The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-14
THE TORNADO IN MASSACHUSETTS.
IT'S Track OF Destruction Through Several
Towns oil Worcester County.

| It's Track OF Destruction Through Severa
Towns oil Worcester County.
| From the Worce ter Gazette. June l21
| tornado or cyclone OF terrific power swept
across Worcester county about halfpast four O'CLOCK
yesterday afternoon, creating havoc ana devasta
ton such has not been in this vicinity within
the memory OF the oldest inhabtant From reii
able Information and the visits OF our reporters tC
several OF the localities we gather the following fact
! in regard TO Its course and results:-
IN NORTH SPENCER.
Our first account OF the tempest Is at North Spen-
Ger, although II IS probable that II passed over the
north part or Ware, the south part OF uardwick
and through Oakham, before striking there. The
barn OF Jonas Wilson was completely demolished
and hts horse was killed. His house was also
twisted foot or more or from its foundations The
barn on the town larm, near Caknam line, and that
OF David Prouty, were also completely destroyed.
One OF these barns was located about ten rods rom
the highway ana was lifted up ana bodily carried
tnis distance, and piled, an inaiscrlmnate mass OF
spllniered lumber, III The highway.
IN PAXTON.
From this point The tempest entered Paxton,
passing about a mile ana a hair north OF The centre
III an eastery course crossing the Barre road anoLt
mile from Paxton, striking the barn Of Nathaniel
l., ParNhurst tearing II 10 spllnters ana partially
tue same vlclaity, was also demolished. Tne no Use
and larm buildings OF John Warren, near Mr..
Wares, had q wonderful ESCAPE. Nearly every tree
on his premises, some OF them within two ieet OF
his barn, were uprooted and thrown q considerable
distance, and although the trees were on all sides,
the buildings entirely unframed. The barn on
the old town farm OF Paxton, owned oy J. II. J.
Blgelow was demolished, and nearly all the orchard
lns on the farm was Frustrated A wood lot, be.
longing TO Mr.. Harrington the east part of Pax
ton, on the Holden road, lay IN fne path OF the
storm, and IL cut a path through the great pines,
swapping them ike pipe stems or tearing them up
by the roots.
The storm struck The farm or Lewis Martin, the
buildings OF which stood upon hill HIS house
anu barn are u complete wreck Mir. Martin and
five children were IN the house, and alter the gale
passed found themselves In the cellar considerably
bruised, but not seriou ,ly injured. From here the
storm crossed another Valley in which was u pond,
the water or which was winfield IN the air and
thrown forward Tor some distance IN tae path of
the gale. Next came hill. just west of Holden
Centre, surmouated by a heavy growth OF pines.
down, and leaving track as clearly defined II
the work had been done by rule and line. Descend
ing the hnl 1t struck the village cIea ing tndescrb-
able havoc. The barn OF samuel Grifin was first in
It's path, and was entirely demolished; his house
broken ami the chimneys proslraled. The house OF
Amos H. Newell was partially unroofed, and the
non some two feet leaving the cellar exposed, but
II was otherwise not much injured. Tie barn OF
Peter >. Wlnn was thoroughly destroyed and We
raj tons OF hay were scattered III the path Of the
storm His house was also somewhat injured.
Here, crossing the highway. and the Worcester and
Gardner Railroad 1t took The roof on the house OF
George ). LaKn. A ,nc orchard ana number OF
large shade trees OH his place were also Frustrated
Mclaughlin demolished, but three horses in
the barn escaped with only slight bruises. His
Hubbard was completely wrecked. The basement
OF the shop was used as stable ana horse be-
longing to Mr.. Hubbard was badly injured. MIR.
Charles Burnett was In this shop, ana was badly
bruised and cut about the head, but VIII recover.
The house OF Mir. Hubbard ha the roof torn from
its l. part, and bedsteadS ana other furniture IN the
attic were whrled across the street. The barn OF
Mrs. Ira Broad stood next, and Its roof was partly
torn oh. buggy, sleigh ard other artic es IN the
barn were entirely DESTROYED. Crossing the
county road to Worcester, Just south Of
EDpnpZpr
carrying 1t about It's width and dashing II upon the
ground with such force as 20 separate nearv every
and his wife were in the house, but escaped wonder.
tuy-he having only an arm dislocated ana she
was demolished, but three OF his childen who were
in 1t at the time, escaped uninjured. Several other
Guiding the barn OF John Adams, the house OF Cap
tam SIMON Hubbard and the buildings OF Samuel
Horny Mrs. Truesdell Thomas Clelland, John Titus,
Charles Flagg ana others.
IN WEST BOYLSTON
Entering West Boyston near Maiden Hill, IL
swept through the town In northeast direction,
but so far heard from 1t did no great damage TO
properly beyond uprootng trees and destro, Ing
fences and stone walls. The factory or Mr.. +. w.
HoDrook, on The Nashua river, near the Worcester
and Nashua Railroad, narrowly escaped visit
from Inc hurricane. which ssed within about iif-
teen rods, creating terrible havoc among tile trees
in It's pain.
The ground in Boylston, near the northwest cor
ner OF the town, was ploughed as though some
mighty torrent had washed over It. Sawyer's mills
wnlrlwlnd swept and consequently escaped injury.
According to the course OF the wind the centre OF
the town Of Berlin or the extreme southeastern par;
or Clinton were neXt visited but no accounts oil Its
effects nave yet been received.
IT'S APPEARANCE.
An eyewitness OF the progress OF the tornado In
Paxton says he had distinct view or 1t for seven
niles which distance IL passed over in about five
I MINUTES The moving mass was OF light gray Oh
fog color, aud was shaped ike balloon or tunnel,
rs smaller part being next 70 the earth. 1t moved
| with q rapidly whiriin2 motion, and the air for
| three hundred feet In height or more was filled
with the fragments OF the buildings, furniture and
trees which 1t had destroyed in It's path. All along
! The ronte trees standing III open ground were up
! rooted, In many cases huge Old apple trees being
! Frustrated win many loads OF earth upllfted ON
from the roots OF which every particle or earth had
| been. blown. Rail fences were spread broadcast
over the acres tbc7 once enclosed ana heavy stone
/ walls were tumbei down and FRUSTRATED. Near the
| barns destroyed the ground Is strewed with frag
! ment5 OF carts, wagons, farming tools and the
like, white the dwellings,, furniture, bedclotll.
! ing, curtains aud clcthing are twisted among the
/ branches or the PROSTATE trees or scattered in
ASIDE from the havoc III the path OF the tornado
which was about ten rods In width, there seems to
have been force operating from each side, that
while t1e trees and other articles In ITS direct path
lett at right angles with tile main path, probably
the result OF the rush OF air drawn In at the base
as that In the direct path was whlrled upward
creating vacuum.
1t is or course, impossible 10 estimate the damage
involved, Most OF The buildings were bstantia
ana valuable and tho material lett Is 40 badly broker
as to be useless for rebuilding. In Holden the dam
age to buildings cannot he less than $12, 900 OF
$4,000, While the destruction OF fences shade and
fruit trees can hardly he estimated.
EivO8cE BRoKgR LIMBO.