Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-03
THE NORTHERN NECK STORM.
The Most Destructive Ever known
I'm Tint section

CONFORM. KING GEORGE COUNTY,
VA, June 2-(special) although neariy
n week has elapsed since some parts OF
this and Westmoreand county were iain
in ruins by the great wind and hah-
storm. the full details Of its awful wol-.
could not be gotten here until yester-
day and to-day. owing partly to the TACT
that the telephone line was torn down.
and news cut off from the lower sections
and partly 10 the fact that the pubic
roads for many miles were blockaded by
fallen trees. etc, and the people aiong
the storm-swept region were too awe
stricken and demOralized TO give out ac-
curate accounts or TO estimate the DAM
ages.
Ex-State-Senator r. ]. Washington, or
the Oak Grove neighborhood. in the eX-
IRENE upper end of Westmoreland, es-
Inmates his losses by the storm at $1,000.
His wheat and corn crops were demol-
ished. and his magnificent residence torn
and defaced. DR.. Washington, near by'
also sustained a very heavy loss. His
pear-orchard, containing $500 improved
trees seven years Old, heavily laden with
fruit. was cut down by the hail and blown
away by the violent wind.
VI ltAsNCAA4A 4 lOANs
The once beautiful village Of Shiloh,
this county. was stripped of the stately
oaks and hickories. which had defied the
fercest storms for well-nigh a century,
and to-day presents a picture of desola-
ton and ruin. The residence OF Cap
tain w T.. Baker. in that village, was
badly dcfaced and injured. The immense
corn-cribs of M Henry V. Turner on
the Rappahannock. were blown down ana
hundreds of barrels OF corn scattered by
the gale and washed away by the tor
rents of rain. Holes were torn into
some of the storehouses, and the mer-
chandse inside flooded and mutilated.
Mr.. Banoch near Oak Grove narrowly
escaped death. Fleeing from the storm
he sought shelter in the nearest build
ing. and just as he entered with his
horse the wind struck and demolished the
house, mangling and bruising him fear
fully.
Hundreds and hundreds OF fowls. both
large and small. were destroyed-some
killed outright by hail. some blown away,
and pelted to death.
FIELDS DENUDED.
In some places along the track OF the
storm the growing crops were so COM
pletely demolished that the farmers VIII
make no effort TO resuscitate and save
them. Large fields were denuded Of
every vestige OF wheat and corn, so that
they are now as bare as they were on the
eve of planting.
\ reliable gentleman from the scene OF
ruin i'm one neghborhoOd says that IN
one strip Of the Rappahannock Valley a
green leaf cannot be seen as far as the
eye can reach. and the whole presents
a midwnter picture. as It is just after
a forest-hre sweeps through the coun-
try"
There never was before such destruc-
ton i'm this either by storm or confiagra-
ton. Forces Of men have been at work
clearing mountains Of debris from the
highways since last Thursday morning.
and the work IS not completed yet. The
latest from Shiloh and Edge Hill says
that l.. VI. Fosters grist-mill was COM
pletely demolished. instead of being sim
ply unroofed as heretofore reported.
children s-Day'' was observed at Mon
tague chapel CBaptsO. this county. yes
terday. and a very large crowd was in
attendance. There were all-day services
a number Of public addresses were de-
lvered.
Colonel Elliott, Of the United States
army, and his accomplished daughter
Miss LYDIA. OF Washington. d. G., are
guests at "Marmion." the home of Mrs
Fielding Lewis. Of this county.
News OF the illness Of Master John
Minor, of this place. who is spending the
summer in Lancaster, reached here yes
terday, and, II to-day's mail does not
bring more encouraging accounts Of his
condition his father will leave here by the
next Rappahannock steamer for Lam
caster.