Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-07-03
A Heavy Rain Storm in this County

During Sunday afternoon last the heav-
lest rain storm and food that has occurred
for many years visited large section of this
county, and the devastation to property, and
particularly to crops, was immense.
1t is reported that many farmers will do
their fields being nearly covered with six
inches of water and three feet of mud, and
cutters are washed in the fields to the depth
Of four and five feet.
In the garden of Mr.. D. W. Shorb, near
Boyd's, on branch of Seneca creek, every
bit of soil was taken off for three feet, and
huge rocks were left to view. While il was
raining hardest Mr.. Shorb and others were
standing on hill watching the stream,
and saw the creek rise about three feet In
little less than three minutes, completely
overwhelming trees before il and carrying
away some Of his hogs. Further down the
rise and swept away.
For miles in this section of the county and
along the creek bottoms there Ia not lett
single panel OF fence, at least 10000 panels
having been swept away, and the loss there
alone is great At Hoyle's Touring mill the
engine was found washed down stream
considerable distance and broken to pieces.
The millwas badly damaged and a quantity
of meal and -four lost. Hay that had been
cut is lodged in tree tops by the ton all along
the streams. There are at least 1000 acres
OF wheat gone along the streams, and bridges
that did not go are hanging on one end.
The Seneca railroad bridge, near German
town, was so badly damaged by the food
that trains were unable to pass over IL until
Monday afternoon. 1t is estimated that the
damage by the food will reach 100000.
Fowls were drowned by the score, some
farmers losing several hundred. Hundreds
of acres OF corn are utterly ruined, and rye
and potatoes are washed out by the acre.
Among those who met with losses by the
food in different localities are the follow
ing Richard Allnutt, 40 acres of wheat and
two binders Lawrence A. Darby, 10 acres
OF wheat; VIM Schaetfer, 25 acres OF wheat !;
Mrs. Molie West, lot of wheat and corn
damaged Mrs Sallie Higgins, lot of wheat
damaged; William Metzger, lot of wheat;
Edward King 10 acres OF rye The dam at
Black Rock Mills was washed away.
The wrecks of bridges, fences and small
buildings strewn aloag the Patuxent river,
which divides Montgomery and Howard
counties, indicate much more damage than
was first reported from Monday mornings
storm. All day Monday the long and tor.
tuous current was swollen to the proper.
tons of big river from Its source down to
Laurel. The bridge at Triadelphia was car.
ried away. At the same place the entire
sheepfold of George Burroughs, farmer, on
the Montgomery county side, was swept
down the stream and the sheep were drown.
cd or killed. The animals were housed in
an old factory building, which was demol
ished and carried away. Farther down the
river at Green's bridge two horses belong
Ing Milton Brown, also OF this county, were
caught in the water and carried away, one
of the animals being found dead. The other
could not be found. Along the river a lot of
wheat in shock and stacks was washed from
the fields.