Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-08-09
Last Weeks Heavy Storms.

The heavy storms which visited
this county last Wednesday afternoon
and early Friday morning covered a
large area and considerable damage
is reported in Florida, Mary land,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware
and Virginia. While Wednesdays
storm was not as near as severe here as
IN other sections, 1T was accompanied
by heavy rain fall, some hail and
wind. The lightning was very vivid.
Four sheep were struck by a bolt on
the Rosemont Stock Farm and killed.
A tree standing in the Baptist Church
yard, opposite Shepherds ford, was
shivered, and many other trees in the
same place were twisted off near the
ground and torn up by the high winds.
Great destruction was wrought over
wide district in Florida. the town
of Carrabelle having been nearly
wiped out. Many boats along the
coast were wrecked and a train on
the Tallahassee and Gulf road was
blown from the track. nconfirmed
reports are circulated of serious loss
of life. Communication with sum-
mer resorts is interrupted and relief
parties are to be sent out. In Eliza
beth, y. j., the storm caused half a
million dollars damage. Skeletons
IN the Presbyterian graveyard at that
place were exposed to view and there
was wild tangle of electric and tel
egraph wires. No serious casualties
are reported. however. The storm
passed over Maryland aud heavy
downpour of ram and high winds
swept Montgomery and Frederick
counties. causing great damage, and
SIX people are reported to have been
killed.
The storm of early Friday morn
inc broke over this place about 3
o'clock aud ragged over two and a half
hours. The downpour of rain was
heavy and continued without cessa
ton during the duration of
the storm. and many hillsldes were
washed and streams were swollen be
yond their banks. The growing corn
was badly damaged by the high winds
and the lightning was vivid and in
cessant. The only damage by the
latter, that we have heard Of. was a
tree that was demolished on the farm
of Mr.. :. Mccormick.
In jefferson county the storm was
one Of the most terrific that ever has
visited that section. The lightning
was very severe. 1t struck the wires
of the Winchester Telephone Compa
ny, and ran into the Office, setting it
on fire. The contents of the room.
valued at $500, were almost entirely
destroyed and the walls of the room
damaged to the extent of 500. There
was no insurance on the property OF
the telephone company, but the of
flee building, which belongs to Mr.
Forrest W. Brown. was insured
There were two sticks and two caps
of dynamite in the drawer of a large
desk in the office and they did not
explode, although the desk was badly
burned. Lightning struck the barn
on the farm of Miss Mary y. r.
Beall, about three miles north OF
Charlestown, and destroyed the barn
and its contents, consisting of several
tons of hay, 500 bushels of wheat. a
lot of harness and a calf. which be
longed to Mr.. John F. Ware, tenant
His other live stock was saved. II
also struck the tower and lagpole on
the Hotel Powhatan. at Charlestown
but did slight damage. The lOC
guests in the hotel were almost in 4
panic. Considerable damage wa:
done to growing crops, and the field,
were washed by the heavy rainfall
\ number of trees were blown down
The dwelling of DIR. ". f. Lippitr
was struck and slightly damaged, a.
also was the Baltimore and Ohio de
pot.
The drought which has prevailed
in this and adjoining counties wa:
effectually broken by the rain tha
accompanied these storms, and tn,
one that fell Saturday evening. Tn,
prospect of good yield of corn il
more encouraging.
Prof Neff Comes to Berryville