The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-08-12

q
ling on the Both ult., fr0m Sturbridge to a
town about 20 miles east, writes to the
SOuthbridge Register an account of the
tornado on that day. He says. " observed
in the forenoon rapid, and rather unusual
movement of the clouds, which indicated,
particularly towards noon, the fall of rain.
The wind was in a southerly direction, and
the heat sultry. About noon l perceived
dark, heavy cloud, rising in the western
horizon, the motion of which indicated u
strong current of wind in the higher regions
OF the atmosphere though near the surface
OF the earth there was a bTeathless calm,
In the eastern horizon another cloud collect
Ell, which appeared to be moved by an east
erly wind towards the north. There was n
rapid approximation of the clouds towards
each other, and violent comotieR of ele-
msnts in the atmosphere, which pOrtended
storm. distant murmuring Of the Cou-
tending winds gave the signal, that tor
rent Of rain or hail was at hand. Ihastsncd
forward and reached q friends house in
Sutton, just az the shower began to fall. /
watched the singular appearance in the
heavens cloud dashed against cleud, wind
Strove with wind, and thunder answered
thunder, exhibiting scene of terrific gran
deur. The rain fell in cataracts, and the
warning elements combined their forces in
furious tornado, which swept over a tract
sf twenty miles in leAgth. 1t commenced,
it is believed, somewhere in the neighbor-
heed Of Quinnebaug river in Southbridge,
and msvsd in direction generally east by
north. The width Of the current yaried
from about ene hunAred to one hundred and
fifty rods. In its course, IL was furious 40
tropical tornado. Buildings were blown
down and unroofed, the fragments Of which
we're, in some Instances, blown great dis
tances. 1t swept through meadow lands,
scattering far and wide, large quantities Of
hay, which had been raked together. Much
damage was dene to wood lands, timber
lots, and frnit-trees. noticed some Of iIs
ravages in forests and orchards. The lofty
pine was literally shattered to fragments.
The sturdy oak was in some instances torn
up from the root, in others wrung of mid
way up its trunk, and in Others stripped of
every limb. Fruit trees wore Frustrated ia
every -sometimes whole trees
were taken ap, root and oil, and driven be-
! fore the tempest, till they exhibited an APP
pearance of, what is called, bush harrow.
Fences were overthrow, and fields of corn
| aHd oats either torn up, or prostreted TO the
earth. Carts and lumber were raised ana
moved a number Of rods. During the ire
mendous rush of the tornado the lightning
WAS incessant and vivid the thunder un-
commonly heavy, and she rain descended
I in torrants from the CLOUDS. Il seemed as
II the arm Of the Alrsishty had been let
down, to show us the I,nBoteacG Of busan
might, and the terrific majesty and grandeur
of Omnipotence.
The desolating gale passed ever the
easterly part of Sonthbrilge, crossed Ok
ford in a north easterly aaH easterly diree-
| ton, about a mile and half west of the
centre Of the town, entered Sutton on the
west "nj crossed about half mile south
OF The 'tntre, and it is believed spent its
'e'o. Dot far from Grafton line. 1t is i'm
n"sso.e TO estimate the damage, though it
! ranss be considerable. IF the whole course
o! the sutrent was marked with such de-
struction OF property, as these parts viii b
| fell under my observation, the damage nust
amount to many thousands of dollars.
Dea. Joshua Vinton of SoushbridRs, had
tne orchard Of about 200 trees, prostrat-
ed to the ground. His two barns were
much injured; one he was compelled to
take down the other had one side of the
ROOF blown OH, and rafter carried several
rods into the woods. A large stone woigh-
i"S 100 POohuSS on Ills DaIb-ydTO WhII, wA0
taken off and came in contact with the side
of the barn, proceeded on, and went about
six rods, and brought up against an apple
tree, which was carried 10 rods. Loss es-
timated at $1,000.
During the same storm, Mr.. Woods
house in the south part of Brookfeld, vas
struck by lightning, and four persons in the
house at the time, were knocked down nAa
stunned, withoa: material injury; but Whist
is the most singular, Miss Wood had the
sole Of one of her shoes taken of, the heel
split and vamp rent asunder, and her foot
blistered, without sustaining any other in
jury. Capt. Sherman's house in Brimfeld,
was also struck"
SPECIE. A Mr.. Hand died a short time
since at great age, in Stephenstown,
m. ~ He possessed a COED farm, had
always been known as q careful, saving
man, and was supposed to have left at bis
death snug little estate. He left 4 will,