much fur
niture, carpets and other household goods
were greatly injured by water. The greatest
damage was done on West Patrick street,
where the street, pavements and foundations
Of houses have been greatly washed out, and
the gardens filled up with sediment and debris
of every description. Many outbuildings
were swept away, and porches were carried
off The damage done will amount to thous-
ands of dollars, and it will be long time be-
fore the damage done can be repaired.
The work of destruction not only affected
Frederick city, but at various points in the
country much damage is reported. In the
districts lying around Frederick, roads have
been greatly washed, crops much damaged,
and bridges and fencing swept away. At
Buckeystown the water was higher than 1t has
been known for years, and the injury to the
corn crop is said to be considerable.
The Monocacy river, which drains Fred
erick county, was higher than it has been
for wears. and all along its course everything
was swept before it. Back-waters OF that
stream extended to Frederick, distance OF
three miles. At some places it was nearly
two miles wide, and acres of growing corn
was under water.
AT Shrineris Mill, at Ceresville, the water
were up to the second story.
On the Frederick and Pennsylvania line
railroad, between Frederick and Woodsboro,
= lace tboO G Y
washouts occurred, some being 200 feet IN
length and twenty feet in depth. In some
places the earth was carried away bodily, and
only the track, to which adhered the crosstes,
mark where the road bed once was. Nearly
200 feet of trestling in Frederick city, belong
ing to the Pennsylvania Railroad, was also
washed away
At Middletown the flood exceeded the me-
morable one of 1868. From nine O'Clock
till midnight West and East Main street were
converted into rushing body of water, caus-
ing great damage Houses and cellars were
flooded, and sidewalks torn away. The little
stream known as Tanners Branch" which
has its course through the gardens and yards
on the south side of Main street, was con-
verted into perfect river and swept away
fencing, outhouses, hogpens, &c. In va
nanda's Addition . it carried away the foot
DflQ1e anu Dauly QdlHdS6Q 1iC iObN NihN
On West Main street the water was two feet
deep in the easements of number of houses,
while cellars we're almost full. AT the resi-
dence of Frederick Stone, on the south side
of the street, the water tore hole thirty SIX
feet long and six feet deep, in the sidewalk
and swept down under the stone wall into the
garden of Mr.. Stone, causing heavy loss.
On East Main street the same scenes were
enacted A sewer under the Postofice pave
ment caved in, making great hole IN the
sidewalk. and at the residence of Alfred
Weaver water ran from the back yard through
the hall to the street. Catoctin Creek rose
to an unprecedented height and everything
as far as the water could reach was swept
away The damage to the growing corn Is
very great. j. D. Miller, at the bridge west
of town, is a heavy looser. Oyer twenty acres
of the finest corn in the valley was submerged
for him. Fields and gardens all along the
course of the creek were submerged to great
depth, and the loss is immense. At hetau
yer's mill, south of the town, the water was
/ three feet de % on the first floor, and the
family of Mr.. Fink had to flee from their resi-
dence near by, the water being up to the
windows in the dwelling. Mr.. Kefauver lost
/ five hundred chickens. The telephone line
| to Keler's mill was swept away, and the iron
bridge near by was damaged. The wagon
| she'd with two wagons, corn crib, hogpen ane
/ four hogs, chicken house, and other out
| buildings of Mr. Emory kefauver, south o.
town, were washed away, causing a loss
over 81 900. A stable with this year wheat
crop, carriage house and buggy, belonging to
| Mr.. Adkins, near the same place, were al
washed away. The iron bridge at the Sannel
| property, near town, was entirely swept away
| The wooden bridges near X. L. Castles
Phleger's mill and Daniel Sanner's are al
gone. The iron bridge over the Catootin, q
! Lamar's Ford, was swept away, steiner
mill near jefferson run by eXSheritf /. ID
! Willard, was badly flooded. Monday morn
| ing over one hundred bushels of wheat were
/ floating in the second story. The water wal
twenty-four inches higher at the mill thar
during the food of 1868.
At $50 Monday morning another heavy
storm occurred, and another destructive
overflow was the result. The citizens OF Eas
and West Main street, who had been Hooded
during the night, and who had already pump
ed the water from their houses and cellars
were again treated to a mass OF mud anC
water. At FIVE O clock Monday evening stu
another severe storm, accompanied by vlvlc
| lightning and loud peals of thunder, passed
over the valley. The streets were. agar
/ flooded from pavement to pavement, but thl
water was kept from the houses by marc
work
At New London, Frederick county, the
water was three feet in n. Barnes store L
tore away the mill dam and caused great de
struction to property.