Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-06-26
THE FREE PRESS
BURLINGTON
Terrific Wbirlwinds.
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE &C, 1851.

York State experienced moderate substi-
tute for the comet, on Saturday last, in the
shape Of some fearful tornadoes, accompan-
led with loss of life.
On Saturday afternoon last, the town OF
Schuyler, n. Y, was visited by whirlwnd
which tore up trees, demolished buildings
and caused the death of one person. \
young man who was at work in barn that
was struck by the fearful blast, entirely un-
rooted and burst asunder as ii by an intcr-
nal explosion was found outside some time
after in convulsions, which lasted consid-
erable time. A woman and girl were
! thrown across a fence and slightly bruised.
! A laboring man named John Warren, who
saw the calamity approaching, hastily
gathered his wife and SIX children and at
tempted to get them into the cellar of his
| house. When the dwelling was struck
| Mr.. Warren and five of his children gained
| this retreat, and Mrs. Warren and the 9TH
er child were preparing to follow. The
, house was hurled from its foundation and
removed distance Of three rods and made
wreck. Mrs. Warren WAS found near
the cellar wall, almost entirely stripped Of
her clothing. She lived but an hour after,
and as there were no severe bruises on her
person, it is believed that she died fro'"
the electrical shock she received -.
tie boy who was with IN" III
ped of ~ uer was also strip
-..s clothes, and at last accounts laid
unconscious. His recovery is doubtful, -
The great body of the cloud which passed
over the track of destruction seemed to be
less than half mile above the earth. The
partof it which descended to the earth, SEEM
ed to maintain it's connection for space of
five minutes. During this time it moved in
a direct line 5. s, f., at the rate of mile
in three minutes, The extent of the waste
laid is mile and half or two miles. The
width of the track was fifteen rods or
| thereabouts
From the oswego Times June IS
During the prodigious storm Of rain
which deluged the earth on Saturday after
noon, one Of the most remarkable and des-
tructlve whirlwinds we haze ever heard of,
visited the section of country laying to the
southwest Of this city in :he town of Oswego.
The tornado commenced at a point five
miles southwest of the city, near the resi-
dence of Mr.. Peter Simmons. During the
storm, two large clouds were observed rush
ing together with immense force; the noise
Of their collision resembled the report Of Il
cannon, and was heard at considerable
| distance. The wind seems to have leaped
! from the clouds, and descending towards the
earth, the entire roof of barn belonging to
Mr.. Simmons was taken off, and the irag-
ments, boards shingles and pieces of rafters,
strewed along for the distance of one and a
| quarter miles.
The whirlwind passed on and next struck
| the dwelling house of Mr. James Cole, tore
out the gable end and took up the building,
actually turning IL haT round on its foun-
daf'o9. Incredible as this appears, it is
strictly true, and the front door of the
house which formerly opened towards the
street, now opens into q lot adjoining the
yard. Mr. " Mrs Cole were absent at the
time, leaving two children in the house. 1t
may well be supposed that on their return
they were considerably astonished at the
appearance Of things, though overioyed to
! mud thvii children uaha-."aJ oueor. T-e,a
| fright.
The orchard of Mr.. Oliver Foster was next
in its course. This was completely pros
trated some of the trees taken up and
tossed hithor 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, \ German teamster named Martin
Schwader, in the employ of Mr.. Furniss,
loading slaves in a wagon. Old Mr. Fur
Mss was handing him the slaves while the
teamster took them and stOyed them away
in the wagon The attention of the two
men were 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 twirling around in a most singular
manner. Naturally enough their eyes were
riyetted upon this remarkable phenomenon,
and the next instant a small ma ple.tree,
standing nearly its length from the wagon,
was caught by the wind and the top Of it
thrown directly across the wagon, knocking
the teamster down upon the slaves and
throwing 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. lie was taken up insensible and
medical aid procured from this city as soon
as possible. At the last accounts he was
still insensible, and it is thought he cannot
survive.
After this bloody exploit, the tornado
sped on to wood lot of about ten acres
owned by Gilbert Il Penteld. Throughout
the whole ten acres there is not tree left
standing, while their tops are broken off
and carried through the air to an incredible
distance. Mr.. Gilbert perceying the de-
vastation and every kind of movable thing
nying through the air, rushed into the
house, and called upon the family to come
out as soon as possible, " FOR THE COMET
HAD STRUCK AND THEIR TIME UPON EARTH WAS
SHORT :" lie is probably considerably as
tonshed to find himself on this sublunary
sphere to day, after having fully made up
his mind to leave it for-he knew not
where
Not satisfied vet. the whirlwind next at
tackled two barns belonging to Mr. Henry
Rowe, and utterly DESTROYED both. One Of
them was taken from the underpinninr'
and carried bodily about four rods, where ii
fell to the earth heap of ruins The 9TH