Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-11-21
lFfom siman's Journal for October
OBSERVATIONS ON THE N. HAVEN
TORNADO. sfi

CuTie0, on tDe WesteTu skiIts VI tHc C'ty
of New Huven, u tornado Of the most
violent class. The preceding morning
had been cloudy and sultry, and imme-
diately previous 10 the tornado, thunder
storm seemed approaching from the west,
attended by some appearances OF high
wind ] was, at the time, about mile
eastward of the track Of the storm, OBJ
serving the phenoms non from my cham
ber window. The clouds betrayed that
singular agitation, which usually fore
bodies hurricane, and the vane OF
neighboring steeple was constantly shit
ing its position. A short time before the
tornado commenced, the wind blew fresh
from the southeast, having been in this
quarter during .the preceding morning;
il changed suddenly to the south, and in
a moment more it was west, where It
continued fixed. Accompanying these
changes a heavy rumbling noise was
heard, not unlike the passing OF long
train of railway cars, which was audi
BILE in every part OF the city.
! Such were the only facts of Importance
which had an opportunity Of observing
at the time but the circumstances have
proved unusually favorable for invesii-
eating the laws Of the storm, occurring
as it did at midday, and so near to US
: that we have been able to repeat ouI ex-
amnations Of the ground number of
times Among those included within the
limits 6f the tornado, were several ac-
curate and intelligent observers, who re-
! marked the phenomena with much at
ten,ion; and even those who were buried
/ benea aih the ruins of their houses, have
! all survived to tell their story. In adj
| dtlon 10 these peculiar opportunities for
ascertainIng the facts respecting the
| storm, | have had the still greater ad-
vantage of comparing my own observa-
tons With those of my friends, Professor
h Stanley, Mr.. A. b. Halle, and MIR. +.
! &. Herrick, all of whom have taken the
! greatest pains to investigate the pln-
! nomena and avs ofthe tornado. Hence
! the facts which ! have to state, aie,
think, the result of better opportunities
| for observation, and of more elaborate
and careful examination, than has been
| usual in storms oi this class.
In order to make our descriptions in
telligible TO strangers, It may be proper
to premise that the city of New Haven
is situated at the head of bay, tina, sets
! up five miles from the north side os Long
Island Sound 1t is built on pia'n,
which is bounded on the west by low
range Of hills called the Woodbridge
Hills. At the northwestern and north
eastern angles Of the town are the two
celebrated bluffs, called West and East
Rock, respectively, well known as the
southern terminatiOns of the chains Of
trap mountains that extend norihward
through Come cticut and Massachusetts.
The storm CONNIE need in the low ground
at the eastern base of the Woodbridge
hills. Its course was NJ +. by f..
across level region, occupied by farm
houses, corn-felds and gardens, for a
mile and half. 1t then ascended an
inclined plane to higher level, and
passed through wood towards East
/ Rock Bounding over this eminence,
/ il descended its eastern dechvity, and
! los, itself in an extensive salt meadow
! that lies eastward Of the mountain.
i Throughout this region, its progress
was indicated by marks Of the greatest
violence. Nearly every tree that came
in its way through the open country, was
Frustrated or broken off; six houses, and
a number of barns, were completely de \,
| moIished several other houses and
barns were unroofed; fields Of corn, then
just caring, were laid close to the ground;
and indeed the whole space over which
lhe tornado had passed, presented one
uniform scene of ruin and dissolution.
In ertcni, this tornado appears to have
been very limited Its length did not
exceed d miles, and it's average breadth
was only sixty rods, varying however
little in different places. Its duration at
one place did not exceed half minute,
and It's progressive motion may be esti-
mated at 80 miles per i,our. These es-
Inmates are made by comparing the i'm
prossions aud statements OF various indi-
vlduals who were within the limits Of
the storm.
/ The appearance of the storm as il
approached, was deliberately conienp'a-
ted by numerous observers who saw II
coming over the PLAIN. All describe It
as strange cloud of terrific aspect, white
! like driving snow storm, or light log,
and agiiatcd by the most vi"lent intestine
motions. II came suddenly upon them
! with torrents OF water" there was
Irush--a crash. and il was gone. -
! When first seen coming over East Rock,
! il seemed lifted above the ridge OF the
mountain, but fell nearer TO the earth ns
\ IL descended the eastern decliyiiy, md
. renewed its work of destruction when II
reached the PLAIN.
I Let us now trace moro particularly
| those facts which have bearing upon
the laws which govern this storm.
\ /. The first great fact that strikes us,
lis, that all the trees and other objects
that mark the direction Of the wind which
/ pros,raied them, are with very few ex-
cep,ions, turned inwards on both sides
towards the centre of the track while
near the centre, the direction Of the pros
ltruie bodies is coincident with that VI the
storm.
Il 2. On more minute inspection, we find
pre- va,ling n remarkable Iaw o e'nraiare.
! This is most favorably seen in corn6elds,
as the prcs,rn,e corn indicates the course