The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-09
EXCITEMENT AT A FAIR.
Wind and Lightning Throw Sight
seers Into n Panic.

BALTIMORE, Sept. S.-The fourth day
of the Baltimore County Fair at Timoni-
um, was attended by more excitement than
any day since the opening. About 2:SO
o'clock yesterday a thunderstorm occurred,
with wind of almost cyclonic force.
AS soon as It commenced to rain nearly
everybody rushed for the grandstands. Just
as the storm seemed to be subsiding the
wind rose suddenly and the canvas cover
ing on the old stand was blown to shreds
The rain then came pouring in and caus-
ed a general scramble for the other stand.
which was already full Of people. Women
the excitement, tainted.
When the rain ceased the grounds wera
flooded, but people managed to wade
around in the water and wind ana so found
the train or their carriages, while most OF
the visitors remained upon the grandstand
after the bell rang in announcement that
the races would so on, although the
track at the time was covered with run
ming water several inches deep.
The lightning struck the stable OF John
C. Parks opposite the York Road gate to
the fair grounds and killed a horse val
ued at $3.50, belonging to George W. Cox.
OF Woodberry, and driven by William Ec-
rington. Tho bolt struck the front dool
of the stable killed the horse, went up
ward. splinteTing the ioist above and tear
ing TIE shingles from the roof.
There were two other horses and one
,mule in the building at the time, but they
were uninjured. The dead hores was
burned about the body James Tulley was
rear the stable at the time and was Sc
verely shocked.
The same bolt was felt at the office oi
the Fair Association, which is at the 1orf
Road gate The lightning flashed along
the telephone wires and shocked President
George W. Yellott, Messrs. Charles Brock
meyer. Y. Steuart Diffenderfer, and D. II
Rice.
Two gentlemen were sitting just outside
Of the Office at the time and were also Sc
verel shocked. They were taken into tht
office and soon recovered. The horses at
tached to one of the wagons of the Stand
ard Oil Company and driven by L. NJ. Carr
standing at Harry B. McGlone's hotel ant
opposite the stable in which the horse wa!
killed, became frightened and ran away
The wagon was thrown against the pumI
in front of the hotel one horse being
knocked down and scratched about the
body. Six telephone poles on the Pott-
spring Road, near Timonium, were blown
| down by the high wind.
The musicians of the band at the south
end of the open stand were compelled to
run for the closed grand stand whe1 the
canvas blew off, and in their hurry left
the instruments behind them. The wind
caught the horns, trombones, and other in
strunents and sent them flying in every
direction.
In the sideshows the wind caused a
panic. The tent occupied by Boards mov-
ing pictures was blown down, and it was
only by an extra effort on the part of Col.
W. D. WestIake that more of the tents did
not collapse.
One woman. in rusing from the open
stand, lost a valuable diamond ring. The
announcement of the loss from the judges
stand caused many persons to gather about
the place where the ring was dropped, but
they did not find it.