The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-11-28
WIND, RAIN, HAIL AND SNOW.
Great Destruction OF property.


places amounted to hurricane. Weappend
condensed reports:
The new Metzerott Music Hall, in course
of construction on 18th street, N. W., just
below F street, Washington, D. c., was
blown down. The streets of the city were
practically deserted at the time Of the acct
dent, and the first intimation that the public
had that there was any immediate results OF
the great storm was when the ire alarm was
rung and the engines and hook and ladders
and patrol wagons went tearing up toward
the corner of 18th and F streets. Several
persons were caught by the falling walls;
one was killed and some we're seriously in
jured, while others were only bruised.
The flag on the White House was cut IN
half as clean as if done by shears
Winder's building, on 18th street, opposite
the War Department, was partially unroofed
and the upper floors deluged with water.
During the progress of the storm lightning
struck the large gas reservoir at the corner of
18th and streets. Long tongues of flames
from rents in the top of the structure rose
high in the air. The tall supporting columns
of cast iron surrounding the the tank snapped
into a dozen fragments. The first break IN
the thick iron casing prevented an explosion,
which might have been very disastrous. As
it was, the gas simply blazed at the openings,
as if they were huge burners, and in this way
500, 600 feet of gas spent itself in Illuminating
the day.
The scene at the fire soon after the explo-
sion was one of desolation, and the huge ca
sing of the reservoir was twisted in all man
ner of shapes, and from three ragged holes
in the top the gas still came out in streams,
burning with a bright light
IN PENNSYLVANIA.
AT Harrisburg many stores, public build
ings and residences were unrooted and the
drenching rain soaked everything. Large
plate glass windows were blown IN, fences
leveled and metal roofs rolled up and carried
several blocks away.
From Harrisburg down to Hagerstown the
path of the storm is shown by wrecks of
barns, orchards, outbuildings, fences, &c.
Reports from Williamsport Altoona, Ian.
caster, Lock Haven, Norristown, Chester and
Wilkesbarre give details of great destruction.
In the Lebanon Valley very few farms es-
capped, while telegraph and telephone poles
are Frustrated
In York county very little damage was
done except in Hanover and vicinity. At
| Hanover there was "a cyclone by which the
Ketterer wagon works were destroyed. The
details are as follows: Howard ID. Carbangh,
who resided near Schwartz's school house,
about two miles from town, was killed he
leaves wife and two children. His body
was found under the elevator and was crushed
into a shapeless mass.
The injured are Joseph Knapp, arm torn
off; William Lansinger, Jacob Rusher, Viii
liam Weist, David Althoff, Robert Althoff,
Adam Rebling, Joseph Renault, Jr., each
sustained severe cuts, Commissions and frac-
lures of either arms or legs.
The wrecked building is situated upon the
lands of the West End Improvement Com
pany; was built of brick, and was so by 29O
feet in size and three stories in height. Mr..
| Ketterer manufactured heavy express and
dray wagons and put his factory in operation
on August LIST. 1t was the most important
mandatory of Hanover and was pointed out
with pride by the citizens. Thirty people
were employed IN 1t.
At one O'Clock an intensely black cloud
was seen sweeping rapidly along the southern
horizon, and in a few minutes the wild wind
blew a hurricane. Chimneys were toppled
over, trees uprooted, fences blown down and
the air filled with flying bricks and debris.
In the midst of the storm the steam whistle
of the wagon works could be heard sounding
signals, and soon after number of men came
running from that direction with torn clothing
and blood streaming from wounds.
The greatest excitement prevailed and ev-
erybody who could go at once repaired to the
scene of the disaster
The wreck of the building was complete.
Cries for help could be heard from all parts
of the debris, and the bleeding and manged
victims presented horrible sight as they
were taken from the wreck by corps of vol
unteers.
William Gemmill, the engineer, proved
himself a hero, and to his GOODNESS and
bravery is due the fact that at least score Of
lives were saved from an awful death. While
the storm was raging he noticed that the main
wall of the building was slowly parting from
the engine house, and at once ran to the SUI
perintendent's office to give the alarm. But
before he reached there the frightful crash
came and the building collapsed. SurInising
that the ruins might take fire he rushed back
to the engine and started the fire pump at the
peril of his life. Grasping the hose he crawled
under the swaying and already smoking tim
bers and deluged them with water. He also
blew the whistle for half an hour, tying down
the valve.
Severed car loads of finished wagons which
were standing ON switch close by, awaiting
shipment to New York city, were demolished
Mr.. Ketterer's loss will be very heavy and
he was not insured against cyclone. He
had about SO, 900 worth of work under way.
The wind played havoc on the farm Of Lat
inner Hoke, near McSherrystown. Of the
buildings on the place the dwelling is the only
one that remains intact. All the others were
either demolished or badly dismantled. Two
of Mr.. Hokes straw stacks were picked W
and borne off on the winds and not straw i;
left to show where they stood. Mr.. Hokt
says there was not a panel of post and raj
fence left standing on his farm.
At McSherrystown a frame building il
course of erection was blown flat to the
| Tho Ynnf hlnxvn nH the 10 rns
barn on, the Chapel farm, near McSherrys
town. The barn on the Small farm was also
damaged by the wind and the roof torn off
At East Berlin the railroad engine house
was blown over, and at Hendricks station,
miles west of Hanover, the station building
was picked up and hurled some distance int
a woods. At the same point large number
of immense trees in Mrs Hendricks woods
were completely twisted off.
MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA.
In Baltimore and vicinity the storm wa.
severe, but no serious damage is reported be
You'd the unroofng of some outhouses, dam
age to telegraph and telephone lines, pros
tration of shade, fruit and ornamental trees
In Charles ounty damage amounting t.
over 100000 is reported in the destruction
of dwellings, barns, fences, orchards and
timber.
The storm spread desolation and distress
throughout Montgomery county. Never il
) its history was so much damage done by
storm. 1t appeared with greatest effect il
) the northwestern part of the county. Minera
: Springs was almost destroyed and Laytons
, vile, Goshen, Unity and Rockville were al
} hurt to a great extent. Barns and houses
trees and fences were mixed and tumblet
together. Rachel Boyle, colored, was killet
and two small colored children hurt in tn
) house of Martin Lewis, near Laytonsville.
Mondays storm in Hagerstown broke
+ number of glasses, blew down some of thu
fence and cattle stalls at the fair ground an,
wall in l.. l.. Mentzers house, but no on
was hurt, and the damage was not serious.
; The storm of Monday, while quite severe
did little or no damage in st. Mary's county
r The damage by the storm in Frostburg
estimated at over $4,000.
Frederick county was also in the track O
the storm. At jefferson a gable end of tn
Reformed Church was blown in, the roo
lifted off and blown upon Miss Mary Dare
house adjoining, and the fine pipe organ il
the church demolished. The loss is estimates