Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-09-06


Some account of the progress and
effects Of the tornado which passed over
Providence and other places on Thurs
day last, may be gathered from the fol-
lowing articles
| From the Providen Courier Of Friday last.
TORNADO.
| Yesterday afternoon, we were visited with
a very heavy shower Of rain, accompanied
with some thunder, though little or no light
ming. For about an hour,lt seemed as though
the very flood gates Of heaven had been
opened, and the rain descended in torrents.
At about half past three o'clock, in the thick
est of the storm, dense cloud rapidly ap-
preached the city from a northwesterly di-
rection, bringing with it column which had
the appearance Of irater-spoh; but which
finally proved to be what is usually denoInl-
mated q uhir,oind, and had assumed the ap-
pearance Of the water-spout, from the rain 1t
had gathered in its course. AS near as we
can learn, the tornado began to collect its
force some where in or near Johnston and
traversing a southeasterly course, passed
through that town, Cranston, and the south
westerly part Of this city, across the river, to
SeekoDk and thence on, in the same direc-
ton, ill its force had been spent, to Taunton
river. Its track is ascertained to have been
about three hundred and fifty feet wide.
We give what details we have been able
to collect. in Johnston, a barn was unroof-
ed. At place called the Ledge, belonging
to Messrs. w. & J. Fenner, and near their
dwelling house, a barn was unroofed, and the
trees, and fences, and growing crops, COM
pletely prostrated. On the farm OF Mr.. An
son Potter, in Crans.on, the trees, fences and
crops, shared a similar fate. The house Of
Mr.. John Burr, in Cranston, was unroofed.-
A portion of the house, called an l., about IL
feet by 30 was detached from the other part,
and blown down. His corn crib was blown
off its foundation, and thrown partly into the
cellar. His trees and fences were also blown
down, and scarcely one was left standing
A washing OF clothes which had been put out
to dry at Mr.. Burr's were so effcctually ab-
stracted from the owners, that not vestge
Of them has been found, except solitary
night cap. A large tree was taken up by the
roots and carried one hundred and twenty
feet!
The house Of Mr.. John Gardner, also in
Cranston, on the Pawtuxet turnpike, was ia
ken from its foundation,and turned complete
y round. The family were in the house at
the time, but escaped unhurt. About one
hundred feet Of the dry house Of Mr.. Samuel
DeXter's bleachery, near the depot OF the
Stonington Rail Road, was blown down.
The schooner William, belonging to Messrs
w. X. g. B. Potter, Jun, lying at anchor in
the stream, was blown OH her beam ends
and her jb md flying jib, though furled, were
blown from their lashings, and torn 10 shreds.
| In Scekonk, the dwelling house, on what
is called the Lyon Shore Farm, was unrOof-
ed. The Wagon which had been gotten in
readiness for market, on the farm of the Hon.
Tristan Burgess, was completely demolished,
and its contents distributed with greater ia
ci!ity, than that with which the milk man
could have served them out to his customers.
The poultry of the same farm, took the wings
of the tornado and are all missing except tw o
struggling ones who alone remain TO tell the
tale. A gentleman who visited the Lyon
shore farm after the storm had passed, brought
home with him splinter from a large tree
usually called the yellow bark black onk,
seven feet in length, and two or three inches
in thickness. The tree was twisted like a
walnut withe, aud reduced 10 bundle Of
spinters.
No doubt much more damage has been
done. But, in the hurry of the moment, we
have been unable to follow the track OF the
wind farther, or to collect more of the details.
Had it swept but half mile farther eastward,
it would have passed over the most populous
part of our city and the damage would have
been immense. We have heard Of no cases
Of personal injury.
FURTHER ErrEcTs OF THE Tornado,
We learn by gentleman from Somerset
(Mass.) that the damage done by the lorna
do, which passed over number of towns in
this vicinity last week was severely felt in
Somerset. A store two stories high, owned
and occupied by Captain Elisha Burgess,
was taken from its foundation with its con-
tents and swept away.
Also, sloop at anchor in that harbor, was
capszed and sunk. A large two story house
was unroofed trees and fences were pros
tratcd. In the adjoining town, Frectown, we
also learn that much damage was done to
the forests, large trees having been torn up
and laid PROSTATE.