The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-03 00:00:00

TERRIFIC TIURRICANE.

The neighbourhood of Caine was on Friday
visited by one of the most destructive storms ever
witnessed. It appears to have been a regular
tornado, having a curvilinear motion, and progress-
ing at a rapid rate. Symptoms of an approaching
storm were visible at ono o'clock p.m. The whole
atmosphere became thick and heavy. It was so
dark that it was scarcely possible to read without
artificial light. Presently the vault of heaven was
lit up by vivid flashes of lightning., accompanied by
loud and s.udden claps of thunder, which together
with the big hail stones falling thick and fast, and
the roaring of the mighty wind, produced a scene
at once awful and sublime. The whirlwind ap-
peared to commence on the outskirts of Bowood-
park, near Quobb's farm, passing on to the Rookery
Farm, marking its path by trees blown down
and others snapped off in the middle, thence to
Quemerford-villa, carrying away the roof of the
stable ; but when it reached Mr. Slade's mill at
Quermerford it carried away the chimneys, stripped
off the spouting and lead work, and blew some of
the slate tiling at least 400 yards from the spot.
The adjoining skilling, in which cattle were feed-
ing, was literally deprived of its roof, and the
I stone tiles of which it was composed strewn about
the road in pieces as fine as could be produced by
a stonebreaker's hammer. Pieces of freestone
coping, a yard in length, were blown away, and,
a large tree near the millstream is torn com-
pletely out of the earth, having at least thirty
square feet3.attached to its roots. At Blackland-
park, belonging to Mr. Marshall Hall, the de-
struction of property was immense. Part of the
roof of the lodge was blown away. Hundreds of
trees are lying on the ground, and it is a remarkable
fact that trees Bft. and 10ft. in circumference were
snapped in sunder like matchwood while others,
especially the heavy-topped firs, 30ft. in length,
were blown out of a plantation across the turnpike-
road, and into an adjoining field. The park and
plantations form a complete scene of desolation.
Twenty or thirty men were engaged all the after-
noon clearing the road, which was quite blocked
up. The windows of Compton-hall, the residence
of Mr. G. W. Heneage, sustained much damage
from the hailstones. At Cherhill, about three miles
from Caine, and situated in the vale of the White
Horse, the storm was terrific. Whole ricks of
wheat were carried away,:and some of the sheaves
to such a distance as to render it extremely
doubtful whether the proper owner will ever
see them again. A large tree fell across a shed, and
' the waggon it contained was cut in two. Several
ccttages were more or less blown down. We are
happy to state that amid all this destruction not a
single life, either of man or beast, has been lost.
One old man had a narrow escape. He had gone
under a small shed for shelter, when a large tree
came down with a crash across the roof ; but,
strange to say, the poor fellow crept out of the
debris safe and sound. One little outhouse at
Yatesbury was borne away, not a vestige of it to
be seen. The amount of damage done to barns and
ricks belonging to Mr. John Tanner, cannot be less
than £l,OOO. Such a storm was never before
known. It is quite impossible at present to state
accurately the full amount of damage sustained.

COUNTRY MARKBTS.

COLCIIESTER—DEc. 31.

A fair supply of wheat ; the best samples wore taken off
at about last week's rates ; inferior parcels is cheaper.
Malting barleys are higher in price, and grinding samples
were easy to sell at full pricer. Beans and peas in rather
soft condition, with a slow sale.
Wheat, white 44s to 50s Beans, Mazagan..32s to 36s
red 38s to 46s Middle & small 36s to 44i
Barley 36s to 46s White peas 3Be to 40i
Oats lBs to 23s Grey.. 32s to 360

CHELMSFORD—DPP. 30.
The quantity of wheat shown to-day was large, with
a fair attendanco. A. very flat business, and the last week's
prices barely maintained for all qualities. Barley is to 24
per qr. lower. Spring corn looking down.
Wheat, white 41s to 50s Peas, Partridge ..385 to 391
red 39s to 43s White 38s to 40.
Parley 30s to 37s Boiling ...... 381 to 41s
Chevalier 32s to 43s Dun ......... 33s to 30
Grinding 21s to 27. Beans, Tick ....39s to 41.
Malt 60s to 66s Harrow Ticks 41. to 40
Chevalier 63s to 68. Mazagan 361 is 3so
Oats 22s to 32s