Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-07-30
DAMAGE FROM STORM
THROUGH THE COUNTY
Lightning, Hail and Wind Play Havoc
In Section South of the City,
Some of the Losses Thus
Far Reported
From The World OF Thursday.

From The World OF Thursday,
Further details of the storm that
passed over Berkeley county yester-
day afternoon indicate that 1t was the
most terrific outburst witnessed in the
southern portion of the county in the
past 30 years, and that the damage
was not more severe and widespread
is regarded as remarkable.
The center seemed to be in Arden
district, reaching from the village of
Arden to Gerrardstown. and the coun-
try in that section presents many es.
dences of the ravages or the elements
Trees were uprooted, fences blown
down and all the public roads badly
washed, in some spots the entire road
bed being swept into the adjacent
field.
Lightning Plays Havoc.
The electrical display during the
heighth of the storm was brilliant and
continuous. and lightning struck at
many points. doing damage to fruit
and shade trees.
The most severe damage reported
was that at the farm Of Mrs. Mary A..
McKown, near Arden, where lightning
struck the big frame barn, which was
totally destroyed by five, together
with s. IS contents, entailing loss
of about $500 to $4,000
The farm is tenanted by Mr.. Will
liam T. Hess, who, before the storm
came up, had been employed IN the
wheatfield. fastening to the barn,
Mr.. Hess stabbed his horses. and in .
few minutes a bolt of lightning de-
scended with terrific force upon the
structure, which burst into a sheet OF
flames. In the barn at the time were
six horses and two colts, lot of
farming implements, Is tons OF hay,
harness, etc, all the property of Mr..
Hess. Nothing was saved from the
building, and Mr.. Hess loss was total,
he having no insurance. The loss to
Mr.. Hess, which amounts to about
81 500. is a very severe blow to him,
and left him without means of work
ing his hay and corn crops. Tae
barn was valued at from $1,000 to
81 500, and the insurance was $1,000.
Close to the barn were the chicken
and hog houses, but all the fouls and
animals were taken away in safety.
Mr.. Walters Struck.
Another victim of lightning was Mr..
~, Ar
den. on the Tuscarora. who was struck
and stunned during the storm, both
his limbs being affected. He was not
seriously injured, and was able later
i'm the day, to drive to town and con.
suit a physician. Today his condi-
ton is somewhat improved, although
he is still suffering greatly from the
shock.
| lightning also struck at a number
of places near Arden. but no damage
OF consequence to property is report
ed from that point.
Fruit Trees Uprooted
In the orchard of Mr. Homer Small,
| a few miles west of the city, the
force of the wind and rain uprooted a
number of fine apple trees, entailing
considerable loss.
A heavy fall of hail is reported from
| the ne.ghborhood of Inwood, and fruit
trees, corn and garden vegetables
were badly damaged.
On the farm OF Mr.. George w. Trim
BILE. north of this city, many apple
trees were uprooted in his orchard
and hundreds of bushels Of the fruit
blown from the trees.
In the immediate vicinity OF Mar
tinsburg the damage was not great,
although gardens and trees were in.
jured to some extent
Both telephone lines running out OF
the city were crippled until this morn
ing. The Bell lines running to- Hedges
vile and Bedington were put out Of
commission, as was the line running
to Hagerstown. The Winchester line
both north and south OF the city was
crippled, and many phones were out
of service until this morning, when
the tangle was Strengthened out.
As a result of the heavy fall of rain,
all the streams in the county are swol-
len today, but no damage is reported
lfrom the overflow of the waters.