Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-08-07
Destructive STORMS.
Much Damage Done By Wind,

likutiiiuS oHu WoICi AL many PtoSCo'
On Thursday of last week Washing
ton, D. c., was visited by what is termed
a semi-cyclone and it is estimated that
$3.50, 900 damage was done, not including
damage to trees. Two men were killed
and 81 persons injured. 1t is believed
that many more received slight injuries.
Walter E. Hilton, vice. president of the
B. F. Saul Company, whose building COL
lapsed, and Thomas Fealy, timer, were
the ones killed.
The wind reached a velocity of rs miles
an hour. In many places it swept 30
close to the ground as to break and turn
over tombstones. The greatest damage,
however, was done to trees. The White
House grounds were devastated and in
many places immense trees were torn up
from the roots. Only two houses were
demolished. Roofs of many others were
partly blown off and porches and CHM
neys blown down.
Among the many historic trees on the
White House lawn destroyed was the
giant elm planted by President Hayes,
which was torn from it's roots and fell
across the Presidential drive near the
portico. The Mckinley oak and the Har-
rison sweet gum weathered the storm,
as did the Cleveland elm.
In Washington county considerable
damage was done by severe thunder
storm, reports from Hagerstown stating
that lightning struck the barn on the
farm of Samuel Hartle, tenanted by
Chas. Swope, and ripped off part of the
roof. The wash-house of Elmer Schwartz,
near Middleburg, was damaged. The
barn of Webster Hartle, near Middle
burg, was struck and the roof shattered.
Lightning struck three trees in the grove
opposite the home of David L. Wolfnger
at Reid and shattered them. A number
of small detached buildings were blown
over.
Last Thursday evening about O'Clock
rain began falling at Thurmont from a
small cloud coming from the east. The
longer the rain continued the harder it
came and for nearly two hours rain came
down in torrents. The thunder and light
ming were particularly heavy. The clouds
to hang over and circle about
Thurmont, the rain coming first from
one direction and then another. The rain
was heavy generally through the section
from Thurmont to Frederick and at
places the wind was heavy.
Lightning struck the hay shed on Mrs.
Annie Nancy Domer's farm near Catoc-
tin Furnace and burned it to the ground.
The building was practically new and
was we'll filled with hay. The top of a
large tree standing close to Catoctin
Furnace was broken off and fell across
the C. & P. telephone lines, breaking a
number. Other trees in that vicinity
were twisted off. Lightning struck two
large locust trees in front of Henry Fra
ley's residence on the Windy Hill"
farm, and demolished both.
Considerable damage was done in Fred
erick city, fash of lightning striking
the Ok Fibre Brush factory and caused
the plant to close down for some time.
The C. & P. telephone company was
hit hard by this storm, nearly thousand
phones being out of use. At Braddock
Heights transformer was damaged and
Braddock was without light.
On Wednesday afternoon, July 3Oth,
a violent hail and wind storm passed
through Carroll county, reports from
Wakefield stating that in many fields
scarcely half the corn was left standing
and the remainder is stripped of blades.
A number of silos, wagon sheds and other
buildings in the path of the storm were
blown down.
The same day two houses near fancy
town were struck by lightning but not
burned. At Hoods Mill hay shed con-
tanning rs tons of hay was struck and
burned and large straw rick several
hundred yards away was also struck and
burned.
On Friday evening, August LIST, a SER
les of thunder storms of unusual severity
passed over portions of Frederick county.
The first Of these came from the north
east and passed east of Thurmont. This
storm was particularly severe about
Woodsboro, Walkersville, Liberty and
Mt. Airy.
Lightning struck barn belonging to
S. w. Barrick, near Woodsboro, set it
on fire and burned it to the ground. With
the barn was consumed seven horses and
one mule, a lot of farm implements and
feed. The fire was plainly seen at Thur.
mont. The barn on the Hammond farm
near Liberty, was struck and burned to-
gether with hay, grain and farming i'm.
Elements. Mr.. John Oilers barn at Mt.
Airy was struck and destroyed this same
evening.
Perhaps the greatest display Of clouds
of about all colors Of the rainbow was
seen Just about sunset and for some time
thereafter by persons of this place. Al
the time heavy gust was passing to the
east, the clouds being very black, d.
rectly over Thurmont could be seen three
distinct stratas of clouds with here anc
there patch of the bluest of sky. The
sun from the west shining against the
clouds caused the many colors.
The second thunder gust of the even
ing came from the north and the heav-
lest passed to the west of US. Rain be-
gan falling at $50 and was heavy fol
nearly an hour