National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-09-17
Terrific GuIe at Boston.

that Boston was visited on We'd
nesday afternoon by one of the se>
VereSt gales which il has ever been
the misfortune of the city TO suffer;
at least no gale approaching 1t Ill
severity has been witnessed III that
city for the past 30 years. The wea
ther during the day was warm and
sultry, with occasional Showers
About three o'clock in the after.
noon the sky had become densely
overcast with black clouds. which
were UminouS Of discomfort, but did
not at all foreshadcw the state of
things which ensued later in the af.
ternoOn and evening. The wind at
that time blew freshly and strongly
from the southeast, and rain began
to fall rapidly. BY four O'Clock the
wind had increased in severity, and
the streets were washed by the rain,
which fell with increasing violence.
II WAS not until nba,,. Laif ,loct fiS-a
O'Clock that the gale began in real
earnest. At that time tire wind had
inceased in violence to a hurricane,
and travelling vas not only attend,
ed with danger from falling signs
and other objects, bur it was uncom.
fortably hard work. Umbrellas
were twisted into useless fragments
in jitiry. Awnings in front Of
stores and above windows were
stripped into shrcds. Signs were
torn from their tastenings and
thrown down with violence, and Of
ten with serious Consequences
Chimneys were topped from their
lofty elevations to the ground
Confusion was worse than conf0und
ed; and what would happen next
was. a serious question to almost
everybody.
By six o'clock the gale was at its
hight, and did not thereafter exceed
at any time its Gerceness at thai
hour. Hail fell, mingled with tn,
rain, which diminished in quantit,
as the sun went down in dens,
mass of black, ugly clouds, whicl
covered nearly the whole heavens
but which showed with grand effect
tinged with yellow light with tn,
sun behind them. The gale contin
ued from the southeast with some
what diminished violence until lat,
hour in the evening, but it had near
ly spent itself by 7 o'clock, and tn,
damage done after eight O'Clock wa
trlillng, compared with that whicl
previously occurred.
When the gale was at its high
much apprehension was felt for tn
Coliseum, as it was peculiarly cN
posed to TIE terrific wind that Swep
across the Back Bay. A few min
utes before haltpaSt six o'clock Nh
Wilson. who had charge of the builo
ing, assisted 10y two boys, went t
check, if possible, a stream of waite
which was pouring in upon the OF
gan at the east end. At that tim
he expected momcntarily that til
wind would force the windows il
and hcSitating whether to longer +,
main beneath the roof. He, how
ever, concluded that he would loc
the safe before leaving, and wa
just proceeding to do so when tn
east end gave way with tremen,
Gus crash. Almost Immediately a
ter the sudden rush of air whic
followed demolished the west en-
and the larger portion Of the roo
with the exception of a small pa
in the centre, which, although con
sidcrahly damaged, remained stan,
ing. The walls were somewh.
strained although nearly rctaiuii
their original position. For,unat
~ Mr. Wilson and .hc boys escap,
without injury. The tower of Il
Nj. T.. Church on Hanover st. W,
made a mass Of ruins by the cal
For a long time the tower has he,
considered !athcr unsafe, but har
~ any Que expected 10 see a "a
which would PROSTATE it. Sim
about lStJ the old cockcrcl summon
ting the lofty spirc has watched II
North End with vigilance night ~,
day. but its familiar form will no
be missed.
The Central Church ON Bcrl,l
street, experienced very damagil
effects from the gale. About {
time of the falling of the Coliscl
one of the stone pickcts on the ",
side of the stccplc gave away, cru>
ing through the roof and carry il
Il large amount of debris Thou,
to the main body of the church.
The ancient historic and stor
Scared Elm, which has wiihsto
the shocks of the winds for cent
ries, though it would naturally
the least likely TO undergo the (,
rible strain of the evenings IA
did not 80 down. For II wonder
was not materially damaged,
though one large limb was diSscv
ed aud fell to HE ground bcyo
the fence which cucloScs it.
The Common was completely g,
cred with debris of upturncd ire
and presents u scene of sad "A
woiul devastation The beauty
the Common is injured and drlic
beyond all remedy, for the Sc.
winch the gale lett behind il "
never he claccd
All over the City aud in the Il,
Dor more or less damage was done
private residences. public buidn
and ships.
Sidney smith compafes the vi,
Tie OF locomotive 10 the sunr,l
an attorney wien Satan first ~,