The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-06-30
ExTRAoRD1NARY PHENOMENON
Loss Of Lite-MysteTiOus Movements Of a"
Atmospheric Body.

IFron, the Utica Herald. Of June Isl
On Saturday afternoon very many of our
citizens noted the appearance of very re-
markable formation of nebulous or cloudy
substance extending from the heavens
nearly To the earth, where it seemed to di-
rninish almost to point, but expanding
gradually as it assembled, until the peculiar
form was lost in the clio ldy sky. This re-
markable and tunnel like column of cloudy
mist, passed over the city at about four
O'Clock. and was remarked not only by its
peculiar appearance. but by rushing. buzz
zing noise, as it swept off in the direction
of Deerfeld. 1t was watched for some
moments. and the people generally believed
it to be a water spout, as its conical form
correspondent with all ideas of such natural
phenomena. 1t soon passed from sight,
and was made the sportive conversation for
the hour. without the least just conception
of what the body consisted, or of its des-
tructive power. Its effects however, have
been most wonderful, and may justly at
tract the attention and scrutiny of the
scientific world.
The conical mass settled to the earth
few minutes past four, at a point near the
residence of Milo Root, in Deprfeld, where
one or two fences were torn down and scat
tered about the fields. Here the destruc-
tive power seemed merely to touch the
surface; between this point and the resi-
dence of Nathan Budlong. in Schuyler,
distance of one or two miles, Frustrated
tree or fence only attest to its destructive
ness. At Mr. n. Budlong's the mysterious
agency settled to the earth, and in an in
slant scattered barn to pieces, and tore
up several trees on the opposite side of the
road /; next the we'll house of Mrs. Richard
son. which was standing directly in south
easterly line from where it first touched the
earth. was demolished, and quite a number
of trees in her orchard were destroyed; the
path of destruction then tended in a direct
line TO the southeast, as marked by numer-
Gus PROSTATE trees and riddled fences, until
it approached the Baptist parsonage house,
occupied by Mr. John Warren.
VIZ w. informs us that he was engaged
in his garden at about four o'clock and saw
the approach of the cloudy object, as it
threw up the trees. As its course pointed
in the direction of his own house he ran to
the dwelling, caught two of his older chill
dren, and called to his wife to save the other
three and herself by following him to the
cellar. The husband had descended 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 per-
lection of ruin, while the first floor with the
sleepers attached. which caught in the
foundation. was finally turned roof-like over
the entire mass.
Mr. Warren, with two of his children, re-
manned in the cellar enclosure, without in
jury; Mrs Warren was found on the ground
about ten feet from the cellar door, almost
entirely stripped of her clothing, and so
severely injured about her neck and body
that she died within an hour after the cal
amity, although entirely conscious; her in
FAINT was found near by and almost entirely
free from injury, yet utterly destitute of
clothing; little boy who was following his
mother to the cellar is now lying uncon-
scious from the wounds he received in the
common wreck. His recovery is very
doubtful an older girl escaped without
any injury. The dwelling was two stories,
16X26 feet, and substantially built. In
rear of it was a barn, distant about five
rods, 25X32 feet, which was literally shiv-
cred into splinters.
Next in the due southeasterly line of its
course it uproOted several large trees, scat
tered the fences, crossed the road and de-
molished large barn, belonging to Mr.
John NJ. Budlong. This building was of
recent and very substantial built, and 35 by
50 feet upon its base, yet the destructive
element tor" it to pieces, scattering large
timbers about the fields at a distance of
from five to fifteen rods, distributing parts
of the roof in various directions, and actu-
ally taking up an iron cylinder threshing
machine 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 farther on in direct line, smaller
barn belonging to the same gentleman was
demolished. and what is very singular in
this instance, but little of the material of
which it was constructed is to be found
anywhere. A few shivered boards and
timbcrs alone attest to its previous exis-
t"nce. The dwelling of Mr. Budlong had
narrow escape. a shingle or two torn from
one corner of the roof indicate how narrow
ly it escaped destruction.
Beyond the premises of Mr. B.. for about
a mile, PROSTATE trees and fences evidence
the track of the destructive messenger. 1t
however seemed to have released its hold