Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-07-21
Great Destruction in Southern Ma
ryIand-Anne Arundel Visited
by a Cyclone

During the rain storm on Saturday
evening, a cyclone crossed the Pstuxent
river, and passed through the upper
part Of Calvert county and the lower
part Of Anne Arundel county. doing
great destruction. 1t had been previous
lY reported that the storm had done con-
siderable damsge, but the details could
not be ascertained at the time.
The cyclone partially destroyed the
house and out buildings of Mr.. Summer
field Bowie. in Calvert county. after
which it passed into Anne Arundel and
followed Syrous creek, or Pond Branch
for about miles, uprooting trees and
destroying fences as it proceeded until
ii reached branch near Herring creek
church when il took an almost straight
course toward Chesapeake bay and pass
ed out of sight. Several persons were
reported killed.
A barn on the farm of Mr.. William
Perry was blown TO the ground. and
iimbers from it we're conveyed many
yards away. Not farm from the Pa
tuxent river to the Chesapeake bay, es-
capped damage-heayy damage in many
cases. Fences, chimneys, barns, dwell
ings, forests, lawns and fields presented
a scene of sad destruction. The storm
swept through the most beautiful part
Of Anne Arundel and Calvert counties
The storm is sad blow to many hard
working, industrious people, who have
had ill-luck with their crops for some
time.
From Fair Haven, Anne Arundel coun-
ty, it is reported that many portions of
the houses destroyed were carried miles
away. A son of Josephy Dove who is
well known in Annapolis, was taken up
many feet and fortunately lei down
without serious injury. lie says ''it was
awful hot up in the air
The tenement house owned by Mr.. f..
M. Walters Hall, about four miles from
Fair Haven, and occupied by Mr.. Jos.
eph Griffith, tenant of the form, was
completely destroyed. Dir. Griffith saw
the storm approaching and hurriedly re
moved his family from the house. Mrs.
Griffith forgot her infant and attempted
to re.enter the house and save it, when
she was struck by the flying tim6ers and
bricks and badly injured. After the
cyclone had passed she was found in an
unconscious condition and taken to Mr..
Hills home. where Drs. Carr and Pem-
broke gave but small hope of her re-
cevery. One of Mr.. Grifiith's children
suffered fractures of an arm and leg; the
baby was found lying unhurt, with the
exception of few scratches, in branch
40 feet distant from the demolished
house. A brother of Mrs. Griffith, who
was visiting his sister at the time. was
seriously, though not dangerously hurt.
Mr.. Griffith lost nearly everything he
possessed in the shape of household and
kitchen furniture and wearing apparel.
Nothing in this line was saYed but the
clothes worn by the family when they
escaped and few children's garments
and chair, which were found in the
track of the storm. The house was lit
orally torn to pieces, and portions of 1t
can be found miles away. Parts of the
roof found resting places in the trees
near by. A trunk in the house contain
ed two pocket books. In one of these
were two $5.bills. The other contained
about 81. The first pocketbook was
found intact quarter of mile away in
the main road. OF the contents of the
second were found 81 and $e-bill
lodged in bush half mile off.
The dwelling of Thomas Deale near
Nutwell postoffice, occupied by Frank
Welch, was almost entirely wrecked.
Mr. John Drury had two barns not a
hundred yards from his dwelling smash
ed TO the ground, loosing all of his con-
veyances, which are smashed beyond re-
pairing. Mr. DrurY and his son Roland
narrowly escaped with their lives. They
were in one of the barns and started for
the house when Mr. Drury found impos-
sible to reach it. and fell upon the groun
calling to his son to do the same This
presence of mind saved their lives, for
large trees and their branches were car
ried through the air like dainty leaves.
Mr.. Drury's loss is estimated at 81 600
Mr. Drury, who was almost in the path
of the cyclone and within 90 yards of
his barn, estimates the velocity of the
storm at 90 miles an hour, and says
that the noise 1t made was so loud that he
did not hear the cracking or breaking Of a
timber in any of his buildings, which
were leveled to the ground few seconds
after the cyclone struck them.
Personal Mention.