The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-07-02
From the Utica Herald.
Extraordinary Phenomenon:

b.. From the Utica Herald.
Extraordinary Phenomenon:
On Saturday afternoon many of our citizens
noted the appearance of very remarkable
formation of nabulous or cloudy substance
extending from the heavens nearly 20 the earth,
where it seemed to diminish almost to poiEt,
but expanding gradually as it ascended, until
the peculiar form was lost in the cloudy sky.
This remarkable aud tunnel-like column of
cloudy mist, passed over the city at about four
O'Clock and was remarked not only by its Pc
culiar appearance, but by rushing, buzzing
noise, as it swept Fin the direction Of Deer
field. II was watched for some moments, and
the people generally believed it to be water
spout, as Its concal form cerrssponded
with all ideas Of such natural phenomenon. 1t
soon passed from sight, and was made the
subject of sportive conversation for the hour,
without the least just conception Of what the
body consisted, or of its destructive power. Its
effects however, have been most wonderful,
and may justly attract the attention and scri-
tiny of the scientific world. ....... ..
The conical mass first settled to the earth
few minutes past four, at point near
the residence of Milo Root, in De-rfeId, where
one or two fences were torn down and scat
tered about the fields. Here the destructive
power seemed merely to touch the surface;
between this point and the residence of Nathan
Budlong, in Schuyler, distance of one or two
miles, prostrated tree or fence only attest
to its destructiveness. At Mr.. N. Budlong's
tie mysterious agency settled to the earth,
and in an instant scattered barn to pieces,
and tore up several trees on the opposite side
Of the road; next the wsll-house of Mr.. Rich
ardson, which was standing directly in a SOUTH
easterly line from where it first touc he'd the
earth, was demolished, and quite number of
trees in his orchard, and fencees were Destroy
ed; the path of destruction then tended in
direct line to ths southeast, as marked by nu-
merous PROSTATE trees and riddled fences, un-
til it approached the Baptist parsonage house,
occupied by Mr.. John Warren.
Mr.. w. informs us that he was engaged in
his garden at about four O'Clock and saw the
approach OF the cloudy object, as it threw up
the trees. As its course pointed in the drec-
ton OF his own house, he ran to the dwelling,
caught two Of his older children and called to
his wife to save the other three and herself by
following him to the cellar. The husband
decended two or three steps with his charge,
and the wife, with an infant and two older
children had reached the cellar door, when
the house was struck. The whole frame
work was lifted from the stone foundation;
the entire wood work above the first floor with
the sleepers attached, which caught IN the
.fouRdation, was finally turned roof like over
the entire mass. Mr. Warren with two of
the children, remained in the cellar enclosure
without injury; Mrs. Warren was found on
the ground ten feet from the cellar door, almost
entirely stripped of her clothing, and so severe
ly injured about the neck and body that she
died within an hour after the calamity, al
though entirely conscious; her iEfant was found
near by and almost entirely free from injury,
yet utterly destitute of clothing; little boy
who was following his mother to the cellar is
new lying unconscious from the wounds be re-
ceived in the common wreck. His recovery
is very doubtful; an older girl escaped without
any injury. The dwelling was two stories
ISx25 feet, and substantially built. In rear
of it was barn, distant about FIVE rods, 26x32
feet, which was literally shivered into splin-
ters. re
Next in The due southeasterly line Of its
course it uprooted several large trees scatter
ed the fences. across the road and demolished
large barn, belonging to Mr.. John NJ. Bud
long. This building was of recent and very
substantial build. and 35 by 90 feet upon its
base, the destructive element tore il to pieces.
scattering large timber about the fields at a
distance of from five to fifteen rods, distribu-
ting portions of the roof in various directions,
and actually taking up an iron cylinder thresh-
ing machine. weighing four hundred pounds,
and depcsiting it at least eighty feet from the
barn. A COW belonging to Mr.. B., standing
near the barn was killed without any apparent
outward wound. About 80 rods farther on
in direct line, smaller barn belonging to
the same gentleman was demolished, and what
Is very singular in this instance, but little Of
the material Of which it was constructed is
to be found any where. A few shivel ed boards
AMI timbers alone attest to its previous exis-
tence. The dwelling Of Mr.. Budlong had .
narrow escape. A shingle or two torn from
one corner of the roof indicate how narrowly
it escaped destruction.
Beyond the premises of Mr.. B for about
mile, PROSTATE trees and fences evidence the
track Of the destructive messenger. Ithowey-
er seemed to have released its hold upon the
earth soon after leaving the farm Of Mr. b.,
for it was directly seen to rise from the sur
face aud Dissolve its concal shape into gene
raj cloudy form. The phenomenon was fol-
lowed by violent rain and wind. Two men at
work in field saw the strange apraration ap-
proach and took to their heels barely escaping
It's track as it passed. II seemed to rise from
The earth in four or five minutes from the time
1t was first seen, AMI the evidences before us
of destruction, lie in district not over four
or five miles in extent, in due southeasterly
direction from where its first touch was felt,
and in track about fifteen miles in width
Whatever Of material substance presented
itself in this track was swept away, and the
ruin presented is fearful to behold.
H,1t he III 4