The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-06-13
Hnfi and Wlnd-The Work OF ,
Whirlwind in Henrico County.

OF floIent lali-StOfm ana tornado In New
Kent county. a similar storm visited Hen
rico on Sunday afternoon. Though the
scene of its operations was very limited, this
ever known In this part of Virginia. It,
was most destructive in the vicinity of
Yellow Tavern. on the Brook road. A
reporter Of the Dispatch visited this locality
Yesterday, and cleaned the following par
ticulars Of the nature Of the storm and the
devastation wrought
The first heard of the storm In going ont
from Richmond was at the toll gate, the
keeper of which says he picked up on Sum
day afternoon hailstones as large as par
fridge eggs; but that not many fell. From
the toll-gate to the Yellow Tavern, along
the line of the road, there were no traces
of either wind or hail. The growing grain,
1t Is true, was PROSTATE in many places,
but not more so than it frequently Is after
q heavy rain-storm. AT the tavern the hail
had fallen heavily, and stones as large as
hens eggs might have been gathered in
roof from shed and pulled tree up by
the roots.
But the storm seemed to have concen-
trated and spent its force at BIelrose, the
beautiful place of DR.. J. n. Powell, about
mile and half east Of the tavern. Ap-
preaching the Doctors residence by
winding road, leading through a thick
wood, the eye was suddenly arrested by
traces of tornado on every side. Trees of
all kinds had been torn up by the roots or
broken like pipe-stems by the violence of
the wind. Over hundred were PROSTATE
on piece of ground not more than fifty
yards square. Ten pines were piled one
upon another, and everywhere were giant
oaks, stout hickories, and other sturdy
trees, either stripped Of their hest boughs,
broken in twain, or lying full length, with
tons of earth clinging to their roots. {.
at some places the road was impossible
for vehicles, but our reporter, though
spite the predictions of persons in the
neighborhood to the contrary, was able to
get out Of the woods with his buggy with
out turning back.
Emerging into the Woodless plain beyond
and east of PowelPs woods, the wind at
tackled field of wheat. On plat Of about
seven acres there stood over a hundred
shocks, aud not one sheaf was left upon
another, while some were lifted up and car
ried half mile away. The greater part
Of the grain, however, had not been cut,
and this, while not down as much as might
have been expected, is so untitled for the
cradle of the harvester that not mora
thnn one-third of the crop will be saved,
But the scene of the greatest destruction
was around the dwelling house of Or. Pow
ell. Those who have visited it will remem-
Der the house rs almost hidden in grove
OF locustS Of luxurious growth. AteW DAYS
ago it could hardly be seen for the thick
uess of the foliage, and the grounds in front
were in perpetual shade. Now the sun
clarcs unimpeded upon the house, ana
the grounds are almost as exposed rs The
field. DR.. and Mrs. Powell were the only
persons in the house when the storm came
up.
The morning had been cloudy, but moth
ing beyond an ordinary thunderstorm was
expected. Suddenly, ut about 2 O'Clock, a
pail OF darkness fell upon the scene, ana
there was peal of thunder, loud and OF
unusually long duration. Then came the
hail 1t was noted that the stones were
not round or smooth, but angular, and
| some were nearly as large as mans hand.
| Some of the female servants gathered their
aprons full. Following the hail. and almost
without Il moments warning, there was Il
tremendous gust---a vcritable whirlwind.
| IL came with seething sound, and in
| stantIy the fine trees, of which mention has
been made. were twisted hither and
thither, and their branches, stripped
off like ripe blades Of corn, were
strewn all over the lawn. 1t seemed i'm
| possible that the house could escape but
it did, uninjured, although an immense
tree fell against it. But for the shelter
afforded by the trees it would have beer
unrooted, rs was the carriasc-house, Which
had been recently built of the very bes
timber. Nothing but the floor Of this build
ing remains; the roof was carried nun
dred yards away. A buggy was left on IN
floor uniujured, but q rockaWay by It's Sld
was torn to pieces. The orchard tree
were badly used, the fences were DloW
| down, and giant oak, century Ola, WI
torn up by the roots. The spectacle wa
like that presented after battle IN Whic
shells flew thick and fast. The de6rS
the yard was so great that twelve men
work for six hours had not cleared hall
it away. Mr.. Pearson, an English gentl
man, recently removed to the neighbo
hood, generously sent eight hands to ASST
DR.. PowelPs.
| At Mrs. Anderson Kings several var
trees were torn up and an clubhouse W.
| unroofed. There was about the same d'
struction az MIR. w. T.. Taliaferros and Mr.
| Louisa Shepherds. Both of these place
are within half 4 mile Of DR.. Powelfs. AN
here we may remark that one of the mo
notable features OF the storm was the fat
that it was confined to an area not MOI
than one mile square. All over the countl
there was rain or hail, but in this partic'
| Lar locality there was q series of whirlWind
/ with results as has been seen, never su
passed in the vicinity of Richmond.
| It is almost miracle that there was =
loss Of life and that live stock sustained :
little injury. Large as they were the ha
l 1o hn IN,
| that wrought destruction, and it was a
| over in half an hour.
In addition to the above we learn that {
Hungary colored mans cabin was blow
+! down, and the hail cut the wheat, corn, an
vegetables to pieces. From Clover Hill
| Chesterfield, there Is about the same repor
And correspondent at CurPs Neck, Hel
rico, writes TO the Dispatch that furiou
storm OF wind and rain prevailed In tht
| locality, proving most disastrous to tn
crops. Many fields of wheat are laid almo:
level with the ground and in it's present az
yanced state it cannot possibly rise again.
In Richmond the only notable feature
/ the weather on Sunday was the shower
At 8 O'Clock yesterday morning, hoWeVe!
there was perhaps the heaviest fall OF raj
| for the duration of the shower tnat n;
taken place here for several years: 1este
| day the weather was cloudy, with one
two light rains, and the mercury was IN
above ITO during the day.
A POLICEMAN TAKES WATER.-On satu.
dav last. well-knoWn detective having
warrant against one Wllllanna frlce,
! colored denizen OF Rutherfooras row, Q
| Broad street, proceeded to tnat localt.
| and finding the aforesaid Wllllanna, mhc
i nd