The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-07-09
A Terrible Tornado.

The Village of Chateaugay IN Ruins!
-Oucr 100 Buildings IN Burke De-
stroyed Loss Of Life!
Between the hours of nine and ten o.
clock, on Monday the 30th ult., a fearful
tornado passed over the towns of Con
stable, Burke and Chatcaugay. in this
County, and extended into Clinton
County, doing an incalculable amount of
damage-sweeping down forests, scatter
ing fences. destroying all manner of
buildings and other property, and leav-
ing nothing but desolation in its track.
A heavy and portentous cloud was
first observed rising in the north west
and soon another appeared in the south
west, moving in the direction of the form
er. These clouds met about two miles
north of this village, and friend of ours,
Mr.. l.. Wyman, Of Constable, who was
watching their progress, informs us that
he noticed their coming together, and
there was an instant crash offalling trees,
a scattering of fences, and destruction of
everything in its course.
From this point it swept on with fear.
full rapidity and force, making a path
through the forests and over the fields in
nearly a direct course to Burke and
Chateaugay-lcveling trees. of every
size, and buildings, as it went 1t struck
the North Street Of Burke near the Town
House. The store Of Kceler & Stewart
was here unroofed. as were also several
dwelling houses and other buildings. and
passing n small hollow with little dam
age, it again struck with force about a
fourth or Il half mile further on, and
from this point to Chateaug1y. a dis
lance of six miles. hardly Il building cs-
capped uninjured, and not a barn was left
standing. For the whole distance the
street was thickly settled for a farm dis
trict. Mitchells Store was destroyed,
his goods scattered in every direction,
and a large amount entirely lost.
Jeremiah Thomas, in the employ of
Mr.. Mitchell was killed a. this place.
From the west line of Burke to and
including the Hotel of s d. Roberts. at
Chateaugay Corners. ONE HUNDRED
AND EIGHTY.FIVE Buildings, eth
err unroofed. blown down or moved from
their foundations, can be counted as you
ride along the road. This does not in.
cludc those partially injured, by the loss
of a few single or the tearing off of por-
tions Of covering, but such as are nearly
or quite destroyed.
The village OF C~hatcaugay is a com
plete desolation. Not building escaped
injury, and a great number-w do not
know how many-are completely de
stroyed. The scene is one which battles
description. Stores, churches, dwell.
lings. barns, sheds. out-buildings. all
present a sad spcctacle-they are awful
ly shattered aud broken to pieces. We
were at the place soon after the cat
astrophc, but we have no power to de-
scribe its appearance, and in the general
CONSERVATION and anxiety. We could
gather few particulars. Several persons
were injured-somc seriously out we be-
lleve none have died at that place. How
they should have escaped is a mystery
a Providence. No building was burned
"A circumstance to us u~naccountable.
Beyond Chateauguy we have heard of
from sixty to seventy buildings which
were more or less injured. The tornado
extended for Il distance of from thirty TO
forty miles perhaps further and it must
have injured or destroyed nearly 400
buildings, 100000 will not, probably,
cover the damage. Fences are destroy
ed and cattle and horses are roaming at
large through the fields.
IL A. TAYLOR, Esq, of this village,
who passed over the road or Tuesday,
informs us that there are 36i buildings,
of all kinds, from the west line of Burke
TO aud including the village of Chateau.
gay, that were injured. uuroofed and de-
stroyed-and moro than two thirds of
that member completely ruined. Among
the S64. arc 1913 dwellings, A stores, 2
churches, and 3 school houses -Malone
a. " Palladium.