The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1860-06-07
Singular Phenomenon.
WATER SPOUT AND ToRNADo-HoUsE
BLOWN DOWN

BLOWN DOWN.
From the indianapolis Journal May 3O.]
Storms, like troubles, seem to come
in crowds. Last week was full of them,
and this week starts fair for a similar
exhibition of elemental disturbances
Yesterday evening we were visited by
the first tornado for several years, and
it was accompanied by very much the
same appearances, and marked by the
same features, that distinguished the
singular tornadoes that visited Illinois
and New York year or two ago. The
day had been hot, but began to show
signs Of a change about 4 O'clock
Clouds gathered slowly and in broken
masses till about o'clock, when the
whole ky was covered with rounded
Jumps, with feecy edges, presenting
something the appearance of scales, and
so singular as to attract much attention.
In about half an hour they grew thicker
and darker in the West, and showed
unmistakable indications of Storm
AS the cloud swept up the sky it chang
ed from the dark hue it had at the hori-
zon into dull brassy color, the almost
invariable attendant of hurricane
Towards the East it swung down with
in few degrees Of the horizon in rag
ged fringes of dusty color, through
which the clear sky was visible at many
points, but towards the South it was
very dark, with a sharp, we'll defined
line below which the sky was perfectly
clear. Over head and to the West it
was q Yellow hecked with fast flying
feathc Of white cloud. In few min
utes it began to hail, and such hail
stones have very rarely been seen in
this region. All were very large, and
same Of them fully as large as hens
eggs, Luckily they fell very sparely, or
we should have had few window lights
and little fruit left.
While the cloud was driving to the
East, singular phenomenon was OBJ
served in the Southeast. .. A black cloud
bellying down like a bag, let drop from
the lower end tongue-like water spout
which whirled and swayed exactly as
the descriptions say water-spout does.
This, we judge, was very much such a
meteor as appeared in New York year
or so ago, and afterwards in Illinois.
where its swaying tongue like an ele-
plants trunk thrashed whole village
to fragments. No one who saw it from
the city thought it indicated any seri-
Gus elemental disturbance, and they
watched it only as queer formation of
clouds. But it appears to have been a
full brother of the terrible family we
have alluded to. About dark we learn
that it passed about a mile and a half
south Of the center of the city, or Just
beyond the outskirts, dealing destruc-
ton in it's course. Just beyond the
southeast end Of the city it blew off the
roof Of Gardner Goldsmith's house. and
tore it to fragments, and leaned the
frame walls eastward so far that they
are in very dangerous position. Mr.
Goldsmith was caught by the falling
timber, and dangerously if not fatally
injured. His right arm was crushed be-
tween the shoulder and elbow, several
of his ribs were broken, his left ankle
broken all to pieces, and he was so Sc
verely injured internally, that his life
was considered by DR.. Billiard, who at
tended him, to be in Immediate danger.
All around in the vicinity rails were
blown about like feathers, large trees
were twisted round and broken off, and
fences were blown down. Further to
the west it was reported that Mr.. Henry
Wikoff's house was demolished and two
men slightly injured, but we could learn
no other particulars last night. A mile
or less to the east the tornado appeared
to rise, and merely swept off the tops of
the trees in the neighborhood of Willis
Wright's residence. Probably we shall
hear of very serious damages to other
houses, and possibly to life, to day
The track of the tornado was apparent
ly but three or four hundred feet in
width, and within it the destruction has
no doubt been very great Its length
we have at present no means of ascer-
tanning.