Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-06-25
exThe following article we know no

EThe following article we know not
whether to regard as hoax or as a veriti-
tsble reality Either cases are probable, but
at all events it is well told, and we copy it:
From the Utica Herald.
Extraordinary PhenOmenOn.-.
Loss of Life-.Mysteri0usM Move.
ments of an Atmospheric Body.
On Saturday afternoon very many of our
citizens noted the appearance of a very re-
markable formation of nebulous or cloudy
substance extending from the heavens nearly
TO the earth, where it seemed to diminish
almost to point but expanded gradually
as it ascended, until the peculiar form was
lost in the clouded sky. This remarkable
and tunnel-hke column of cloudy mist, pass
ed over the city at about four O'Clock, and
was remarked not only by its peculiar ap-
pearance, but by a rushing, buzzing
noise, as it swept off in the direction of
Deerfeld. 1t was watched for some mo-
ments, and people generally believed it to
be water spout, as its con:cal form cor
responded with ideas of such natural phe-
nomenon. 1t soon passed from sight and
was made the subject ofsportive conversation
for the hour, without the least just concep-
ton of what the body consisted, or of its de-
structivie power. Its effects, however,
have been most wonderful, and may Justly
attract the attentention and scrutiny 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 Deerfield,
where one or two fences were torn down
and scattered 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, prostra-
ted tree or fence only attest to its destruct-
iveness. At Mr.. Budlongs the mysterious
agency settled to the earth and in an in
slant scattered barn to pieces, and tore
up several trees on the opposite side of the
road; next the weellhouse of Mrs. Rich
ardson, which was standing directly in
south-easterly line from where it first
touched the earth, was demolished, and
quite number of these trees in her Or
chard, and fence were destroyed; the path
of destruction then tended in direct line
to the southeast, as marked by numerous
PROSTATE trees and riddled fences, until it
-approaehe he'd the Baptist parsonage house,
occupied by Mr.. John Warren.
Mr.. W. informs us that he was engaged
in his garden at about o'clock and saw
the approach of the cloudy object, as it
threw up the trees. AS its course pointed
in the direction of his own house, he ran 10
the dwelling, caught two of his children
and called his wife to save the other three
and herself by following him TO the cellar.
The husband had descended two or three
steps with bis 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 was carried some twen-
ty feet and then dropped in grand perfec-
ton of ruin, while the first floor with the
sleepers attached, which caught in the
foundation, was finally turned root like
over the whole mass. Mr.. Warren with
two of the children, remained in the cellar
enclosure, without injury; Mrs. Warren
was found on the ground about ten feet
from the cellar door, almost entirely strip
ped of her clothing, and so severely injured
about her neck and body that she died
within an hour after the calamity, although
entirely conscious; her infant was found
near by and almost entirely free from in
jury, yet utterly destitute of clothing;
little boy who was following his mother to
the cellar is now lying unconscious from the
wounds he received in the common wreck. |
His recovery is very doubtful; an older
girl escaped without injury. The dwelling
was two stories 1s by 26 feet, and sub |
stantially built. In rear of it was barn,
distant about five rods, 25 by 80 feet, which |
was literally sbivered into splinters.
Next in the due south easterly line of |
its course it unrooted SEVERAL large trees,
scattered the fences. crossed the road and |
demolished large barn, belonging to Mr..
John NJ. Budlong. This building was of
recent and very substantial build, and 35 |
by SO Oh its base, yet the destructive Gle
ment tore it to pieces, scattering large tim
bers about the fields at distance of from
FIVE to fifteen rods, distributing portions of
the roof in various directions, and actually |
taking up an iron cylinder threshing ma
chine, weighing perhaps four hundred
pounds, and depositing 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 eighty 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 shiv-
cred boards and tirnbers alone attest to its |
previous existence The dwelling of Mr..
Budlong had narrow escape. A shingle
or two torn from one corner of the roof in
dicate how narrowly it escaped destruction.
Beyond the premises of Mr.. B., for
about mile, PROSTATE trees and fences evi-
dence the track of the destructive messen-
ger. 1t however seemed to have released
its hold upon the earth soon after leaving
the farm of Mr.. B., for it was distinctly
seen to rise from the surface and dissolve
its comical shape into a general cloudy form.
The phenomenon was followed by violent
rain and wind. Two men at work in a
field saw the strange appariton approach
and took to their heels, barely escaping its
track as it passed on. II seemed to raise
from the eorth in four or fiva ,,;nrto, g., |