The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-18 00:00:00

ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENON,

On Sunday afternoon last, a most remarkable pneu-.•
made occurrence astonished and alarmed a portion of tke .
inhabitants of Greenheys. About thirteen minutes isel,"
fore six o'clock, a whirlwind of a violent character Canmenced in some open ground opposite an unfinished street`
named Brook-street, at the top of Carebridge-street, be
een that and Boundary-lane. The shavings, dust{ 4,4°.1
were hurled into the air, at first forming a colunak
about seventy feet high ; but afterwards, as th force')
seemed more intense, the pillar became at least 200 feet:
in height. The circle occupied by the whirlwind was
not more than 40 yards in diameter, in its greatest ex-
tent. During its greatest fury, when pieces of wood, &e•
were whirled into the air, the leaves of the trees within
a distance of 20 yards were undisturbed. For a for
minutes, its circle of action was stationary ; the whirl--
wind then took a stately march due north, the vanes of
weather-cocks in the immediate neighbourhood (i- e/
within 100 y ards by n-,easurement) pointing at the time
due west. Passing over the houses, the tiles were torn
off some ; window blinds from the windows of others .
all received a storm of dust, shavings, paper, &c. ; and
flowers in the gardens were broken or torn up by the roots!:;
The pillar of dust and violence proceeded slowly
wards over- the streets and houses till it carae
Newcastle-street, the direction of which it took. ri.ue
violence of the wind appeared gradually to abate
but was still of the same circumscribed character.
It seemed to be lost at the north end ef lb°
street, the wind in the meantime having veered round
to the south, in which direction it was blowing at half'
past-six. At 17 minutes to seven, the direction of the
wind was S.W. by W. when there was some thunder ;
and at twelve minutes to seven, it was due west. The
breeze then appeared to cease altogether, and some
large drops of rain fell. At nine minutes past seven,
a breeze suddenly sprung up again, and the weather-
cocks indicated that it was due north ; in which direc-
tion it continued till after sunset, about which time, agtil!l
noticing the vane, we were surprised to find another,
change had taken place, asd the current of air wel:i
N.E. by E. At half-past ten, the wind was blowing duff
south again ! This is, perhaps, the most remarkable
variation of the winds which has occurred for
years in this country. The whirlwind itself from it*
coeimencement in Greenheys to its cessation in New'
castle-street, endured. about 25 minutes, and caused
very great alarm in the neighbourhood through which
it passed. During the evening the thermometer indi-
cated. some rapid and curious changes in the tem-
perature. We have beard of one incident connected
with this whirlwind, that caused no small consternation
to a family in the neighbourhood. After some consulta-
tion as to the coolest place about the premises in which
to take tea, it was decided that a flagged back yard
should be the spot, and thither the husband carried
a small table, and afterwards the tea-tray, with cups,
saucers. &c. Into the yard, suddenly descended the
whirlwind, filling the cups and saucers with dust,
and then in an instant down went the table, and there
was a smash of crockery. Some boys who were playing
in the open space of ground, across which the whirl-
wind took its course, were at first greatly diverted by
their caps being suddenly snatched off their heads and
carried upwards ; but their diversion was soon trans.-
formed into alarm and consternation, for as the violence
of' the whirlwind increased, they were themselves thrown
doWn upon the ground by the force of the wind, to their
great amazement. No one was seriously hurt,---111a"
chester Guardian.