The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-11-20

ead with fear
"The Lord preserve us" she cried, "this c
urely is the day judgement. Fifty trees fell a
cross nv path, between this and the creek. t
Mrs C Just reached her brothers clearing {
few minutes before great oak fell on her
very path. What thunther what light {
ming, Misthress, dear its turned so dark,
can only iist see yer face"
Glad enough was of her presence; for to
be alone in the heart of the great forest, in a
log hut, on such night was not a pleasing
prospect. People gain courage by compan-
ionship, and in order to reassure each other,
struggle to conceal their faces.
And where is Mr. E--?"
II hope not on the lake He went early
this morning to get the wheat ground at the
mill"
"Och, the crathur. He's surely drowned.
What boat could stand such scrImnlage as
this ,"
| had my fears for poor John; but as the
chance that he had to wait at the mill until
others were served was more than probable
! tried to still my apprehensions for his safe
ty, The storm soon passed oyer. after having
icveled several acres of wood near the house,
and smitten down in its progress two u
eantic pines in the clearing, which must have
withStood the force of a thousand winters
Talking over the effect of this whirlwind with
nv brother, he kindly sent me the following
very graphic description Of whirlwina
which passed through the town of Guelph in
the summer of 1920.
I'm NV hunting excursions and ram
bles throughsthr Upper Canadian forests |
had frequently met with extensive falls: and
observed with some surprise that the fallen
trees Law Strewn in succession of circles and
evidently appeared to have been twisted off
the stumps also remarked that these wind
falls were generally narrow and had the ap-
pcarance Ola road slashed through the forest
From Observations made at the time. and
since confirmed. have no doubt that Colo
mel Reds theory of storms is a correct one.
viz that all wind storms move in a circular
direction and the nearer the center the more
violent the force of the wind Having seen
the effects of several similar hurricanes since
my residence in Canada West. shall pro-
ceed to describe one which happened in the
township of Guelph during the early part of
the summer of 1870.
The weather. for the season of the wear
(N1av) had been hot and sultry, with scarce
" a breath of wind stirring. | had heard
distant thunder from an early hour in tn,
morning, which. from the eastward, is there
an unusual occurrence About 10 4. NJ.
the Skv had most singular. and must add
most awful appearance. presenting to the
view a vast arch of rolling darkness, which
seemed to gather strength and density as il
approached the zenith. All at once the cloud
began to work round in circles. AS if CHASING
: one another through the air Suddenly tn,
dark arch of clouds appeared to break mp in
to detached masses, ,whilIing and mixing thro
each other in dreadful commuton. The fork
ed lightning was incc>>ant. ACCOMPANIED h,
heavy thunder. In a short time the cloud
seemed to converge to a point. which an
preached very near the EARTH still whirlin
with great rapdity directly under this point
and apparently from the midst of the wood
: arose black column, in the shape of cone
: which instantly joined itself to the lcpendn
= cloud. The 81 ght was now grand and awfl
in the extreme. Picture to vour imaoinatio
vast column of smoke of inkv blackncs.
reaching from heaven to earth ~vratino wit
l fearful velocitv-hright lightninrs is<uin
from the vortex ;the roar of thunder-th
" rushing of the blaSt-thc crash of timber
i the limbs of trees leaves and rubbish mi,
gled with clouds of dust whrlnc through III
: aIr:-yOu will then have a faint idea of III
IS scene.
T. 81 had ample time for observation. As IL
!" hurricane commenced its devastating cour.
about two mile. from the town: tbrouob >,
S' center of which it took its way. passing will
10 in fifty wards of where a number of person
II myself among the rest were standing. .watchir
As It's fearful progress.
= "As the tornado approached, the tre
As seemed to fall like pack of cards before !;
irresistible current. After passing through II
he clearing made round the village, the force
I'd the wind abated, and in a few minutes ii,
s away entirely.
$ "AS soon as the storm was over. went
I'd see the damage it had done. From ,hc MOI;
as where first observed the black coInmn
IN rise from the woods and Join the clouds. II
IN trees were twisted in every direction. A he
s. Of timber had been eveIled to the ground
IS bont two miles in length. and about one bp
r drcd yards in breadth. At the entrance q
IT the town it crossed the river Speed and u
rooted about six acres Of wood, which had be,
Or thinned out, and left by Mr. Gait Oate supe
ne lntendent ofthe Canada Conn., as an orn
IN ment to his house.
m "The Eremosa road was completely bloc
H. ed up for nearl Y half mile. in the wilde
lie confusion possible. In its progress throu!
d. the town it unroofed several houses. level,
Is many fences to the ground, and entirely d
C molished frame barn. Windows were das
to ed in. and in ono inst.pco tb. aof