The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-21 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENA IN AMERICA.

{From the Kennebunk Gazette of Saturday.{
VIOLENT TORNADO.
On Wednesday last, about half-past three o'clock, we were
visited by one of the most severe tornadoes ever recollected in this
part of the country by the oldest inhabitant. For two or three days
previous, the weather had been uncommonly warm for the seasons
the thermometer ranging from PO to 100. About three o'clock,
row. there were some small appearances of clouds in the west, Jodi-
eativeof showers,which in a few minutesapr,ad over that part of the
horizon, when the wind began blowing with tremendous fury, fill-
ing the air with clouds of dust, gravel, stones, limbs of trees,
boards, and whatever arrested its course, tearing up by the roots
and twisting off large trees, blowing down barns, sheds, and fences,
and taking riders from their horses ; people who were in the fields to
work, were compelled to lie down or hold on to stumps, to prevent
being drove before it and dashed to pieces by its fury. A line
growth of pine, oak, and maple timber, situated about a quarter of
a mile south of this village, experienced its most destructive force.
and in that coarse the most powerful current of wind appeared to
pass, for here it prostrated by computation from six to seven hun-
dred trees, from a foot to two and a half and three feet tit ough—
pursuing its course an easterly direction, it continued its ravage of
tearing up by the roots and twisting off trees in the various pas-
ture. and fields through which it passed, many of the owners to
us unknown. We have already heard of several barns and sheds
which were blown down and unroofed by its fury.
On Kennebunk river a saw-mill was blown down, and in Ken-
nebunk fort, part of the roof was taken from the old meeting-
house near Robert Towne's, Esq., and much valuablo growth de•
atroyed in that town. Nearly all the fences in its course were laid
prostrate, of whatever description they might be. The damage done
to forests, orchards, fences, and buildings, already heard (torn,
is very great. We also learn that in Berwick and the upper part
of Wells, much damage was done to buildings. forests and houses;
but it is gratifying, as far as we can learn, that no lives were lost,
or serious injury sustained by any 11ow tr xture. In one irstance.
a alt. Adams. of Rennebunk Port, was blown from his horse, to-
gether with his saddle, and slightly bruised. The width of this
tornado appears to have been from three to four miles ; but where it
commenced its ravages, or where its fury was exhausted, we have
not yet learned.
The Western Times, published at Portsmouth, Ohio, says that
on Friday. the 28th ult., that country was visited by the most vio-
lent storm ever experienced in the West. Its course was down the
Ohio, but how far it extended, had not been ascertained. Several
buildings were injured, and a number of cattle killed. Fences
were carried sway by the violence of the wind, orchards torn up,
and forests tended, in a manner that has seldom been witnessed.
The roads along the river have been rendered quite impassable by
the fatting of timber.—Neu Yovk Gazette.
RICHMOND (VIRGINIA), MAY 12.

CIRCLE ROUND THE SUN.—CifCies around the moon so fre-
quently occur. that they are rarely noticed. Yesterday, for the
hrst time, we witnessed a similar phenomenon ar and the sun. It
was about mid-day when it was seen ; and continued near an hour
and a half. The circle was apparently about the same diameter as
are the most comrnon.sized haloes around the moon. It had nothing
of the hues of the rainbow, nor was any thing particularly brilliant
or remarkable in its colour. The inside of the ring was inclined to
brown ; and the ou side was of a bright white. The circle was corn.
plete. Some persons were inquisitive to know whether its appear-
ance had been predicted in the Almanack ; some misnamed it an
eclipse; others were rather startled at the phenomenon, and anxi.
ously inquired of what it was the sign ?—lt was, as tar as we could
augur, the sign of nothing but that the atmosphere was loaded with
vapours, which, from peculiar arrangement, refracted the rays of
light in a way very similar to that of the circles around the moon.
We remember, seven years ago, to have seen a coloured rainbow-like
circle funned around the moon at twelve o'clock in a winter's night.
One of Silliman's late Journals speaks of coloured circles being
formed by the anti some time during the last year. We have not
been so fortunate as to see this beautiful appearance; and must be
content to have witnessed the solar circle which was " hung out"
yesterday.— Compiler.
[From the Cheondasa Rrgister of May 17.1
SLEEPING PRIPACIILft.—There is at present to be witnessed,'
in the town of Oeiaco, in this county, an instance of what Doctor
Mitchill calls " devotional %minium. ' scarcely second, we are in.
formed, to Cie celebrated case of Rachael Baker. Simeon ‘S'attion,
a hard labouring, industrious man, agett about thirty, of athletic
habits, sanguine temperament, about a month since commenced
preaching in his sleep. The fit (as it is unquestionably a disease)
commences immediately after lying down in the evening, and con.
tinuea until the usual religious exercises of a meeting are concluded.
Mr. Watson is a pious, respectable member of the Baptist Society,
and during the past winter has been much engaged in an awaken-
ing which has existed in the society in that vicinity. Soon after
retiring to rest he apparently falls asleep. In a few moments he is
seized with strong spasmodic contractions of the muscles of the
cheat and limbs— lwrys groans, and sometimes as if in great dia.
MSS; and, when is paroxysm subsides, commences preaching,or
rather praying. or informant terms It preaching, because in his
k
" somniuen" healways terms it so himself, whereas Miss 8., when in
that state, always declined having her exhortations termed preaching,
assigning the scriptural reason that women ought not to teach. Mr.
AVatson commences with a prayer of ordinary length, then names
sonic passage of scripture, as a text, from whii.h he discourses
fluently, and quite connectedly, and closes with another prayer.
He is totally insensible as to what is passing around, nor can he be
awakened until the paroxysm leaves hitn. Some at first were scep-
tical ; but trials were made sufficient to convince the most incredu-
lous. During the existence of the paroxysm his hands are so
firmly clenched together as deeply to indent them with his fingers,
and cause the blood to stagnate under his nails. Miss Baker's
hands used to be motionless by her side; yet she, like Mr. Wat-
son, used to move her head on the pillow as if addressing an au-
dience. In the midst of an exhortation, Rachael would pause to
answer a question, and then correctly proceed ; but Mr. Watson
cannot be diverted from his subject. In short, this rate of the'
human body and mind must be deemed one of great singularity and
interest, and one which, as it has never been fully investigated and
explained, opens a wide field for the religious and philosophical
inquirer. 1
TRENTON, MAT 22.
FIRE IN THE PlNE9.—AecountA from Monmouth county state
that fires are raging extensively in the Pines. Much damage has
been sustained in Cedar Swamp Property, fences, and wood cut
ready for market. The prevailing winds the greater part of last
week beiug from the west and north-west, the tire was making ra-
pid progress towards the sea coast, but on theflth the wind changed
to south and south-east. We look anxiously for rain to stay the I
progress of this destructive element.
1

