Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-08-10
Severe Storm in Loudoun.

A terrible catastrophe occurred yes
terday afternoon at the temperance
bush meeting camp at Purcellville,
Loudoun county, in which one man
was instantly killed, another so badly
injured that he will probably die and
fifty others seriously and in some cases
fatally hurt.
The accident was caused by the
great tent blowing down in sudden
windstorm, which struck the camp
shortly after the close of the afternoon
services. Fully 5000 people from the
surrounding country and from Wash
ington had been in attendance most of
the day. Many of these left after the
services, shortly. after o'clock, though
something like 200 persons remained i'll
the tent to converse until the threaten
ing clouds which loomed up on the
horizon had passed
Suddenly there was roar, followed
by swapping and crashing that caused
the faces of those in the tent to blauch
with fear. Those who have any recol-
lection at all of what happened say it
was the most terrible sound they ever
listened to. Almost before they could
realize it the great tent came crashing
down, its poles pinning to earth many
OF the people, while others in their wild
attempts TO escape became entangled
in the ropes and were unable to eXtri-
cate themselves.
The big center pole struck John
Nichols, q young man twenty-five
years of age, of Philomont, instantly
killing him. He was crushed out of all
semblance to human being. Tie
same pole struck Mr.. j. I. Phil
lips, of Washington, and threw him, he
thinks, about thirty feet, but fortunate
ly he was not seriously injured, and
was able to return to Washington last
night. c. w. Schooley, nineteen years
old, of Norfolk, was hit by tent pole
and so badly hurt that the doctors do
not think he can possibly live. Mrs.
Dunbar, of Hamilton, was also badly
injured, as was Mrs. Peacock and
many others,
Mrs. Samuel Leslie, of Hillsboro, was
sitting in her carriage with her dargh-
ter, conversing with her husband, Capt.
Leslie, who stood by the carriage just
outside the tent, when the cyclone
struck them. A great tree fully two
feet in diameter was blown down on
the carriage. The vehicle was smashed
into kindling wood. Mrs. Leslie was
knocked unconscious and so seriously
hurt that it is thought she may die.
Miss Les lie and Capt. Leslie miraculous
" escaped without scratch,
Mrs. Simpson got in the way of q
runaway horse, and her dress was
caught in one of the carriage wheels,
hulling her heavily to the ground, and
dragging the woman along until her
brother sprang forward and caught the
horse, thus saving her life. Great trees
were snapped off like pipestems and
the thunder and lightning were terrific.
A scene of the widest confusion en-
sued. Men and women alike were
panic stricken, and cries of distress
prayers, and shrieks of fear were ming
led in an awful din. Hail stones as
large as hens eggs rained down on the
people, cutting into their flesh, leaving
them bleeding and faint. Horses mad
dened by the pain of being pelted with
hail stones, broke from their fastenings,
aud ran drought the grounds, knock
ing people down and trampling upon
them IL their wild rush for place of
safety.
Willing hands sprang to the rescue.
and for an hour worked heroically in
rescuing the injured. Word was sent
to Leesburg by courier and physicians
were hurried of to the scene of the
catastrophe, but by the time they
reached there many of the injured
people had been removed in carriages
and farm wagons.
Had the accident occurred a few
minutes sooner hundreds would have
been killed. The damage will be fully
$4,000.
co. III Machines