Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-06-16

TORNADO IN WORCESTER COUNTY, MASS
From the Worcester Evening Gazette. I

havoc and devastation such as has not
been seen in this vicinity within the men,
ory OF the oldest inhabitant From relia-
bic information, and the visits of our re-
porters to several of the localities, we
gather the following facts in regard to its
course and results - -
Our first account of the tempest is at
North Spencer, although it is probable
that it passed over the north part of Ware,
the south part of Hardwick, and through
Oakham, before striking there. The barn
of Jonas Wilson was completely demol-
ished, and his horse was killed. His
house was also twisted foot or more off
from its foundation. The barn on the
town farm, near Oakham line, and that of
David Prouty, were also completely de-
stroyed. One of these barns was located
about ten rods from the highway, and was
lifted up and bodily carried this distance,
and piled, an indiscriminate mass of splin-
tered lumber, in the highway.
From this point the tempest entered
Paxton, passing about a mile and half
north OF the centre in an easterly course,
crossing the Barre road about mile from
Paxton, striking the barn of Nathaniel l..
Parkhurst, tearing it to splinters, and par
TALLY unroofing his house. The barn of
ID. l.. Ware, in the same vicinity, was also
demolished. The house and farm build
ings of John Warren, near Mr.. Wares,
had wonderful escape. Nearly every
tree on his premises, some of them within
two feet of his barn, were uprooted and
thrown considerable distance, and al
though the trees were on all sides, the
h,,il ,ba Th,
barn on the old town farm ofPaxton, own
ed by j. & j. Bigelow, was demolished,
and nearly all the orcharding on the farm
was prostrated. A wood-lot belonging to
Mr.. Harringto in the east part of Pax
ton, on the Holden road, lay in the path of
the storm sand it cut path through the
or tearing them up by the roots.
The storm struck the farm of Lewis
Martin, the buildings of which stood upon
hill. His house and barn are complete
wreck. Mr. Martin and five children were
in the house, and after the gale passed
found themselves in the cellar considerably
bruised, but not seriously injured. From
here the storm crossed another valley
in which was pond the water of
which was whirled in the air and
thrown forward to some distance in
the path of the gale. Next came a hill,
Just west of Holden Centre, surmounted
by heavy growth of pines. Through
these the tornado swept, moving them
down, and leaving track as clearly de-
fined as if the work had been done by rule
and line. Descending the hill it struck
the village, creating indescribable havoc.
The barn of Samuel Griffin was first in its
path, and was entirely demolished his
house was also considerably injured, the
windows being broken and the ehimneys
prostrated. The house of Amos II. Newell
was partially unroofed, and the house of
NJ. NJ. Cooley was twisted from its founda-
ton some two feet, leaving the cellar ex-
posed, but it was otherwise not much in
jured The barn of Peter S. Winn was
thoroughly destroyed, and several tons
of hay were scattered in the path of
the storm. His house was also some
what injured Here, crossing the high
way and the Worcester and Gardner Rail-
road, it took the roof off the house of Geo.
S. Lakin. A fine orchard and a number of
large shade trees on his place were also
prostrated; one of the latter fell upon the
house of Samuel Fiske, causing some dam
age. The barn of Michael Mclaughlin
was demolished; but three horses in the
barn escaped with only slight bruises. His
house was somewhat shaken. The shop
of S. d. Hubbard was completely wrecked.
The basement of the shop was used for
stable, and horse belonging to Mr. Hub
bard was badly injured. Mr.. Charles
Burnett was in this shop, and was badly
bruised and cut about the head, but will
recover. The house of Mr.. Hubbard had
the roof torn from its l. part, and bedsteads
and other furniture in the attic were
whrled across the street. The barn OF
Mrs. Ira Broad stood next, and its roof
was partly torn off. A buggy, sleigh and
other articles in the barn were entirely
destroyed. Crossing the country road to
Worcester, Just south of the new cemetery.
the gale struck the house of Ebenezer
Parker, lifting it from its foundation, car
rying it about its width and dashing it
upon the ground with such force as to sep
arate nearly every piece OF lumber in it
from its fellow. Mr. Parker and his wife
were in the house, but escaped wonder
fully, he having only an arm dislocated
and she being somewhat bruised. The
barn of John Burns was demolished, but
three of his children, who were in it at the
time, escaped uninjured. Several other
buildings were unrooied and otherwise in
jured, including the barn of Johu Adams,
the house of Captain Simon Hubbard, and
the buildings of Samuel Henry, Mrs.
Tuesday, Thomas Clelland, John Titus,
Charles Flagg, and others.
Entering West Boylston near Maiden
Hill, it swept through the town in north
eastern direction, but so far as heard
from it did no great damage to property
beyond up-rooting trees and destroying
fences and stone walls. The factory of Mr..
Z. w. Holbrook, on the Nashua Railroad,
narrowly escaped visit from the hurri-
cane, which passed within about fifteen
rods, creating terrible havoc among the
trees in its path.
The ground in Boylston near the north
west corner of the town was ploughed up
as though some mighty torrent had washed
over it, Sawyer's mills were little north
of the course through which the whirlwind
swept, and consequently escaped injury.
| According to the course of the wind the
center of the town of Berlin or the ex-