The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-09-26

bat awiuily impressed with the thought that
the place was one, where the hand Of Omnip~
otence had been put down in anger, to teach
man his impotence, in manner that should
be understood and remembered. 1t can hard
jy, however, be SAID that we stood among the
ruins, for most of them had been carried be-
yond our sight. A few large stones remaining
IN their places, and others strewed on each
side for several feet, Indicated where stone
wall had stood; few fragments of timber.
end small Gnanfify of hay which had sinre
been gathered togethaf, denoted the spot
where stood the barns a few timbers and
bricks, and at one place the floor remained,
of what composed the dwellings of the two
Savarys; and the feathers here and there dis
covered in the DUST Showed that the verv
fowls of heaven, that had often sported with
the clouds, could not fly the swift destruction
From tie mountain there is a rapid de-
scent,into the gore. In the valley formed be-
tween the mountain and high hill S. E. be-
fore 1t, stood seven dwelling houses, compris-
ing all the habitations in that part ofthe gore.
The tornado came over the mountain in the
direction OF tie buildings, and first struck the
barn OF MIR. William Harwood, carrying it
away; passing onward 1t injured the houses
of Messrs. F. Goodwin, ]. F erin and Abner
Watkins, completely destroying Ferrin's barn
and unroo6ng Wati1ins's. Next in the direc
ton of the wind, stood the dwelling of Daniel
Savary, of which nothing remains but part
Of the floor and bricks. Apprehending a
wind, Mr.. Samuel Sayary, aged ~ years, the
father of the proprietor of the buildings who
was himself absent, went mp stairs to fasten
down window. The women started to his
assistance, when, as they represent, the house
seemed to whirl and instantly rose above their
heads while what was left behind, timbers.
bricks, DC. almost literally buried six Of the
family IN the ruins. The body of tie aged
Samuel savary was found at the distance of
six rods from the house, his brains dashed out
against stone. Elizabeth, his wife, was very
much injured by the falling timbers, which
fell across her. Mary, the wife of Daniel S.
was severely bruised on her head. arms and
breast, and an infant Which she held in her
arms, was killed. The three children were
much bruised, but had sufficiently recovered
to tell us their artless tale and show the traces
| OF the storm. This family were extricated by
the assistance of the elder Mrs. Savary, who,
though now scarcely able to move, had the
most surprising strength IN removing the TIM
bers and bricks, beneath which could be
family heard the cries of the sufferers.
The house of Mr.. Robert Savary, was also
demolished. Mrs. S. says she anticipated a
shower, and went into bedroom, to take
up child, and was conscious Of nothing
more, till she found herself confined among
the timbers, gseatly bruised, but the child uf-
hurt-her husband buried altogether in the
bricks, with the exception of his head-and
two of their children completely covered uD
in splinters and rubbish. This family, con.
sisting of eight persons, were all wounded.
but none dangerously.
~
MIR. John Palmer, who lives up rise. dis
tant half mile, and was out at the door.
saw the cloud coming over the mountain IN
shape, as he represents, like tunnel, the air
filled with leaves, limbs of trees, &c. He i'm
medlately attempted 10 enter the door, but
was caught by the arm--at the same instant
the breast-work and chimney gave way, and
part of the frame buried Mrs. P. who was
attempting to force open the door for her hus-
band, under the bricks and timber. Mrs. P.
was considerably hurt, the remainder of the
family not materially injured.
The wind, in passing from the Savary,s to
Palmer's, tore up every thing in its course.
throwing splinters of the buildings, pieces
OF furniture, erockery, &c. in every direction
for mile; ten hives of bees were DESTROYED;
the legs, wings and heads of fowls were to be
seen lying about; several acres of corn and
potatoes adjacent to the buildings were swept
on clean, not leaving an ear, save at some
distance few In heaps stones half buried in
the earth were overturned, and we saw one
which would weigh 500 lbs. moved several
feet; herlock log 60 feet in length, half
buried i'm the earth, was taken from its bed
and carried six rods forward, while a knot
from the same log was carried Is PAGES back
and driven with great force two feet under the
turf; bridge covered with large oaks split in
the middle, was torn up, and the timbers
strewed FOR quarter Of a mile In a southerly
direction.
From these dwellings it passed over the hilL
two and an half miles, and down perhaps one
hundred feet, where it swept off all the build~
lngs of Mr.. Peter Flanders, killing a Miss An
ma Richardson and an infant child. All the
Others, in number, were wounded, some
badly, and MIR. T. so severely that until with
in day or two his life was despaired Of.
They informed us that no sound Of wind was
heard, although some might have observed the
cloud, until the crash of the buildings took
place, and then all was over in an Instant
The buildings Of Qeac. Joseph True, situat-
cd in corner Of Salisbury, were next swept
away. Mr.. t. and his father-in-law, Mr.
Jones, who with his wife were there on vis-
it, being at the door, saw the whirlwind app
proach, and had just time to hide themselves
one under his shop a few PAGES distant, and
the other down by a pile Of wood---when tie
buildings were whirled aloit and stripped into
splinters, with the exception Of some heavy
sticks of timber, one of which plunged end
ways into the ground 2 feet by the side Of Jones
lying by the wood, and the other end leaning
II. 81