The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-06-25

seemed to have been concentrated
over our beautiful city, for we can
hear nothing about its ravages eth
er upor down the river, and very lit
tie from any direction. If lis effects
in the country were as bad as in
the city, we fear the entire crops
Of wheat, corn &c. are ruined-and
that sad havoc must have been made
amongst the poultry, sheep, and
hogs.
When the hail began to fall in
large. balls, the scene on Water
street was truly frightful. about
one hundred horses, mules and oxen
were standing there, some hitched
in the traces and others standing
with their harness on feeding at the
wagons-and as by some concerted
signal, the streets became alive with
frantic animals--some running
with their hairless dangling at
theif heels, and others plunging
headlong in every direction to get
clear Of the "pittileSs storm" On
they dashed through the streets,
furious from the pain inflicted on
their heads by the falling masses,
and ran until many of them were
completely tagged out. We saw
two horses run their heads together
and both were fcllcd to the ground
and some Of them maddened and
wild ran into the lake, but even
there the hail followed them. ANY
quantity of wagons were "spilled,"
whilst others were safely locked
against posts. 1t was impossible to
hold the horses, and any man that at
tempted it, risked his life. Some Of
their owners did endeavor to hold
them, but were dragged about at a
fearful rate, and were finally COM
PEELED to seek shelter, with their
heads and hands bruised and bleed
ing. 1t hattened their hats, and cut
some heads badly.
The lake presented most magnif-
cent sight. When the hail with its
"plunging fire." struck its bosom.
the water would rise to the height
OF about two or three feet in a con-
ical Form, and it presented The ap-
pearance Of millions Of pyramids OF
water covering the entire surface OF
the lake. We can form no estimate
Of the actual loss occasioned by this
storm, but we think we will not be
going much beyond the mark when
we say that -, 900 will scarcely re-
pair the damage done to the build
ings alone.
Atthe commencement ofthe storm
the house of Jacob Terrell, on South
street, was struck by lightning-the
electric spark passed down the out,
side Of the chime, to the projection
otthe mantle-piece, where it split a
shoe brush in two, passed of about 20
inches and struck daughter of Mr..
+. aged I years, Oh the side of hcr
head breaking the scalp, and passed
off at the check, burning it to a
blister; from thence itpassrd Of to
the side of the house. ahont three
feet from where the girl was stand
ing, and severed a piece from a stud
oft.'c house, from thrnce'tn the earth.
The chi'd NAMED senseless and
did not speak or give any signs of
pain until Monday morning; she re-
mains still in a stnpor.
After the hail was over a two
story brick house belonging to l..
Holland, on the corner of Madison
and Liberty streets, was also struck,
and completely severed the cornicc
from the peak of the roofto the caves,
together with part of the roof-no
persons were injured in the house.
The noise created by the lake, the
rafting Of thousands of demolished
windows, the general terror and roar
all around, and the strife and confu-
sion amongst the horses, produced a
din and thunder equal to the report
Of 100000 muskcts, and the Whole
scene was one Of most terrific
grlndnre and sublime d scord and
such as we trust may never again
visit any potion fthe globe.
N'-t''" Equality.
English travellers have remarked