The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-10-02
ALMOST A CYCLONE.
Most Disastrous Storm in Many
Years.
WIND BLEW go MILES AN
HOUR.
Trees Uprooted Everywhere and
Our City's Streets Strewn With
Limbs and Branches--Gr
Loss of Property in all
Parts of the County.

Frederick County was visited on
Tuesday evening last, by one of the
most severe cyclonic storms in her his
tory. Never before did such terrible
blasts of wind sweep over this fertile
section and leave behind a path of
wreck and ruin. Several times have
the f1oOd-gates of heaven opened and
torrents of water devastated the low ly-
ing lands of the Monocacy and Polo
mac rivers and their branches, but our
mountain walled valley has until now
been signallv spared the terrors of high
winds and hu rricanes.
The storm came from the gulf re-
gions and at times the wind blew at
the rate of sixty miles an hour. Huge
buildings rocked to their foundations,
stones and steeples swayed and rocked
in the heavy Blasts Untold damage
was done to all kinds of property and
to the long list of wreckage on land
the great lakes. Many vessels are re-
ported missing and the lives of brave
seamen sacrificed. 1t will take many
days to learn exactly the extent of the
storms fearful work and we can
thank merciful Providence that we
Jared as we'll as we did. The storm
lasted nearly four hours Railroad
and telegraph business has been SER
iOusly interfered with aud things gen.
orally upset.
The effects of the storm in Frederick
was the most disastrous in many
years, and whilst no fatalities have
been reported, the damage to property
in and about this city will amount to
a considerable amount. The greatest
injury perhaps was done to trees and
shrubbery of all kinds. In Court
House Park the scene of desolation
and wreckage the next morning was
enough to sadden the hearts of all who
have taken pride in the appearance of
our only summer breathing place dur
ing the heated term. In the park I'M
til Tuesday evening, was a collection
of the most stately and noble naples,
hemlocks and oaks, that can be found
anywhere. Their abundant foliage,
which sheltered the many who sought
the tranquility and rest afforded by
their wide-spreading branches, is now
shOrn and shattered and strewed along
the streets in shapeless masses. The
entire ground was covered with huge
limbs and trunks of trees and the
countless smaller branches and leaves.
One big tree was completely blown
down and all the others are standing
graceless and torlorn, as if mourning
their diminished grandeur and useful
ness. Some of them can be trimmed
up again, but it will be many seasons
before the terrible work of last Tues
day nights storm will be perma-
nently effaced.
Mt. Olivet Cemetery also received
large share of the power of the wind
and rain. Trees were torn up by the
nd hcfnp,oo nrI1chnh onA
ken by the weight of falling branches.
Many visited the spot the next morD-
ing and viewed the scene.
All over town the result is the same.
Everywhere there are marks of the
storms presence but in most cases the
damage is slight.
From the surrounding rural districts
we hear of similar incidents of the
great storm. No definite reports in
detail have come in, but from general
description the action of the elements
was very destructive to farm property.
Sheds and outbuildings were wrecked
in many places, shutters were blown
off houses, windows broken and trees
uprOoted.
The severity of the storm was evenly
distributed aud the territory a large
one Railroads, telegraph aud tele-
phone companies suffer largely from
the injury to their property.
The long railroad bridge spanning
the Susquehanna River between
Wrightsville, Pa, and Columbia, Pa,
was almost completely demolished
by the cyclonic windstorm that passed
over the eastern part of the United
States Tuesday night and Wednesday
morning and no southbound train came
in over the Pennsylvania railroad on
time in consequence. Only the iron
structure in the centre is standing.
Ali along the line are direful eviden-
GERS of the storms path, trees uprooted,
houses wrecked aud damage of every
description done. Wires are down
along the railroad and traffic will be
seriously interfered with.
It was reported here that the fierce
wind completely wrecked the building,
including the grand stand at the York
Fair Grounds. This is very unfortu-
nate, as the annual exhibition was to
have been held soon.