The times., 1897-07-09
IN THE TORNADO's PATH
Havoc Wrought by Wednesdays
Storm in Fairfax County, Va.
WORK OF THE LIGHTNING
a Number OF Buildings Struck and
Destroyed Several Persons III.
burst SweIIs Small Streams Into
Torrents Reports of Damage.

The dense masses of inKy clouds Which
hung over the western horizon beyond Ar
lington like pail on Wednesday after
noon formed the canopy of storm of
Lightning, rain and wind which descended
upon and wrought havoc in portions or
Fairfax county, Va.
The edge OF the storm remained sta
tionary over West Washington for awhile,
casting a great dark shawow over the en-
tire city, and sending down several brisk
and cooling showers of rain. The central
portion, churning and writhing, and
black as midnight, finally developed great
energy aud charged through the upper at
rnosphere toward the Virginia county.
Advices from Fails Church and other
points received by The Times last even
ing state that the disturbance finally de
veloped into a eloudburst with a wind
storm tomado-Iike in its effects and char
acteriSuics.
1t swept over the country from Cariin
Springs to Fairfax Courthouse, being con-
fined to rather narrow path, like the
Western tornadoes, and left destruction ID
its wake.
The downpour OF rain was the greatest
known in that vicinity for many years,
and darkness overspread the land as
though nighfaIl had suddenly succeeded
daylight. The water was deluge, and
whole fields of corn were leycled TO the
earth Fruit trees were stripped and all
manner OF yeget tation beaten down by the
downpour.
treat trees, which have stood the at
| tacks of nature for scores OF years, were
blown down in large numbers by the gale
and fences We're topped over in all di-
rec1ions. The lightning flashes We're in
ceSsant and binding Horses and cattle
Were struck by the flashing thunderbolts
and great deal OF damage done to other
property.
The large barn of Joshua Kirby. near
Lewiuviile, was struck by lightning and
burned TO the ground with its contents. in
| GLIDING two fine horses and twenty loads
of hay. Two boys, Ernest Kirby and
Wade Byrnes, who were near the barn
when it was struck, Were knock ed down by
the shock and painfully injured
Mr.. kirby's brother James, who had been
10 Washington, and who was hurTying home
| TO avoid being caught in theiS.a, was over
come by the intense heat which preceded
| the breaking of the storm, and is now in a
critical condition.
The house of Luke Mcintosh, near Lin
! colnyille. was struck on its gable end by n
| thunderbolt and that side Of the building
| and the roof wrecked.
| John Burns was working III field near
| Bailey's Cross Roads and ran towards a
I shed for shelter, when he was knocked
| down and stunned by stoke of light
| ming which struck near him. 1t is re-
| ported that several othe houses Were struck
| and a number of COWS and horses killed
| by the bolts from the clouds. Many Win
| dows were also broken by the foIoe of the
wind and rain, and hundreds of trees Ilown
| down.
| So great was the downfall of W ter from
| the cleudburst that country streams which
| were only from one TO two feet deep in
| the forenoon became swollen torrents in
| the evening, their waters being from ten
! TO twelve feet in depth. Several freshets
resulted, and yesterday many farmers Were
| uBable to ford the streams to bring their
| produce to this city. 1t is reported that
| mary thousand dollars damage was in
| flicted in Fairfax county by the big storm.
| Up to last night several accidents but no
| fatalities had been reported.