Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-05-10
Storm Devastation In The county,

On Thursday night of last week abou
8 O'Clock wind storm of cyclonic powe
passed over the northeastern section O
this county, bordering on the Patuxen
River. II was Of limited width and ser
pentine in its course. Everything in III
path met with destruction. The cloud o.
fearful appearance rose in the south, trav
eled north and gave out rain, hail, thunder
lightning and wind at the point of devas-
tation.
Thousands Of persons from far and near
visited the scene for several days to look
upon the indescribable wreckaee. Leaving
there they had the feeling that they had
been transplanted in the Far West-the
home of the cyclone. whose destructive
hand has been welded so numerically
against the people there.
The storm showed its first violence upon
the farm of Mr.. J. William Benson. There
it destroyed every building the dwelling
house. large barn. III feet long. including
an attached shed. and all other Uutbuild-
ings. Some furniture prospective tenant
had moved into the dwelling in advance
of his occupancy by day. probably. was
destroyed. Here large, profitable orchard
of choice apples was practically destroyed.
A hundred or more trees were uprooted
Many of them were lifted into the air.
carried over woods and landed several
miles away.
The adjoining farm is owned by Mr..
Bowie Childs. Every building on it was
blown down. except the barn. All the
household. composed of Mr.. Childs. his wife.
two sons. a daughter. his mother and an en-
ploye on the farm by the name Of James
Leizear. had retired when the storm made
its visit. Three lives were taken. The
mother, Mrs. William H. Childs. SO years
of age. and Florence Childs. daughter. 8
years old. were found under the debris.
Hampton Childs, a son. IS years old. was
blown approximately 800 feet from the
spot where the house formerly stood. He
was discovered seriously injured. was taken
to hospital and died Friday morning. The
other members Of the family were taken
TO hospital and are still there receiving
treatment for injuries sustained. which
are not serious.
Lizear first extricated himslf from the
wreckage. He ran half mile to a neigh
boris. where the FIRE departments of Gath
ersbure Rockville and Sandy Spring were
summOnded. The firemen worked for hours
before the buried bodies were recovered.
In the path of the storm the next dwelling
wrecked was that of Mr.. Charles X. Haight,
occupied by him. his wife and Mrs. Anne
liza Knapp. SO years of age. Mr.. Haieht
and his wife were on the first floor read
ing when the storm struck the house.
The force of the wind broke WINDOWS.
tore off doors and knocked over parts Of
the 200 year-old stone walls Of the house
A large hole was made in the side of the
dwelling as If by dynamite blast. When
the wind subsidized Mr. and Mrs. Haight
dtltHlplcu " iCdSh hio' hhopP OOuy'
Their efforts were fruitless.
Making his way to stable. Mr.. Haieht
mounted horse and rode mile and half
through the storm for assistance. At
Roxbury Mills a group Of neighbors volun-
teered help and succeed in taking Mrs.
Knapp's body from the ruins.
The storm still furious. swept the roof
off the dwelling of Mr.. George Burroughs.
The occupants escaped injury through
their good fortune to get out of the build
ing. The furniture inside the house was
broken into small pieces by the force Of
the wind. which beat it about like paddles
of churn keep in motion the cream.
Further on and the last in the county &c
be assailed W the violence Of the storm
was the property Of Mr.. William Roger
whose barn and other outbuildings were
destroyed.