Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-07-08
From the Peoria (IH l.ipress, Lsne 18Th.

THE Hail Storm AND ITS EFFRCrs.-On Satur.
day evening last, our city was visited by Of the
most tremendous hail storms, we presume, that tho
American continent ever witnessed,
About half past three o'clock, a cloud. with moth
ing very extraordinary in lis appearance, was WISH
bic towards the northwest, aud betokened rain
A light wind was blowing, and soon the rain began
TO fall but in few seconds II was followed by hail
stones OF the ordinary size, aud seemed that every
successive ball or lump that came to the earth was
larger than the one that preceded IT, Thick and fast
it FELL until the ground in many places covered
over with balls Of ice three and six inches deep
and on il hailed, the Jumps growing larger, and
FILLING in such vast quantities that many OF our cit.
liens became alarmed not knowing what this awful
dspensaion of Providence was going TO terminate
in The storm ragged with the utmost violence for
about fifteen or twenty minutes, and was immedi.
aiely followed By smart rain. After the rain had
subsidized, we picked up number Of hail.sones that
weighed from two and half TO four ounces-and
some gentlemen gathered balls that weighed more
than this In shape, many Of them were nearly
round and others resembled fragments of ice that
had become united into Jumps, and measured from
two to three aud half inches in diameter. There
were many fell much larger than those picked up,
but were dashed to pieces the ground by the fall
Forty-eght hours afterwards, hail-stones could
be picked up in the uncovered cellars as large as a
hued walnut
There is scarcely house in the city but what
was more or less damaged By the falling Of the mas.
siye Jumps of hail. In the~building where we have
Office, there are % windows, containing in all
273 panes Of glass, and out OF this number, there
are but 80 whole panes Of glass left Not only was
the glass broken, but in many instances the sashes
were broken in such a manner as to render them
useless. The roofs Of the houses suffered much
from the hail-stones battering upon and literally
breaking into the shingles, and seriously damaging
the cornice and spouting. Every garden in the city
ard suburbs that the storm visited, is entirely cut
10 pieces
When the hail began to fall in large balls the
scene on Water street was truly irighiiul. About
one hundred horses mules aud oxen were standing
there, some hched in the traces and others stand.
ing with harness on feeding at the wagons-and as
By some concerted signal. the street became alive
with frantic anmals-some running with their har
ness dangling their heels, and others plunging
headlong in every direction to get clear oithe pitt
less storm" On they dashed through the streets,
furious from the pain inflicted their heads by the
falling masses, and until many Of them were
completely tagged out. We saw two horses run
their heads together and both were ieed 10 the
ground--an some of them maddened aud Wild run
into the lake, but even there the hail followed them
ANY quantity of wagons Spilled, while others
were locked against posts. Ii was impossible 10
hold the horses, and any that attempted 1t, risk
ed his life Some of their owners endeavored to
hold them. but dragged about At fearful rate
and were finally compelled TO seek shelter. with their
heads and hands bruised and bleeding. 1t flailened
their hats, and cut some heads badly.
The noise created by the hail falling in the lake.
the railing OF thousands of demolished windows, the
general terror aud roar all around, and the strife
and confusion amongst the horses, produced din
and thunder equal TO the report Of l00, 600 mus
kets, and the whole scene was one-ol the most ter
rife grandeur aud sublime discord aud such as
we trust may never again visit any portion Of the
globe