Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-06-25
Destructive WhirlWinds.

Besides the destructive tornado which pass
ed through portion of Oneida comfy on Sat
urday last, the town of Oswego and portion
of Schenectady county we're also visited the
same day with hurricanes equally disastrous in
their-effects We copy the account in the Os-
wego Times:
"The tornado commenced at q point five
miles southwest of the city, near the residence
of Mr.. Peter Simmons. During the storm,
two large clouds were observed rushing togeth-
er with immense force, the noise of their COLI
sion resembled the report of a cannon, was
heard a considerable distance. The wind
seems to have leaped from the clouds, and de-
scending towards the earth, the entire roof of
barn belonging to Mr.. Simmons was taken
off, and the fragments boards, shingles and
pieces of rafters strewed along for the distance
of oneand 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 it half
round on its foundation.
1.-The orchard of Mr. Oliver Foster was next
in its course. This was completely prostrated
some 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
great distance
a German teamSter, named Martin Schwa-
der, in the employ of Mr. Furniss, who owns
saw-ml II that region, was loading slaves in
wagon. Old Mr.. Furniss was handing him
the slaves, while the teamster took them aud
slowed them away in the wagon. The atten-
ton of the two men was attracted by a singular
noise, when, looking upwards, they saw COM
mon barn-sh0vel flying through the air over
their heads, at about thirty feet from the
ground, and twrling around in the most singu-
lar manner. The next instant a small maple
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 stayes, and throw
ing Mr.. Furniss to the ground The latter
was but slightly injured, and in some ten min
utes 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 pro-
cured as soon as possible. At the last accounts
he was still insensible, and it is thought he can
not survive.
After this bloody exploit, the tornado sped
on to wood lot of about ten acres, owned by
Gilbert and Penfeld. 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 incredible distance.
The whrlwind next attacked two barns,
belonging to Mr.. Henry Rowe, and utterly
destroyed both One of them was taken from
the underpnning and carried bodily about
four rods where it fell to the earth IA heap of
ruins. The other barn was broken in pieces
and strewed about in all directions. Beyond the
barns of Mr.. Rowe, the course of this whrl-
wind is marked distinctly to the Oswego river,
by upturned trees, here and there, through or
chards and wood lots, but after getting one
mile east Of Mr. Rowes residence, its principal
fury seems to have been spent, and its traces
disappear entirely on reaching the river
The loss of property cannot be less than S23,-
600"
There was also a severe hai-storm on Satur
day, in the vicinity of Hartford, Conn. In
Windsor, Canada, there was tornado on
Monday, which up-rooted trees and did other
damage. In those sections where the whirl-
wind occurred on the 18th the impression
prevailed that "the comet" had actually struck
and commenced its errand of destruction.