The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-06-22
DESTRUCTIVE wunIwrxp..-Many parts |

On Saturday last, in the western part OF New
York, several localities werc visited by very
destructive whirlwinds. In the vicinity Of
Utica on Saturday afternoon a remarkable
formation Of . nebulous substance, was seen
extending from the heavens nearly to the
earth, on which it seemed to rest upon
point, and expanding gradually as it ascen-
ded in a tunnel-like column Of cloudy mist
till it was lost in the clouded sky. 1t passed
over the city of Utica abou. four o'clock, with
o rushing, buzzing-like noise, as it swept to
the east. In the city it did no damage, and
was the subject Of sportive conversation after |
its passage, without any idea Of the destruc-
ton it was dealing in its course beyond.
After passing the city, it settled upon the
earth, and in an instant buildings, fences, |
and forests were lifted and scattered in every
direction. Every thing in its course fell be-
fore it. Mr.. Warren, o Baptist clergyman,
saw its approach. while he was in the garden,
and that its line of destruction pointed to his
own house, ran to his dwelling, caught two
Of his older children, and called to his wife
to save the other three and herself, by follow
ing him to the cellar. The husband had de-
scended two or three steps with his 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 twenty feet and then dropped in
grand perfection of ruin. while the first floor
with the slcepcrs attached. which caught in
the foundation, was finally turned roof-like
over the entire mass. He and the two chill
drcn reached the cellar, and remained there
without injury. The wife was found after
the tornado passed, ten feet from the dwelling,
40 bruised and mutilated that she died shortly
afterwards. Her infant. with its clothes en-
tirely stripped off. was found near her. urin
jured. A boy who was following his mother
to the cellar, was found in tho wreck Of the
building, badly wounded and in aying con-
dition. A little girl escaped by some mirac-
ulous means. in the confusion, entirely unin-
jured. Nothing of the house remained. and
large barn, standing near, was literally
shivered into splinters. On the adjoining
4
struck and torn completely to pieces, scatter
ing large timbcrs about the fields at a dis
lance Of from five to fifteen rods, distributing
the roof in various directions, and actually
taking mp an iron cylinder. thrcshing ma
chino, weighing perhaps four hundred
pounds, and deposited 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 so
rods further on in direct line, smaller barn
belonging TO the same gentleman, was dcmol-
ished, and what is very singular in this in
stance, but little of the material OF which it
was constructed is to be found anywhere. A
few shivcrcd boards and tmbers alone attest
to its previous existence.
Prcstrate trees and fences markedits course
for long distance, till it seemed to release
its hold upon the earth, and was seen to rise
from the surface and dissolve its eonical
shape into general cloudy form, when its
violence ceased. Its whole course, Of five or
six miles, was accomplished in four or five
minutes. Every material substance, above
the surface Of the earth, in its track was swept
away, and the ruin through its line was COM
plete, and fearful to behold.
During the same afternoon, similar cloud
made it's appearance near Oswego-a hun
dred miles from the scene of the other disas-
ter. Two large clouds were observed rushing
together with immense force the noise Of
their collision resembled the report Of a can
non. and was heard ut considerable distance
The WIND seems TO have leaped from the
clouds, and descended toward the earth: the
entire roof of barn was taken off. and the
fragments, boards, shingles, and pieces o.
rafters, strewed along for the distance OF {
mile and quarter. II passed on and STRUCK
a dwelling, tore out the gable end and tool
up the building, actually turning it hal
( round on its foundation! Incredible "a thi.
appears, it is strictly true, and the front doo
of the house which formerly opened towards
r the street, now opens into lot adjoining TIT
+; yard. The parents were absent at til,
time, leaving two children in the house. i
. may well be supposed that on their return
J.. they were considerably astonished at the ap
e pearance of things, though ovcroyed to fine
|
1t pursued its course eastward, destroying
n orchards, fences and forests in its way. till i
d passed over spot where two men were load
y ing wagon with slaves: before they felt it
force around them, they discovered common
n iron barn shovel twirling furiously in the air
|, thirty feet above their heads the next in
: slant the top Of q large tree standing q.
= distance fell upon them, crushing one maj
to death, and dcmolishing the wagon and it
: load. 1t next struck a large barn, which
e took from the ''underpinning" and carries
. bodily about four rods, where it fell to til
earth a heap of ruins. Another barn wa
: broken in pieces, and strewed about in al
y directions. The whirlwind pursued its de
structive way for several miles, when it life
p itself from the earth and disappeared as it
is fellow had done at Utica. As these frightfu
q visitors came on the l3th the date predicte
!" for the collision with the Comet, many PEG
i pie thought the crash had actually come aq
J. cording to appointment. Shouts were hear
4, in all directions, "It's come" One man per
= = ceiving the devastation, and every kind 9
le movable thing flying through the air, rush
Of ed into the house, and called upon the faml
to come out as soon as possible, ''for tn
&c Comet had struck, and their time upon cart
70 was short" He was greatly astonished tn
ID next morning, to find himself still in th
sublunary sphere.