Evening star., 1896-09-30
ROCKVILLE AND VICINITY.
SteepIe of Christ Episcopal Church
Blown Down.

Blown Down.
Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ROCKVILLE, September so, 1896.
The great storm, which visited this To-
cality last night, was the most destructive
In the memory of the oldest inhabitant,
and did damage that will take thousands
of dollars to repair. At this place the
streets were practically blockaded during
the greater part of today, although large
force was early put to work to clear away
the debris of trees, tin roofs, telephone
poles and wires. All the country roads
leading to town are blcckaded. and but
few people have been able to reach town.
Those who have come in. mostly on foot.
report the entire country wrecked. and 1t
will take days to learn the entire extent of
the disaster.
The spire of Christ Episcopal Church,
which was subjected to the full force of
the gale, was blown down, and the heavy
brick base broke through the roof Of the
edfice. The stained glass window in front
was shattered. 1t will require about $1,000
to repair the damage. The interior was
uninjured-
The rectory, which Is the residence of
Rev. A. s. Johns, was badly damaged. A
chimney was blown over, going through
the roof into the rector's study. ard large
tree was blown against the front of the
house, wrecking the large porch.
The roofs were blown off the residences
of Mr.. S. T. Luckett and Mrs. Lyddane. and
Judge Henderson's residence WAS injured by
falling trees The African NJ. E. Church
was badly wrecked, the upper portion of
the front walls being blown in. The hay
barracks and barns on the farms of Arthur
Kemp. John Dawson and many other farm
erS living near here were blown down, and
the top of the residence of Mr.. Robert
Lyddane, mile south Of Rockville was
blown off
The magnificent trees in Rockville and
aH jnnI IN
the fair grounds, were leveled to the
ground in large numbers.
A tree fell upon a house in Lincoln Park
a colored settlement near here, complete
ly crushing 1t. 1t was occupied by Mary
Cook and her family. 1t was thought a
ten-year-old boy had been killed, but he
was afterward found in the woods in a
state of hysterical fright.
The waiting shed at the Baltimore and
Ohio depot was lifted up bodily and de-
posted upside down in the adjoining field.
Many Of the trees uprooted or twisted off
several feet above the ground were of
enormous size, some of them measuring be-
tween two and three feet in diameter. Wind
mills have been wrecked in every direc-
ton, and corn in shocks has been scat
tered far and near, in many instances be-
Ing complete loss.
On the farm of Mrs. Henry Baird. mile
vest OF this place. several buildings were
demolished. trees uprooted and other dam
age done.
On the premises of Mr. Henry NJ Copp in
the same locality, several outbuldings were
blown down and hundreds of trees were
twisted up by the roots.
On the place of Mr. Everett Bell. on the
outskirts of town, large orchard was
almost entirely destroyed and other dam
age done
Mr. Robert Lyddane. living about two
miles from here. near the Georgetown pike
reports great damage to his place, outbuild-
1I.gs being blown to pieces and scattered in
every direction. corn shucks. hay and straw
stacks are entirely destroyed, and nothing
Is left to designate where they formerly
stood His loss will amount to hundreds of
dollars.
The premises of Mr.. Ran. Dove on Rock
Vile Heights, suffered severely, all the out
buildings being demolished and gathered
crops being blown In every direction
A large hay barrack on the premises of
the Ofutt heirs. in the northern suburbs of
town, was blown down and the contents
scattered in every direction.
Other nearby points are reported to
have suffered in similar manner All the
telephone and telegraph wires are down
and communication with all parts of the
county is cut off.