The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-07-28
Terrific Hail StOrm.-Great De-
StructiOn of PrOnertY,

L. W., we nag one OF tnoSe heaVy snow
ers of rain which can only be described
by saying that the clouds precipitated
themselves in mass upon the earth.-
Our streets and roads for few minutes
were converted into rivulets and upon
the subsiding of the waters, deep gulleys
appeared in all directions. About two
hours after, dark and scowling clouds
gathered in the west, threatening more
disastrous effects, and soon the storm burst
with a fury exceeding the worst anticipa-
tons. The wind ragged with unwonted
violence, accompanied with devastating
storm of hail. The track of this icy WIS.,
itation extended over space or 8 miles
in length by from to 3 miles in width,
comprising more than fifty farms, and in
Guiding within its range the villages of
Baleville, Pleasant Valley, Washington
vile, and Lafayette. The first farm
which sustained any considerable damage
from the hail was that of the widow Sna-
bic, situated on the northwest extreme of
Newton township. Passing thence in a
southeasterly direction, it swept onward
to Lafayette, where it branched off into
two distinct tracks, one terminating at j.
NJ. Cox's farm, near Monroe, and the
other passing over the fats (as they are
called y and only losing its force when it
reached Pimple Hill near Sparta.
The hail stones, which varied in bulk
from the size of peas and hickory nuts to
the dimensions of hens eggs, fell thick
and fast, and were assisted in the work
of destruction by the fierce tornado which
whirled them through the air. Fences
were blown down, trees uprooted, the
growing crops of corn, oats, buckwheat,
&c, were cut to pieces and swept away
like chat. Hundreds of acres of corn and
oats were utterly destroyed. A consider
ably quantity of grain out in shock was
scattered and destroyed; one farmer (Rob-
ert Lewis, of Pleasant Valley,) had the
product of nearly 20 acres exposed, which
his hands were just "drawing in" when
the tempest swept it to destruction. His
two teams, stung by the hail stones, took
fright and ran away, breaking the wag-
ons and injur;ng severely but not fatally
boy who was driving-the horses were
unhurt. The window glass of every house
within the area of the storm was for the
most part demolished, many of the roofs
damaged, and other injuries inflicted -
Poultry, birds, rabbits, &C., were killed
by the pitiless peltings of the hail; and,
strange and incredible as it may seem, we
learn that two COWS, exposed to the storm,
fell cictims to the icy volleys which
they encountered. Those who were on
the road or in the field describe the pelt-
ings of the hail as benumbing and par
TALLY supplying them every one, howev-
er, that we have heard of, sought shelter
as soon as possible, having no desire to
test the effects of a protracted humping.
Some idea of the quantity of hail discharg-
ed by the clouds, may be formed from the
fact, that after the storm, it lay in the
raVines, gulleys, and by the side of stone
fences, about foot in depth. In the
woods, next day at noon, portions of the
larger Jumps of hail were found undis-
solved.
The farmers who were the victims of
this severe visitation, estimate their los
ses at from $500 to 81 200 each, which,
with the damage sustained in the several
villages above mentioned, warrants us in
stating the aggregate loss at from $780,
300 to $4,000. We intended to give
The names of all whose property was in
ured or Destroyed, with special descrip-
ions of the damage sustained by each;
but upon attempting this task, we found
hat nothing like accuracy could be at
aimed, and we relinquished it. We are
proud to say, that all involved in this
disaster, met the infiction like men of
ortitude and that they each and all,
With the enterprise and activity charac-
erlstic of American citizens, promptly
applied themselves to reparation of dam
lges. Before the sun set on Monday eve-
ling, several fields, which had been dis
obed of their Vegetation, were seeded
lown in buckwheat, and the scattered
encing collected and restored to its prop
# position. In four hours after the storm,
he stock of window glass in Lafayette
md Newton, was all purchased, and the
tories in Branchville and intermediate
'laces were also soon exhausted of this
Material by the heavy demand.
Never since the settlement of Sussex
ounty has so extensive calamity befal-
en- her citizens. Violent hail storms
ave occasionally damaged her crops, but
ever so irremediably. By this visitation
large scope of fertile land was stripped
S completely of its thrifty burden as if a
ostile army had passed over it, pulling
p by the roots the corn, oats, &c, and
rambling the waving fields of grass into
be earth. Saturday, the 10th day of
uly, 1853, will pc long remembered, as
ne most disastrous epoch in our history {
-SuSSer Register.
In Missouri. the State ORGAN of the I