Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-06-25
From the oswego Times.
THE AWFUL WHIRLWIND!!


During the prodigious storm of ran
which deluged the earth on Saturday after
noon D of the most remarkable and de
stn,cfive whirlwinds we have ever heard o
visited the section of country lying to the
southwest of this city In the town of Us
weoo. From the actual observations made
yestesday upon the spot, together witt
such information IS We obtained from the
most reliable authority, We give a briei
statement of the affair,
The tornado commenced at a point five
miles west of the city, near the residence
ofMr.P Peter Simmons. During the storm
two large clouds were observed rushing
together with immense force; the noise Of
their collisions resembled the report of q
canon, and was heard at a considerable dis.
lance. The wind seems to have leaped
from the clouds, and descending towards
the earth, the entire roof of a barn belong.
ing to Nh. Simmons was taken off and the
fragments, boards, shingles and peices Of
~rafters, strewed along for. the distance Of
one and a quarter miles.
The whirlwind passed on and next struck
the dwelling house of Nh. James Cole, tore
out the gable end and took up the build
ing, actually turning it half round on its
foundation! Incredible as this appears, it
is strictly true, and the front door of the
house which formerly opened towards the
street, now opens into a lot adjoining the
ward. Mr.. and Mrs. Cole were absent at
the time, leaving two children inthe house.
1t may well be supposed that ON their re-
turn they were considerably astonished at
the appearanced Of things, though over
joyed to find their children unframed
except from fright. The wind having
spent its fury and malice at this point, de-
parted on its journey to the eastward.
The orchard of Mr.. Oliver Foster was
next in its course. This was completely
Frustrated, som of the trees taken up and
tossed hither and thither at the sport of
the destroyer, and tops of the trees sent
flying through the air at a great distance.
The whirlwind having thus executed
its purpose in destroying property next
made an attempt upon life, with but too
fearful success. A German teamster, NAM
ed Martin Schwader, in the employ of Mr..
Furniss, who owns a saw mill in that re-
giou, was loading slaves in a wagon. Old
MI. Furniss was handing him the slaves
while the teamster took and stored them
away in the wagon. The attention of the
two men was attracted by a singular noise,
when, looking upwards, they saw a common
barn shovel flying through the air over their
heads, at about thirty feet from the ground,
and whirling around in the most singular
manner. Naturally enough their eyes were
riyited upon this remarkble phenomenon,
and the next instant a small mapletree,
standing nearly its length from the wagon,
was caught by the wind, the top oft thrown
directly across the wagon, knocking the
teamster down upon the slaves and throw
ing Mr.. Furniss to the ground. The latter
was but slightly injured, and in some ten
minutes help was at hand. The top of
the tree was cut away and the unfortunate
German found lying on the slaves which
were covered by his blood from the mouth
and head. He was taken up insensible
and medical aid procured from this city as
soon as possible. At last accounts he was
still insensible, and it is thought he cannot
survive.
After this bloody exploit, the tornado
sped on to a wood-lot of about ten acres
across owned by Gilbert & Penfeld.-
Throughout the whole ten acres there is
not a tree left standing, while their tops
- I-1ln- 1T 81 a,rl @boroI xha l
air to an incredible distance. Mr.. Gilbert
perceiving the devastation and every kind
Of movable thing flying through the air,
rushed into the house, and called upon the
family to come put as soon as possible,
"for the comet had struck and their time
upon earth was Short" He is probably
considerably astonished to find himself on
This sublunary sphere to day, after having
fully made up his mind to leave it for-ae
knew not where.
Not satisfied yet, the whirlwind next at
tackled two barns belonging 10, Mr.. Henry
Rowe, and utterly destroyed both. One of
them was taken from the "underp:nning"
and carried bodily about four rods, where it
fell to the earth a heap of ruins The
other barn was broken in peices and strewed
about in all directions. Mr.. Rowe also ap-
pears to have had the same idea concern
this remarkable phenomenon. Mount
his horse be rode a quickly as posi-
bic to Fitch's Corners, and hurriedly in
CURED of those he met if they did not be-
Iieye the comet had struck. Considering
the fact of these wonderful occurrences
happening on the 18th of June-the day
yet by a German astronomer for the de-
struction of the earth-it is not to be won
dered at that a somewhat credulous man
should entertain this idea, placed in these
and appalling circumstance.
Beyond the barns of Mr.. Rowe, the
course of this whirlwind is marked distinct
to the Oswego river, by upturned trees,
here and there, through orchards and wood
lots, but after getting about n mile East
Of Mr.. Rowes' residence its principle fury
seems to have spent, and its traces disap-
pear entirely on reaching the river.
Such is a brief but truthful account of a
whrilwind which we do not believe ever had
its equal on the globe for fury and prodi-
gious power, and which stretched over a
of about 5 miles, marking its course
with destruction to everything that came
its way. The loss of property connot
be less than $25 900.
Coon NEWS FROM MINNEsorA.-Repub-
lean Triumph!-The doubt that has hung
pver the result of the election in Minnesota