The citizen., 1914-03-06
Storm Sweeps City
DAMAGE AT MONTEVUE
Houses Unroofed-Barns Blown
Down-Trees Uprooted and
Other Accidents = Estimated
Loss 100000.

WdS NlSllSu Dy one Oh tnS most severe
wind and snow storms Sunday and
Monday March Ist and end, in the his
tory of this section, with a fierce north
west wind blowing over sixty miles an
hour. The storm left in It's wake whole
sale destruction, the damage amounting
to thousands OF dollars. No loss of life
has been reported, although some per
sons made narrow escapes. For nearly
every family in this vicinity the night was
one Of anxiety and fear, and few persons
were able to get much sleep while the
wind in its fury shook the houses and
howed with ferceness which was prob
ably never known before in this part of
the county.
Trees were uprooted or limbs blown
down, houses were uproofed, barns and
sheds leveled, shutters torn from the
houses, window panes smashed portions
of some houses demolished, fences blown
over and all kinds OF minor destruction
wrought throughout the city and
county. Montevue Hospital, the county
poor house was badly wrecked by the
storm, the damage being estimated at
$1,000.
The havoc was general in the city and
county and the loss will amount to prob
ably a hundred thousand dollars or
more. The telephone and railroad serv-
ice is badly crippled, and practically all
travel throughout the CITY and county
was brought to a standstill.
William H. TalOert. who is now re
siding in Frederick, and who has spent
the most of his life in the West, states
that the wind and storm was worse than
anything that he had ever experienced in
the West. and that one time he passed
through portion of storm which blew
down seven houses in the neighborhood.
This happened when he was residing in
Missouri
Montevue, the county home, probably
presents the greatest scene of desolation
and the storms havoc in this county.
Superintendent s. U. Gregg estimates
the amount of the damage at nearly
S., 900, with nearly every building un-
rooted.
In the old colored building, which is
no longer occupied, and which was COW
cred with slate, the roof was torn away.
Through each building many window
glass were broken, and it is estimated
that fully 200 panes Of glass were broken.
The engineer at Montevue Hospital
states that stones were even picked up
by the force of the wind and hurled
through the windows, and stated that he
was in a room in the building when
stone which he exhibited to Superntend-
ent Gregg came hurling through the
glass of the window
Shortly after I O'Clock, and before the
buildings were unroofed, Superintend ent
and Mrs. Gregg arose. Then the huge
building was twisting and creaklng un-
der the terrific force OF the storm, and
they realized that at any time the big
building might collapse, aud they were
also fearful of fire.
All of the attendants of the institution
were called and all of the inmates of the
place were gathered on the lower floor
of the building. All were compelled to
don their outer clothing and wraps so
as to beable to endure the wintrv weather,
if compelled to leave the building. All
of the sick were carried into the recep
tion rooms upon cots.
Adding to the confusion about the
place the electric lights in the building
Jailed, and all light that could be had
was from dozen or more lanterns in the
hands of The attendants.
Thefnight watchman of the institution
was unable to make his trips to the barn
after II O'Clock at night, due to the force
of the wind. The barn was moved of of
its foundations about two inches.
L. W. Putman's handsome brick barn,
situated along the Montevue Pike, aud
near Montevue, is a complete ruin, hav-
ing been blown down to near the barn
floor This barn was 90 feet long and
AZ feet wide, and with its well built brick
walls appeared as substantial as any in
the county Now the mass Of brick
which once constituted the one gable
end are scattered on the Montevue Pike
and the bricks OF the other end are on
the hay which was the west NOW. The
roof is scattered about and the heavy
timbers supporting the root and the in
terror of the barn are scattered about as
if the work of moving them was child's
work for the mighty power OF the wind.
In the barn at the time were nine
head of horses and about 80 head of
cattle and fortunately all escaped injury.
Standing in the rear Of the barn was
large silo, and this was blown down
and carried into Montevue Pike.
D. Columbus Kemp, residing a short
distance north Of Montevue, was also
a heavy loser by reason OF the storm
Upon the farm on which Mr. Kemp lives
is stone barn. The west gable end of
this barn blew down, and the heavy
stones went through into the horse
stable killing two valuable horses for
him. One-half Of the barn roof was
blown off. The roof of the porch in the
front of the residence was also blown
down.
Mr.. Kemp owns farm on the Ham
burg Pike, which was tenanted by Grant
Hooper. The barn upon this farm was
unrooted and the roof of the wagon shed
was also torn away.
Adjoining the farm of Mr. Kemp is
the farm of Mrs. S. A. Z. Toms, of
Frenerick, and tenanted by Charles Falk.
The dwelling house upon this farm was
unroofed, the granary doors were torn off
and considerable of the farming machln-
cry of Mr.. Falk and carriage belonging
to him we're badly damaged.
- . =. al. e.