The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-07-16
The Tornado,

GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AND LOSS
OF LIFE.
The effects of the tornado which passed over
Inc central and casternparts of the State Thurs
day afternoon were almost without parallel in
this section of the country. The Bangor Wing
says 1t was confined to path of less than half
mile in width. Those who saw it describe it as
having the appearance of dense wall of black
and angry clouds, from which depended whirl-
ing, twisting column, resembling an elephants
trunk, which swung to and fro, leaving destruc-
ton wherever it touched.
In Brewer Mr.. Perce's barn was blown to the
ground, and the dwelling Of Mr.. Freeze crumbled
into mass of ruins. Six persons were in the
horse, but mraculously escaped without further
damage than some severe bruises. Some other
buildings were destroyed, but we do not learn
whose. The iron roof was lifted off the engine
house of Nealley's Steam Mill and one end of
the building blown in by the wind.
In Holden Charles Strickland's house was un-
rooted and his barn completely destroyed, as
were those owned by Joseph B. Copeland, Chas
Copeland, Hiram Wiswel, Charles Wiswell Mr.
Hodgdon and lothian Pierce. J. B. Copelands
house was damaged and nearly all the windows
broken. Three chimneys were blown off Charles
Copeland's house, which was otherwise damaged.
In Orrlngton the roofs were torn from the dwell
ings of Zepas Smith, Bartlett Curran, Thomas
Curran and Horace Fields, and the walls shatter-
ed. The barns OF Mr.. Fling and Joshua Sever
aDce were blown fiat, and in the latter valuable
OK was killed. The barns of John Jameson,
Leopold Essec, jeremiah Bowden and Rawson
7 I.fk in tai
Mr. John Jameson in going from his barn to his
house, was knocked down by the hailstones
which were as large as robins eggs. He was
very badly bruised about the head, but managed
to crawl under fence which protected him in a
measure, until the storm lued.
In Bucksport, Hampden, and nearly every
other town heard from similar devastation is re-
ported. Trees were uprooted, fences and stone
walls were Frustrated, barns and dwellings uu-
rooted or overturned In many places also the
lightning struck
The Lewiston Journal reports that the central
part of the storm was about mile in width in
Minot where it was first heard from. Two houses
belonging to Harvey Dillingham;, at North
Auburn Dillingham; Hill) were blown down, and
yoke of oxen so seriously injured that it was
found necessary to kill one of them. barn of
Jabez Merrill, in the same vicinity, was blown
down and half the roof of the house blown off,
A large part of the orchards were blown down
the damage in this respect being almost beyond
credence. At Mechanic Falls the steeple was
blown from the Methodist Church. Passing from
North Auburn, the whirlwind seemed to take
northeasterly course-doing immense damage in
and oil -
barn, on the river road in Auburn, was demolish-
ed. Scores of apple and forest trees were leveled
to the ground. The roads in all directions were
blockaded by fallen trees. A great deal of
damage was done to some tracts of pine and
hard wood timber in that region. The fall of
hail in this vicinity was immense, drifts a foot
deep being reported
AT Skowhegan the house of Ruel Homestead
was struck by lightning and its inmates severely
though not fatally injured. The barn of Thomas
Lerton was blown down. The rain caused a
large quantity of lime to ignite in Morrson's
sforehouse, doing considerable damage
The only loss of life reported is in Greene wher-
the gale with great fury struck barn belonging
to John and Stinson Parker. The two brothers
had just driven into the barn with load of hay,
shut up the barn doors, backing the load against
one of them, to prevent the door blowing 10. Sud
denly John felt the barn moving and immediate
~, the floor beneath him sank down. John very
fortunat ely tell near the foundation which pro-
tected him from the falling tmbers, while Sinson
was struck by the falling of the timbers and in
stantly killed. John called for Stinson but no re-
ply came. As soon as possible, he crawled over
tho1 obx o.,
body Of his brother, his head Bonded nearly to
his feet, in half standing posture. A great tim
"er mad struck him on the back, and his back
was broken. His body was only with some
oiiiicuity extricated after the storm had lulled
anu heiSnoors had been called to the rescue.
i"oio "eie thfee horses and yoke of oxen in
inc parh' rescued without injury. The harm was
lOo feet long, being finely built on heavy sn,i,
granite foundation, and had deep celar-stand
ing quite high in consequence. The timbers ware
heavy, and the moving such an immense build
ing by the gale, proof of its terrible intensity.
The family of the Messrs Parker within the
house during the gale had as much as they could
do to look out for the house, and such was the
fury of the tempest, knew nothing, until it had
subsided, of the levelling of the barn few rods
off. Windows and doors of the house were
blown in. As soon as they got an opportunity
for an outside survey, they saw the barn was in
ruins and felt that perhaps both men had
persisted.
Stinson was so years of age and leaves widow
and five children-the two elder, married. The
two brothers had always lived on this, the home
stead farm.
IN MONTREAL.
The Witness of Thursday says: At a little
before seven o'clock last evening, a most ter
linc thunderstorm, or rather tornado, swept
over the city, carrying devastation in its
S us brevity was only exceeded by its
ruiS, WHEN ana not last much more than five
minutes; put during that time the rain fell in
perlecI sheets, obstructing the view by placing
I everything as behind a roaring cataract. The
streets wese quickly inundated, and the water
came over many door-ways, even in St lanes
street; the carriers rushing from their vebicieS
for shelter and leaving the seats and cnshions
to be blown OF, and the horses to endnre aS
well as they could the pelting of the nitiless Sc
storm, which even their great animal strenotb
was unable to withstand. Hail mingled With
the rain, and the lightning itself seemed half
quenched by the descending deluge, that sent