The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-29
Singular atmospheric Phenomenon at
sandy Hook, N. j.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
One of the most singular Of phenomena 1t has been my
fortune to witness for some time was from the
above place Sunday afternoon, August 20 Deemng
it sufficient interest to the public mako hc following
statement OF sce, leaving to the savants TO inquire
into the "whys and whereforcs:"-
At about half past Eve O'Clock P. N. cloud, of very
unusual shape and COLOR observed In the western
sky and was supposed to be whrlwind destined to
suit in "waterspout" Although amost impossible
describe the following viii give idoa of its ap-
pcarance-
From the centre OF ptcaly shaped cloud OF pro.
baby two miles in LENGTH and Of peculiarly graysh
black COLOR depended, perpendicular to the horizon,
whitish cylindrical cloud, apparently hollow the end Of
the earth had the appearance Of auger
the other extremity the convergng point OF rpira
and intensely black cloud, the lines OF the spiral
| being distinctly marked by a whittier color than the
surrounding mass. The whole continually revolved
with n screwke motion from west 10 east and with
more rapidly from the first obser we'd
unt its final disappearance boar after wards. The
wini being rom The west AT the Time the whole mass
war driven slowly eastward but there seemed TO
~ the ncishborhood Of the cori
that part ~ II apart from and higher than the circles
about the cylinder was continually moved in detached
portions 10 the nriheast They then fell until they
reached the under II from the west when
they carried eastery until they apparently reached
the ua.nost circle, when they again 10 De
ried Tic northeast, before TINS continued during
the whole lime.
ADu;her arkcd feature OF this strange Nsiter the
nthua cscnges that took place in the long pendant
spour" cylinder When trst II had the elongated
cylindrical s.,spc first mentioned IL then gradually
changed u tbs. % Inverted cone, whose base as
cousi height but the apex S, retaining it's
like appearance Then rapidly lengthened downward,
st .eaipiug its Inverted toncal form, until its hcige
was s-ee or kur in hs stage the lower
point carried some distance :; the northeast form.
ing sage cf perhaps 10 degrees with the horizon.
Tncu tuTned b. -. rsI form u cylinder. Tnis
repea several tnes During al tEcse changes, how
ever. ire EaI gng clcsd aud alterdLnt spiras
ceased r,ycyIDg AZ tue stcp 10 rs eastward
course.
Ia Path directly the lover H. the extreme
point - the Hook and out u sea- where hen should
Judge two snog distant from shesc IL gradual
il, disappeared IN che form CT ram, clear Whs cloud
a. " Us ssact. When croSsd he Gay . was
enough & lc water 70 cause sSay, or ra's nst to
,-isc ~ height Of twenty Te Set or mOre but when
h, Rad a. t.ide tee Ko0k the ocean, probably
roic =, 80 o. aeig, TO- rs slgencc 10 .. felt, for
no srcb o,, u % tbs water via bic. Du1g tue
wboic Time ,b"r - change 81 force ~ direction OF
The b,e.1a Wien a. Noss s.JEng all day but tas eber-
mumetCr fell several deg. vs. -, ~, ,o..,,io d.
pcara acc, this BIAS and sinsu - 49, 1i. 49, M,
bold relief against the clear blue -. quo s,S"y ,,u
,sticaly sailing ont 70 sea- Until, It w. ~ te'iP
Z A.
foET a sASn1 Hook. Moniay, August %, loy.