FIRES IN TINE WOODI.—For several days put (says the Ro-
rk ester Atham of the 12th instant), much damage has been done
by the ravages of fire in the timber lands between this village and
Lake Ontario. We understand several houses have been con-
sumed, the inmates of which narrowly escaped with their lives, by
a precipitate flight. A boy, on his way to the village with a load
of potatoes, in a one horse-waggon, was overtaken by the smoke
and flames, and, by endeavouring to avoid the tire, got entangled
in the wads, and only rayed his own life,
. by leaving the horse and
waggon to the ravages of the devouring element.
The plain north of this village (says the IVarros (den's Falls
Recorder) has been on fire, within a few days past—we have beard
of its doing but little damage however. And we understood that
the woods are on fire in Caldwell, Warrenaburgh, Chester, and
Athol; but we have heard of no buildings being destroyed as yet.
MAY I.

FIRE ON THE MOUNT...MS.—For several days past the at.
moephere has been rendered dense and hazy by smoke proceeding,
as it has been supposed, from extensive fires in the woods of New
Jersey. The H'esteheater Herald, received this morning, states
that a " destructive and wide-spreading conflagration has been
raging since Thursday last, in the elevated forests situated some
distance north of Havenaraw, and supposed to be what is called
the Haverstraw mountains. The extent of the fire cannot be ac-
curately defined at present, but it has spread apparently several
miles ; not is it yet known how it originated." The Times like.
wise states, upon the authority of a gentleman who came down the
Hudson last evening in a steam-boat, that the woods on the High.
lands and Catskill mountains have been on fire far some days put,
and, on account of the excessive dryness of the weather, continue to
burn with great fury. On Friday last the danger of the Pine Orchard
House was so great, that stages were taken from the line at Cats.
kill to send out men to rescue it from conflagration. Great fires
were sees the night before last in the neighbourhood of Fort Blont.
gomery Creek, opposite Anthony's Nose, and the atmosphere was
tilled whit smoke.—Cornmerrial.

Accounts from Cape Coast, dated 30th April, state that
there is every probability of that part of the coast being involved
in war. lehad for some time been rumoured that the Ashantees
were on the move. We have now certain information that the
Bing, with the whole of Ms army, has left Commassee, and is now
near our frontier, but it is not known upon what spatter he medi-
tates an attack, whether Cape Coast, Annamaboo, or Accra.
Trade is, and has been for a long time, completely sea stand.
Ou Monday evening a Meeting of Journeymen Silk-
weavers took place in the Rev. Mr. M'Kenzie's Chem.], Church-
street, Mile-end New Town, for the purpose of " seriously con-
sidering the distressed state to which they have been reduced, in
consequence of the reductions in the price of their labour ; and t
adopt such measures as might be deemed necessary. A variety of
Resolutions were agreed to, for reolating the rate of wages with
the masters; and a vote of Poem liras passed oo the editor of the
Trirdl Lowitektn