Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-06-25

IAiFAAL INNS LOSS OE
LIFE-BUILDINGS UNROOFED-TREES
UPTURNED - BARN SHOVELS AND
TREE-TOPS FLYING THROUGH TIE
AIR-IMMENSE LOSS OF PROPERTY
THE COMET SUPPOSED TO HAVE
sTRUCK!!!l!
During the prodigious storm Of rain which DEL
uged the earth on Saturday afternoon, Que Of tie
most remarkable and destructive w~hirlwiads 8.
have ever heard Of visited the seclio5 &c Donr,,y
laying to the southwest Of this city IN the town d
oswego. From the actu. observations made YES
terday upon the spc,, together with such informa.
as We obtainei ftom the most reliable authority,
we CIV" a brief statement OF the affair
! 4he tornado commenced at a point FIVE miles
west Of the city, near the residence Of Mr.. Pc.
ter Simmons. During the storm, two large clouds
were observed rushing together with immense
force; the noise Of their collision resembled the
report Of a cannon, and was heard Il at a considera.
bic distance. The wind seems to have leapel
from the clouds aud descending towards the earth,
The entire roof Of a barn belonging to Mr.. Sim
mons was taken of and the fragments, boards,
shingles and and pieces Of mfters, strewed along
for the distance Of one and a quarter miles.
The whirlwiDd passed on and next struck the
dwelling house Of Mr. James Cole, tore out tie
gable end and took up the building, actually turn
ing 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 tue yard
Mr.. aud Mrs. Cole were absent at tie time, leaving
two children in the house. It may well be sup.
posed that on their return thoy were considerably
a]stonishel at the appearance Of things, though
oyejoyed to find their children unharmad except
from fright. The wind having spent its fury and
, malace at this point, departed on its journey to
the eastward.
The orchard Of Mr.. Oliver Foster was ne,t in
its course. This was completely Frustrated, some
of the trees taken up aud tossed hitler and thtLer
at the sport of the destroyer, and tops Of tho trees
sent flying through the air ut great distance.
The whirlwiud having thus executed its pur-
pose in destroying property next made an attempt
upon liCo, with but too fearful success. A Ger.
man tcamster, named Martin Saltwater in lie en-.
ploy of Mr.. FurnisS who owuc5 a saw mill in that
region, was loading slaves 10 a wagon. Old Mr..
Funiss was handing him the slaves whilo the
teamstcr took aud slowed them away in the wag-
on. The attention Of the two mon was attracted
by singular noise, when, looking upwards, they
saw a colnon barn shovel flying through the air
over their heads, at about Thirty feet from the
ground, and whiting around in the most singular
manneG Naturally enough their eyes were riyit-
cd upon this remarkable phenomenon, AMI the
next instant a small maple tree, Standing noarly its
full length fom the wagon, was caught by Tie
wind aud tho top Of it thrown directly across the
wagon, knocking tho toamstor dowa upon the
slaves aud throEing Mr.. Fmnis to the ground.
The latter waf but slightly Injured, and in some
ten minutes help was at hand. The top Of the
Tree was cut away and tha unfortunate German
was found lying on the slaves which were covered
with his blood from the mouth and head. lie
wa taken up insensibIc and medical aid procured
from this city as soon as possible. Atthe last &C.
counts he was still insensibie, 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 6PenfeId. Throughout the whole ten
acres there is not a tree left standing, while their
tops are broken off and carried through the air to
an incrolitable distance. Mr.. Gilbert perceiying
tho devastation aud every kind of movable thing
flying through the air, rushed into the house, and
called upon tn family to coma out as soon as
possible, "lor the comet had struck and thoirtime
upon earth was short" lie is probably consid,
erably astonished to iinl Limsolfon this subluua-I
ry sphere to day, after having fully made up his
mind to leave it ior-ho knew not whore.
Not satisfied yet, the whirlwind next attacked
two barns belonging to Mr.. Henry Rowe, and ut
tehy destroyed both. One Of them was taken
from the "uularpmning' and carried bodily about
four rolls, whore it fell to the earth a heap Of ru-
ms, The other barn was broken in pieces and
strewel about in all objections. Mr. Rowe also
appears to have had the same idea concerning
this remarkable phenomenon. Mounting his
horse he rode as quickly as possible to FilcL's
Corners, aud h%urriodIy inquired Of those be met If
they did not believe the comet had struck. Con
sidcring the fact Of these wonderful occurrences
happening on tho 18th of Juno-tho day set by
a German astronomer for the destruction of the
esnh-it is not to 10 wondered at that a some
what crclulous man should entertain this idea
thea9 singular aud appalling circum-