Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-08-21
HEAVY STORMS.
Much Damage Done In North
End of County.

End of County.
On Sunday evening thunderstorm
passed to the northeast of Thurmont, but
sufficient rain fell in this vicinity to cause
a drop in temperature, the heat during
the day being very uncomfortable.
There was considerable thunder and
binding flashes of lightning, bolt strik.
ing the electric light wire in front OF
Mrs. Nelson Wilhide' s residence on Car
roll street extended. The report was
very sharp and scared the more nervous
citizens for some distance around. Nc
damage to the plant was reported and
everything was in working order during
the evening.
On Monday evening another storm OF
much greater severity passed over the
north end of the county, the thunder and
lightning being the worst experienced
for many years.
, The storm centre was to the northeast
of Thurmont, but there was heavy rain
here. The wind broke innumerable small
branches from trees and also broke a
number of heavy tree tops, the top of a
sycamore in front of Mrs. A. A. Troxell' 8
on Carroll street being among the
number.
After the rain ceased sufficient that
persons could go out of doors six fires to
the north. east and south of Thurmont
could be seen.
Perhaps the nearest one of these was
near the mouth of Ovens creek, the
barn on the Boiler" farm now owned
by Mr.. l. l.. Hankey and tenanted by
Mr. Elmer Pittinger, having been struck
and set on fire by bolt of lightning. In
the barn was about 600 bushels of wheat
in the straw. This, with all farm ma
chinery and harness was burned. Mr..
Pittinger carried no insurance.
Another of these fires was near Detour,
the barn on the Lewis Cash farm
owned by Mr.. Frank Delaplane being de-
stroyed This is about the third time the
barn on this place has burned.
Two other fires seen here were proba-
bly, barn near Ladesburg on a farm
tenanted by Howard Hahn, and Frank
Addison's barn near Evansville.
Other fires were in the direction of
Gettysburg.
Along Ovens creek east of Graceham
much damage was done by the lightning
and wind.
Mr.. Allen D. Hoover came to Thur
mont early Tuesday morning and report
ed that his barn had been struck and
badly damaged, several posts in the
frame being in splinters. While the
storm was passing in his vicinity he
knew lightning had struck very close the
house but did not know it hit the barn
until Tuesday morning. The wind rolled
chicken coops about the premises but
only a few chickens We're drowned.
Mr.. Adam Zentz' barn at Graceham
was struck and some Notwithstanding
torn off.
Lightning struck large locust tree
standing close to Mrs. Emma Firor' s
residence on the old Zimmerman farm at
Graceham, and split it badly.
Mr.. Harry Stamba ugh, who some
weeks ago sustained heavy loss by wind
and lightning, was visited again, this
time part of his barn roof being blown
off and carried more than the length of
the barn.
Lightning struck and killed valuab BILE
five-year-old horse for Mr.. Henry Ecken-
rode. The horses were put in the field
just before the storm broke, and it is
thought the animal was killed soon after
ward. The horse was found dead about
l0Oyards from the barn Tuesday morning.
Lightning struck chimney on Mr..
Ed. Baxters residence on Carroll street
extended, this place, Monday evening.
Luckily none of the family were injured,
although all were badly frightened.
Lightning struck and damaged Mr.,
Danl Seiss' barn near Graceham. A
number of years ago lightning burned a
barn on this farm.
Very fortunate, indeed, are Messrs.
Hoover, Zentz, Seiss and Stambaugh
that their barns were not burned during
this storm.
A terrific thunderstorm, breaking a
protracted and disastrous drought, swept
Washington county Tuesday night. In
an hour and half three inches of water
fell Lightning struck the West Side
Lumber Company's stable in Hagers-
town, and also the Hess Carriage Com
pany's blacksmith shop, and burned both
buildings and their contents.
The big electric plant of the Hagers-
town & Frederick Railway Company was
unable to send current to Thurmont, the
sub-station at Thurmont being shut down
| until about four O'Clock Tuesday morn
ing.
The Frederick Post of Tuesday morn
ing reports that the lightning was so Sc
we're at Braddock, Middletown, Myers
vile and Frederick, that cars were forced
to cease running for short while.
Braddock and Frederick were without
light for some time because of trouble or
the high tension wires coming from Sc.
curity, near Hagerstown.
In the southern portion of the county,
at Buckeystown, Adamstown, Point OF
Rocks and Brunswick, the lightning was
terrific. the rain heavy, and the wine
very strong.
In Frederick city, the whole southern