Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-05-31

Rain Does Much Good.
Big Storm Sweeps Over Four
States.

OUdJCSs
Last Sunday the temperature in this
vicinity was about the seasonable aver.
age, the mercury going well up into the
eighties. Indications, however, pointed
to rain. At evening time clouds began
to gather and about eight o'clock flashes
of lightning and heavy thunder were seen
and heard in the west, and soon after
ward rain began falling. From this
place the main part of this storm was to
the south.
Rain continued most of the night. At
no time was the fall heavy. Growing
crops were greatly benefited, the grass
and grain being very short.
Monday afternoon a series of gusts
passed over this section, rain at times
being very heavy. There was no hail
and very little wind.
Considerable hail fell at Sabillasville
and other points on the mountains to
the west of Thurmont.
The storm was severe in many places
in Maryland and adjoining states accord
ing to the following reports:
Annapolis, Md, May %. Hailstones,
many of which were larger than the
average sized marble, fell during a series
of storms that passed over Annapolis
this afternoon. The storms also were
marked by deluge of rain and vivid
display of lightning. In severe storm
that passed over the city last night, a
bolt of lightning set fire to the dwelling
occupied by the family of Police Justice
Charles O. Dulin and caused considerable
damage to furnishings.
Hagerstown, Md, May 2S One of
the heaviest rain storms of the season
swept Washington county this afternoon,
In some sections the storm assumed pro-
portions of cloudburst. The lightning
was very severe. Corn fields and roads
were badly washed. Hundreds of acres
of wheat were blown fiat. Hail fell and
did much damage to truck patches.
fredericksburg, Md, May ga hail
storm of unusual severity visited this
section today, doing considerable damage
to rowing vegetation. The peas and
tomatoes suffered the worst. 1t also is
feared wheat was injured Hail stones
as large as marbles fell, breaking win
dows in many instances. The storm CEN
tired in a space of about three miles
around fredericksburg and was accompan-
led by heavy downpour of rain.
Seaford, Del, May 28. -Seaford was
visited by wind and rain storm of un-
usual velocity late today and the town
was in darkness for several hours to-
night, number of electric light poles
having been blown down. Rain fell in
torrents and the wind blew gale. Peas.
tomatoes, hay and wheat were damaged
by hail, but it is not thought the loss will
be heavy.
Waynesboro, Pa, May %. This por-
tion of the Cumberland Valley was swept
by severe hail and rain storm this after
noon. In Waynesboro telephone pole
was struak by lightning and spintered
and all the telephones in the vicinity
were put out of commission. Rain fell
here in torrents. 1t was preceded by
hail, which was as large as hickory nuts.
The ground was nearly covered with the
stones and considerable damage was done
to the young fruit, vegetables and
wheat.
Winchester, Va, May 28. "A terrific
hail storm, coming suddenly from the
north cut wide path this afternoon in
Southern Frederick, Northern Shenan-
doah and Western Warren counties
Garden and field crops were damaged
severely and it is feared young fruit has
been injured. Hailstones nearly two
inches in diameter fell.
Harrisonburg, Va, May 28.-Two vio-
lent electric storms visited Rockingham
county Saturday and last night. Samuel
Bowman's barn near Massanetta Springs
was struck by lightning and destroyed by
fire. A bolt also ran into Henry Forrer's
home and damaged the telephone system.
The rain, however. will be worth
thousands of dollars to farmers and gar
deners.