The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-02-18
A WEST INDIAN TORNADO.
BY AN OLD BARBARIAN.


while l have an existence. 11y residence
at that time was in Bridgetown, on the
Island of Barbadoes but the evening pre-
ceding it | had ridden a few miles into
the country, TO spend the night at the
house of friend, with whom resided "a
young lady, a niece. that has since become
bound 10 me by the closest of all earthly
ties
| reached my friend Palmer's house a
little after sunset on the night of the 10Th,
and found the whole family seated in the
verandah, with a couple Of gentleman
neighbors, who had dropped in for an
evenings social call, and one of them, a
young and single man, perhaps with a
design similar 10 my own. The servants
took charge of my horse, and Joined the
group. The moment the first cordial
family greeting and introductions were
over, the weather as usual was brought
in, to start a subject of conversation in
which everybody could take part
''It is very warm,'' said one.
Excessively so,' said another.
"And not breath stirring" Joined a
third.
and the heavens like glowing fur
nace,' added fourth
Did you see the sunset to-nieht ?"
said Miss Clara Templeton, the young
lady | have mentioned, turning to me.
Il did
''Oh, was it not magniicenlly beauti-
ful beyond the pen of poet, or pencil of
artist, TO describe p
>'it was Indeed, glorious" :" 1 respond
ed, catching some Of her enthusiasm.
Il don't lie it, said Mr. Grayson,
one OF the two neighbors alluded to, and
who was plain, blunt man; ''lhese
beautiful red sunsets don't bode any good
on this island a storm generally follows
and if I'm not mistaken, well soon have
to pay up for all this pretty sky painting"
why, there's no more poetry in your
soul than in u column Of fgures!" cried
Miss IenpIeton, with a gay laugh
Come, let US have a cheerful prophecy
Are you weatherwise g.
81 fear | am 0thercise,'' - | laughed.
The sunset had certainly been one of
the most beautiful | ever saw and even
yet the western sky was all aglow, the
soft flush reaching far up towards The
zenith, and delightfully."- blending with the
blue above. The air was skill, almost
painfully SO, as if nature were holding her
breath IN solemn awe; and somehow the
mind was led to take on this impression,
even TO sadness, as | have heard more
than one remark since the dire events of
| that awful night
A little after nine o'clock, the neigh
bors visiting at my friends house took
their leave, and retired to rest For
some time we remained in the verandah,
| conversing IN low tones. and then with-
drew to the parlor, which faced the west.
The inner shutters were closed. AS low
ers then, destined to be the nearest and
dearest ties of relationship, we had thou
sand tender nothings to say, which would
not bear repeating. Time flew by on
golden wings, unheeded and unnoted and
an hour or two passed away as so many
minutes.
Suddenly we were startled by a favor
ite cat springing into the room from the
one adjoining, mewing as if from fright,
and running crouchingly around the walls,
with dislended and glaring eyes. At the
same time we first became conscious Of a
strange, sullen roar, and that the wind
was already blowing quite icrcely, a
matter that we had not before noticed,
owing to the pre>occupation of our minds.
looked at Clara, and saw that she was
pale with fear.
Something terrible y said she, in a
nervous whisper.
''Only a Storm replied, assuming an
indifference | did not feel.
She pointed to the cat, and joined ::
CHEERING instinct often tells the brute
creation more than our reasons does us
fear this is only the beginning of wild
tempest !"
AS she spoke, and as if in confirmation
! of her words, lurid flash was visible
through the cracks of the shutters, and
was instantly followed by crash that
fairly brought US TO our feet, so terrible
was 1t.
''Oh, merciful heavens !" exclaimed
Clara, sinking back upon her seat, and
covering her face with her hands.
''Do not be alarmed, dearest - | said
tendery sit is only storm such as we
often have on the island, and will soon be
over"
81 fear not" she said timorously.
From this moment the wind rapidly
increased in fury and in the course of al
hour the roar of the tempest, comminglec
with the howlings and shriekings of the
wind and crashing of the thunder, haC
become SO great that The human voice
could only be distinguished when pitched
on its highest key. For some time hac
felt very anxious and uneasy and now
was thoroughly alarmed, and Clara wa
so frightened as scarcely TO be able t'
speak or move. Furious as the winC
already was, it was still increasing, ant
more than once | felt the house trembl
ard rock. What the end was 10 be. heaV