Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-07-09
WATER SPOUT.

| - P"e""mehon Oh ms katu Vas il,eiy wit
messed at Louisville. Ken. An account of
Il will be found on first page; in addition
to which, We give the following particulars
from late number Of tic Louisville Journal
From the best information, which |
have been able to obtain as In its orr
GIN, II appears TO have commenced high
IN the atmosphere, Immediately over
the Falls, at q o. clock on Sunday even
ing. There seemed to be a rotary mo-
ton OF the clouds for several minutes
before the air near the surface of the
water was agi.atcd. The clouds were
apparently drawn circularly to COM
mon focus, and, when completely in
contact, the spiral motion of the air in
creased with great rapidity, and des-
ccDded vertically TO the water in the
Indian Chute. II however soon left
the River, taking due cast direction,
until IT approached the River again
about fifty yards below our Ferry land
ing where il became greatly condensed.
In ITS passage over the Town il blew
down and otherwise damaged several
houses. A brick tenement, occupied
by Mr.. Greene, was the first that
suffered detriment. The whole of
the wall on the east side was drawn in-
to the street. The family escaped in
Jury. though the greatest part of the
furniture in the house was upset, and
many small articles blown away. Judg-
ing from the appearance of the build
mgs in the vicinity, should not sup
pose, that the diameter Of the whirl-
wind could have exceeded ninety feet,
but, when il entered the River, it was
contracted to about thirty. Upon pas
sing over brick tenement occupied
by Mr.. Mason, and fronting the River,
IT carried the front wall, Two stories
high, into he street without i.iuring
the family. The Land office was also
considerably damaged. The gable end
on the east was thrown down, part of
the roof and upper floor over the room
IN which the Office is kept, were torn
TO pieces, the furniture was overturned
and very much mutilatcd, and some
papers were blown away, but, whether
they were of importance or not has not
been ascertained. After quitting the
land office, II descended the bank of the
River, overturning a hackney coach
with four horses. The fore wheels,
horses. and driver, Mr.. Morgan, were
precipitated down the bank. How he
escaped being crushed to death Is tru-
ly marvellous, having been dragged
down the precipice entangled with his
horses. He undoubtedly must have
performed several revolutions before he
was disengaged. A son of Judge
Read was carried from the street be-
fore the door Of the Land Office 20 the
waters edge, a distance Of seventy
yards. without being conscious OF
touching the ground. lie was only
slightly hurt. When the Whirlwind
dipped into the River, il assumed a
most sublime and magnificent appear
ance. stood upon the bank and wit
messed collision between three of the
most potent elements, atmosphere,
electricity, and water. The contem-
Plation was truly interesting. Every
mind was filed with wonder and
amazement at spectacle so unusual
in this latitude. Some mistook it for
prelude to the day Of final DOOM
Others thought il the precursor Of
tremendous hurricane: while others
imagined IL portentous Of dreadful ep-
idemic. In its transit across the River
II moved slowly, accommodating strength
by gradual abridgement Of its volume.
by me time II reached the middle Of
the River, il had acquired such force
IN its rotary motion, that Il drew up
column of waler-of about i've feet in
diameter 90 the distance Of about 30
feet. The noise was great and peculi-
ariy terrific. The spray that surround
ed the Opaque column of water re-
sembled dense fog the rainbow en-
circlIng the whole. II broke, on the
MARGIN OF the water, on the Kentucky
shore. II was undoubtedly a Water
Spout, but the first ever observed on
our waters. On the ocean, within the
tOrrid zone, this phenomenon occurs
very frequently even in calm weather,
which induces me 10 think. that il Is
electrical. The displacement Of the
atmosphere AZ a great altitude occasions
currents and counter currents Of AIR
10 meet, and the highly rsri6ed state
Of the air IN hot weather also disturbs /
It's equilibrium, which favors the ascent
Of wafer for Is Condensation. Al the !
time when the currents of AR approx. !
mate IN the process Of filling a vacuum. !
whirling motion Is produced around
the vacuum. which remains occupied |
by electricity The whirling motion
q the AIR and the central vacuum
are continued 10 the surface Of the |
earth. Throughout the whole extent
Of the Spout. Il Is like an exhausted
tube, and the pressure Of the sur
rounding AIR upon water propels il |
upwards, and, a. il ascends, il is dls-
siPated by the action Of the electric
fluid. Since the phenomenon occurred
] have learned from the citizens below
JoaeFsontown, thaf the rain fell IN