The Evening Star Wednesday, September 30, 1896 This file is part of the DCGenWeb Archives Project: http://www.usgwarchives.net/dc/dcfiles.htm ********************************************* http://www.usgwarchives.net/dc/dcfiles.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ********************************************* Contributed to The USGenWeb Archives Project by: Debi Remer -------------------------------------------------- Washington, D.C. (Compiler's Note: There was a bad storm that his the D.C. area the previous evening. I cannot find the proceeding page to the paper (these are original papers) but can tell from these articles what happened) ROCKVILLE AND VICINITY Steeple of Christ Episcopal Church Blown Down Rockville, September 30, 1896 The great storm which visited this locality last night, was the most destructive in the memory of the oldest inhabitant, and did damage that will take thousands of dollars to repair. At this place the streets were practically blockaded during the greater part of today, although a large force was early put to work to clear away the debris of trees, tin roofs, telephone poles and wires. All the country roads leading to town are blockaded, and but few people have been able to reach town. Those who have come in, mostly on foot report the entire country wrecked, and it will take days to learn the entire extent of the disaster. The spire of Christ Episcopal Church, which was subjected to the full force of the gale, was blown down, and the heavy brick base broke through the roof of the edifice. The stained glass window in front was shattered. It will require about $3,000.00 to repair the damage. The interior was uninjured. The rectory, which is the residence of Rev. A. S. JOHNS , was badly damaged. A chimney was blown over going through the roof into the rector's study, and a large tree was blown against the front of the house, wrecking the large porch. The roofs were blown off the residences of Mr. S.T. LUCKETT and Mrs. LYDDANE, and Judge HENDERSON'S residence was injured by falling trees. The African M. E. church was badly wrecked, the upper portion of the front walls being blown in. The hay barracks and barns on the farms of Arthur KEMP, John DAWSON and many other farmers living near here were blown down, and the top of the residence of Mr. Robert LYDDANE, a mile south of Rockville, was blown off. The magnificent trees in Rockville and the country adjoining, including those in the fair grounds, were leveled to the ground in large numbers. A tree fell upon a house in Lincoln Park, a colored settlement near here, completely crushing it. It was occupied by Mary COOK and her family. It was thought a then year old boy had been killed, but he was afterward found in the woods in a state of hysterical fright. The waiting shed at the Baltimore and Ohio depot was lifted up bodily and deposited upside down in the adjoining field. Many of the trees uprooted or twisted off several feet above the ground were of enormous size, some of them measuring between two and three feet in diameter. Windmills have been wrecked in every direction and corn in shocks have been scattered far and near, in many instances being a complete loss. On the farm of Mrs. Henry BAIRD, a mile west of this place, several buildings were demolished, trees uprooted and other damage done. On the premises of Mr. Henry N. COPP, in the same locality, several outbuildings were (hard to read)--On the property of Mr. E. BELL on this ?, a large orchard was entirely destroyed and other damage. Mr. Robert LYDDANE, living about two miles from here, near the Georgetown pike, had great damage to his place, outbuilding being blown to pieces and scattered in every direction, corn shucks, hay and straw stacks are entirely destroyed, and nothing is left to designate where they formerly stood. His loss will amount to hundred of dollars. The premises of Mr. Ran. DOVE, on Rockville Heights, suffered severely, all the outbuildings being demolished and gathered crops being blown in every direction. A large hay barrack on the premises of the OFFUTT heirs, in the northern suburbs on town, was blown down and the contents scattered in every direction. Other near-by points are reported to have suffered in a similar manner. All the telephone and telegraph wires are down and communication with all parts of the county is cut off. Southwest Section - Washington, D.C.: The roof of a three-story building occupied by Mr. J. WINFIELD, on G street between 9th and 10th streets southwest fell and crashed through the two-story house next door, occupied by Capt. G.B. FAUNCE. Both Captain FAUNCE and Mr. WINFIELD were both quite badly injured, while their families had decidedly narrow escapes. The houses, which are 918 and 920 G street southwest, are in ruins. Their occupants were taken to a nearby hotel, where a physician rendered medical assistance to those who were injured. RECORD OF LOSSES In the southwest section roofs were separated from buildings as follows: 308 41/2 street, Delaware avenue and D streets, C street between South Capitol and Delaware avenue, 46 B street, B street btween 2d and 3d streets, 120 Maryland Avenue, Crab Tree court, B street between 3d and 41/2 streets, four roofs on D street between 3d and 41/2. A brick wall in Wonder's court collapsed, and a police patrol box at 1st and N streets was demolished. Countless electric, gas, gasoline and naphtha lamps throughout the southwest section failed to burn during the progress of the storm, and that portion of the city was practically in darkness. A large tree in front of 112 Virginia avenue lies across the south side of Virginia avenue, obstructing the way. Most of the streets are strewn with timbers and large sheets of tin roofs. Nos. 60 and 62 F street were unroofed and the buildings, which are brick, were cracked from bottom to top, and considerable damage was done to No. 62, which is a store; 702 Half street was unroofed. The roof was lifted off of James BRASS' house, corner Half and G streets, and carried some distance. Furniture and dishes were smashed, and much damage done to the property. The loss is estimated at $125.00 The new brick houes of Mr. Edward FITZGERALD, 70, 62, 74 and 76 I street, were all unroofed and otherwise considerably damaged. The Randall School building also suffered slightly, having the tin roof partly taken off and dashed away, some of it more than a square. Window glasses were broken and scattered about the exterior and interior of the building. All the buildings on L street between Delaware avenue and Half street were unroofed, the store of H. FRANKLIN, corner Delaware avenue and L street, surffering the most. Few houses on M street from M street bridge to 41/2 street have their roofs.No. 22 N street is completely enclosed by a large paper mulberry tree falling across the front yard, with it's bushy top cutting off entrance or exit from the front door. Mr. R.D. RUSK's buildings, 1211 and 1213 3d street, and the stable in the rear suffered great damage. The tin roofs were torn off the dwellings and the whole top was taken off the stable, leaving the bales of hay, corn, and other supplies exposed. Tip JOHNSON, a colored man, who lives in one of the dwellings, and looks after the stables, gathered a number of men while the storm was raging with great fury and rushed into the stable amid flying timbers, falling brick, cracking walls and breaking rafters, and rescued eighteen horses and mules. At 336 I strreet, the home of Mr. LEVY, the skylight was torn off, glass scattered over the interior of the house and a shed demolished. The Ambush School building, on L street was partially unroofed but suffered no other damage. The house at 1021 6th street, the property of John JOHNSON, colored, sustained considerable damage.