Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-07-03
Dreadful Hail 5 orr,a.


The Peoria Illinois Press gives descrip-
ton Of terrific hail storm which visited that
city and region on The l2ih of June and says
that al about half past 3 O'Clock a cloud. with
nothing very extraordinary 10 its appearance.
was visible towards the north west. and be-
iokeued rain. A light wind was blowing. and
soon the rain began to fall but in few Sec
onds il was followed by hail stones of the ordi-
nary size. and il seemed that every successive
ball or lump that came to the earth was larger
than the ona that preceded il. Thick and fast
! il fell. until the ground in many places was
covered over with balls of ice three and six
| inches deep-and on il hailed. The Jumps grow.
ing larger and larger, and falling 10 such vas,
Quantities that many Of our citizens became
alarmed, not knowing what this awful dis
penssion Of Providence was going TO iermi-
nate in. The wind changed several times du-
ring the storm. and the greatest destruction of
| of property that took place was when it blew
from The south west. The storm ragged with
the utmost violence for about ffeen or TWEEN
~ minutes and was Immediately followed by
a smart rain which came very nigh filling the
celIars on Main street with water. After the
rain had subsided we picked up number of
hailstones that weighed from two and half TO
four ounces and some gentlemen gathered
balls hat weighed more than this. In shape.
many of them were nearly round. and others
resembled fragments Of ice that had become
united inin one lump and measured from TWO
TO three and half inches in diameter There
were maay fell much larger han those picked
up. bat were dashed 10 pieces on the ground
| by the fall Forv elgh hours afterwards.
haiIstone could be picked up IN the uncovered
cellars as large az hulled walnut
! There is scarcely house in the city bu,
wha, was more or less damaged by The falling
Of these massive Jumps of hail The build.
/ ings on Main and Water streets. we think srf
fered the most. There are many houses on
those streets in which there was no, one whole
pane OF glass left in their windows If it's
effects in the country were as had as in the
city. we fear the entire crop Of wheat. corn &c.
are ruined-snd that sad havoc must have
been made amongst the poultry, sheep and
| hogs.
! When the hail began 10 fall 10 large balls.
the scence on Water street was truly frightfnl.
Abont one hundred horses. mules and oxen
were standing there. some hiiched in the ira
ces and others standing with their harness on
feeding at the wagons-snd as by some con-
ceried signal, the streets became alive with
frantic animals--some running with their bar
ness dangling at their heels and others plung
ing headlong in every direction TO get clear of
the .,pi,iless storm" On they dashed ,hro'
the streets. furious from The pain inflicted on
their heads by the faliDg masses. and ran IN
Ill many of them were completely tagged out,
We saw two horses run their heads together
and both were feIled to The ground-snd sons
Of hem maddened and ran into the lake. bnI
even three bs hail followed them Any guam
ii,y of wagons were "spied." whilst others
were safely locked against posts. Il was i'm.
possible to hold The horses and any man tina;
attempted it, usked his life, Some of their
owners did endeavor to hold hem. bur were
dragged about al fearful rate. and were 6nai
Nv compelled TO seek shelter with their heads
and hands bruised and bleeding Il fianened
their hats and cut some heads badly
The Lake presented most magnificent
sight When the hail with its "pIonging
Are" struck iis bosom the water would rise
10 the heigh, of about two or three feet 10 CO.
nica form. and il presented the appearance of
millions of pyramids Of water covering the en-
tire surface of he lake.
At The commencement Of The storm the house
ses of Jacob Ferrell on South street. was
struck by lighiing-,hs electric spark passed
down the outside of the chimney 10 iha projec-
lion Of the mantle piece. where il split shoe
brush 10 two. passed off about 90 inches and
struck daughter of Mr.. F aged wears. on
the side Of her head breaking the scalp. and
passed of at the cheek. burning it TO blister;
from thence i, passed off to the side of the
house. about three fee, from where he girl
was sanding. and severed piece from stud
of the house. from thence TO The earth. The
child remained senseless and dId no, speak or
give any signs of pain until Monday morning;
she remains sill in siopor
After the hail was over TWO story brick
house belonging to l., Holland. on the corner
of Madison and Liberiy streets. was also srocs
anu completely severed The cornics from the
peak of The roof--no person was injured in The
house
The noise created bv The hail fallieg in the
lake. The rafting Of thousands OF demolished
windows he general terror and roar Of all
around. and the strife and canfusion amongst
the horses produced din snd thunder equsi
TO the repori # 100 oO0 mosksis and The hole
scene VS. one Of The most terrific grsuduer
and sublime discord ard such as Ne uost
may never again Wat aor portion Of h. globe.
or The brass banfi of Platteville
is expected to furnish our music at