Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-11-11
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, THURSDAY,

thunder from an early hour in the morning,
which, from the eastward, is rather an unusual
occurrence. About 10 A. NJ. the sky had a
most singular and must add most awful ap-
Pearance, presenting to the view vast arch OF
rolling backness, which seemed to gather
strength and density as it approached the zenith.
All at once the clouds began to work round in
circles, as if chasing one ano'her through the
air. Suddenly the dark arch Of clouds appear
ed to break up into detached masses, whrling
and mixing through each other in dreadful coms
motion. The forked lightning was ncessant,
accompanied by heavy thunder. In short time
the clouds seemed to converge TO point which
approached very near the earth, still whirling
with great rapidity directly under this point
and apparently from the pidst of the woods
arose black column, in te shape of a cone,
which instantly joined Itself 70 the depending
cloud. The sight was now grand and awful in
the extreme. Picture t6 yom !, sgination vast
column Of smoke, of inky blacKnssa, reaching
from earth to heaven, gyratlng with fearful veloc-
i'y-brght lighnings issuing from the vortex (;
the roar of the thunder-the rushirg ofthe blast
the crash of timber-the limbs of trees, leaves
and rubbish, mingled with clouds of dust, whir-
ling through the air you then havea faint
idea Of the scence.
g had ample time for observation, as the
hurricane commenced it's devastating course
about two miles from the town, through the GEN.
tire of which it took its way, passing within fifty
yards OF where a number Of persons, myself
among The rest were standing, watching its fear
ful progress.
6 AS the tornado approached, the trees seemed
to fall like pack of cards before its irresistible
current. After passing through the clearing
made round the village, the force of the wind
gradually abated, and in few minutes died
away entirely.
AS the storm was over, | went 10 sec the
damage it had done. From the point where |
first observed the black column to rise from the
woods and join the clouds, the trees were twis.
ted in every direction. belt of timber had
been levellad to the ground, about two miles in
length, and about one hundred yards in breadth.
At the entrance of the town it crossed the river
Speed, and uprooted about six acres Of wood
which had been thinned out, and left by Mr.
Gait (ate superintendent of the Canada Com.
as an ornament to his house.
"The Eremosa road was completely blocked
up for nearly half mile, in the widest con-
fusion possible. In its progress through the
town, the unroofed Sc eral houses, levelIet
many fences to the ground, and entirely demo
ished frame barn. Windows we're dashed in
and, in one instance, the floor of log house wa'
carried through the roof Some hair breadtl
escapes occurred but luckily, no lives were
: lost.
About twelve years since q similar etoru
occurred in the north part of the township o
Douro, but was of much less magnitude. hear
an intelligent settler, who resided some years il
: the township of Madoc, state that, during hi
residence in that township a similar hurrican
; to the one have described though of mucI
more awful character, passed through part {
Marmora and Madoc, and had been traced, in
north easterIy direction upwards Of forty mile
; into the unsuryeyed lands; the uniform width {
which appeared to be three quarters of mile.
4 at is very evident, from the traces whic
9 they have left behind them, that storms of tn
i description have not been unirequcnt in the woo'
ed districts of Canada and it becomes matte
. of interesting consideration whether the clea
- ing of our immense forests will not, in a grc'
. measure, remove the cause of these phenon
ena"
A few minutes after our household had reti
ed to rest, my first sleep was broken by tt
;s voice Of J, E speaking to old Jenny
II the kitchen. He had been overtaken by III
30 storm, but had run his canoe ashore upon an
and before its full fury burst, and turned it ov
~ the flour while he had to brave the lerrors OF
9. pitlless tompest-buffeted by the wind, an
at drenched with torrents Of rain. got up ar
made him cup of tea, while Jenny prepared
10 rasher of bacon and eggs for his supper