Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Hail Ravaged
County Thrice
In 80 Years

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In one period of 80 years
Montgomery County farmers saw
their fields, orchards, and stock
dashed by severe hailstorms three
times. The vicious phenomena
struck in May of 1899, June of
1918, and April of 1873.
The most vivid descriptions of
the hailstormS are found in the
writings of the day. A Mrs.
Chandlee" in a letter dated May
%, 1899, tells of the storm break
q about 6 o'clock in the evening
and continuing three-quarters OF
an hour with incessant flashes of
tightening and constant peals of
thunder. The devastation of tim
Der, loss of grain, clover, out
houses, gardens, etc. is almost
pas, description"
Mrs. Chandlee recorded that
she and her baby were in great
danger of injury during the
storm, part of the roof of her
homo having been blown off and
most of the windows broken.
The newspaper FEDERAL
GAZETTE AND BALTIMORE
DAILY ADVERTISER carried
4 the following description of the
storm that whipped between
Rockville and Clarksburg on Sun
Gay, June 7, 1918:
1T approached from the south.
east accompanied by a confused
rumbling noise. Fortunately it
did not drive much, or the mis-
chief must have been much great
er, as some of the hail measured
fourteen inches in circumference;
a large hog was seen to fall dead
from receiving one, and the backs
of the cattle were so lacerated as
to cause the blood to run down
their sides. Generally they were
the size of goose egg, and were
of irregular, conical form. Some
farmers had their prospects
blighted in seeing their towering
fields of grain laid PROSTATE to
the earth"
Volume l of the Annals of
Sandy Spring records another
tragic Sunday. ION Sunday, April
%, 1878, occurred the most ter
rifle hailstorm ever known in
this latitude by the present gen.
GRAFTON. The morning was love
ly until noon; the sky became
overcast soon afterward and
clouds of a singular brassy tint
appeared in the southwest. In
a few moments a dense gray wall
moving swiftly -. swept over a
district of eight or ten miles in
length by from three-quarters of
a mile to a mile and a half in
breadth. The hail fell for nearly
half an hour without an instant S
cessation, and during most of
that time it was impossible TO
see one inch beyond the window
pane.
"The noise can only be com.
pared to the roar of Niagara,
persons in the same room having
TO shout in order to be heard.
When the storm ceased, what a
scene of desolation met the eye.
Wheat tall enough to conceal a
poSt-and.rail fence was moved
down to stubble on a level with
the lowest rail; fruit trees heavy
laden an hour before, were not
only stripped of every apple,
peach and pear, but in many
cases not leaf was left; gar.
dens were as bare of green and
growing plants as a floor; cat.
tie that had waded in pasture in
the morning, stood lowing for
food until they received their sup.
per from the barns.
"The ground was covered for
miles to a depth varying from
four inches to two feet, and hail
was found in sheltered places one
and two weeks after the storm.
Most fortunately the hail stones
were of moderate size"
Crop damage from the 1878 on.
slaught was placed easily into
thousands Of dollars The farm.
ers of the area we're forced TO
clean up after the storm under
the curious eyes Of carriage
loads of people who came from
distance Of miles to witness the
destruction"