The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-06-24
A Remarkable CYCLONE.

JACKSONVILLE, June 1.
A most remarkable tornado occurred in Ma |
son county, near Mason City, last Friday |
morning. The first indications were that of |
dark cloud gathering near the earth, about |
six miles west of the city, but ere long it as
sumed the shape of huge boat, having three
distinct sIoke-stacks, or columns, extending
upward, and connected with the clouds. This
wonderful phenomenon was fully charged
with electricity, and from these columns
sparks were constantly issuing, and making
a noise and cracking similar to the firing Of
thousand muskets. Although the rotary
motion OF this fearful apparition was such as
to tear up by roots all vegetation that lay IN
its path, its progressive motion was not more
than five miles an hour and was watched
with fearful anxiety 10y the terror-stricken in
habitants. Its path was from 20 to 30 feet
in width, and about three miles in length, and
upon this space nothing was left alive. Hedg-
ing was burnt to a crisp, green wheat and
corn was turned yellow, and prairie grass pre-
scntcd the appearance of having been pulled
up and dried in u two weeks August sun.
Just previous to the appearance of the lorna
do, the air was very sultry, and It's origin may
be attributed to electrical influences; for, be-
sides the heat and sparks which it exhibited,
1t had all the appearance of water spouts on
the ocean. The scene of its destruction Is
being visited by hundreds, and it will at
least furnish grand subject for scientific In
vestigation and religious terror.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
The first trace of the tornado is found
some six miles west of Mason CITY, On Fri
day morning, while the air was intensely sui
try, and to the west and southwest of Mason
City light clouds were visible, and t. the
northwest a rain cloud was SEEM an inky -hued
cloud or smoke-like column was observed by
citizens OF Mason City. gathering near the
earth's surface about SIX miles distant, on a
wide extended prairie. Gradually the terrible
looking column increased III breadth and in
height, and seemed to be moving slowly and
directly toward Mason City.
Soon from this great black. smoky, looking
column, the base of which rested on the
earth, shot up three distinct and we'll defined,
but narrower and spire like columns, which
continued to ascend rapidly until they reach
ed and seemed to attach themselves closely to
apassing cloud above The frightfu specta-
Gle continued to move eastward slowly, but
constantly, for some fifteen minutes then
changed its course slightly to the southeast
ward, greatly to the relief of the people of
Mason, who were expecting to see their town
torn to pieces by the angry elements.
For some fifteen minutes longer the dreadful
apparatlon moved slowly on, changing its
course considerably as it progressed. The two
outer or spire-like columns disappeared lcav-
ing none but the inner column resting on the
great base cloud below and still attaching it.
self to the cloud above.
Suddenly the awful apparition disappeared,
as if it had been but vision or q dream, and
not fearful reality.
While the black column was moving "a cold
current OF air from the west was most sensibly
felt at Mason City, and mile away from its
track an odor much like that of burning sui
phur was inhaled by several persons. gen.
tleman who had been a soldier and had been
In many battles. stood but hundred wards
from the tornado when it passed, and he says
that small flashes of electricity were constantly
visible III the storm column, passing from the
earth to the cloud above, and that rapid pop.
ping, cracking reports were heard, reminding
HIM most iorclh!y Of an infantry regiment in
battle firing their muskcts as fast AS possible
AS fearful AS was the appearance of this
column, or Columns. resting upon the earth
ana reaching I" aud taking fast hold ON the
clouds OF heaven, more marvellous, if possible
was its destructive work upon the earth in its
pathway,which was near three miles ia length,
and varying IN width from twenty to eighty
feet. Not Il spear of grass not Il stalk of
corn or wheat: not shrub not particle of
green vegetation was left alive Had the fires
descended from heaven and fallen IN the path
way of TINS tornado, Il, they did on Sodom,
the destruction Of every living thin" of the
animal Kingdom c"uid not have been more
complete. For some distance III It's patE the
earth was literally plow,d up to the depth of
SIX inches. In passing over the Unbrnkc.,
prairie, so inconceivably rapid mus, nave ,,,n
the rotary motion Of the wind IT the lu,n.,,,
that the earth was gathered up from the .j.,p
roots OF the prairie grass, amt ~. turf " -,
its bare roots as clean As tthcy h.i been w..,
ed, was lifted from the earth AMI i,I, ,,rrwn TO-
the earth's pathway. Whuc the ,.;,,s,. go, 49,.
tornado led through wheat field every St. h
OF wheat standing III It's path was torn dian
and twisted into every conceivable allar. ::
and where an Usage hedg, lag acros, It's %.y
Tor the width of Its path, the hedge hu,lc>
We're torn into shrc,Is
But the most wonderful of AL phcuuucu
connected with this tornado is that the cot.
umn Of whirling air must have been intensely
hot, ~ l. >.,''~u ~ ihc tact that every Spear
OF gras' s'a,k : com aud wheat. every green
thing ~ y, pnh.wclr literally dried to crisp.
TIL. prair" grass along the storms track.
which WAS luXn'iantly green before the lorna
do passed, was left as brown and dead ms it is
found IN mid w.n,cr. The leaves of the hedge
where the ,",nni" passed across in its way
crumbled as do the dead, dry leaves of the
forest after the blasting autumn frost has dane
its work. The Young corn which stood in its