The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-09
THE ILLINOIS CYClOyE.
Horrible Observation-Disclosures Effect. Upon
Observation-Disclosures Wonderful Fkcno-

Horrible Observation-Disclosures Effect Upon
Observation-Disclosures Wonderful FkcnO.
rleuon.
remarkable phenomenon occurred on Friday last
vile, Illinois Ii is regarded as one OF the most re.
marianne tornadoes or incipent cyclones ever Wit
messed in this or any other country. A cUrrespon-
dent oi the chicago tribune says that on the
ing OF the day stated, while the air was Intensely
sultry, an iDkyhned cloud Or slnoAeIlke column was
observed gathering near the earths surface Soon
this great bacK colImn, the base OF which rested on
bur narrower ana spireke cloud columns. which
continued TO ascend rapidly until they reached and
seemed TO attach themselves Glossy 10 u passing
cloud above. 1hc trightful spectacle continued 10
move eastward sloWiy, but constantly, Tor some
fifteen minutes, then changed It's course slightly
TO The eoutheasiward, greatly 10 tie relief
OF The people oil Mason. VINO were expecting to see
their town tern 70 pieces oy the angry eeinen,s.
For some hfieen minutes longer Inc dreadful arpa-
rltion moved slowly on changing Its shape coas.de-
raby AZ 1t progressed. The two outer spire-like
columns soon disappeared leaving none bat tho
inner column resting upon the great base cloud bs-
low, and still attaching itscs! to the cloud above
Suddenly tne awful appariion disappeared, rs II IL
had been bur visiOE or dream. and not fearini
reality. While the black current was moving
cold current d mr. coming ironthe west was most
It's track olor much ike That OF burning sulphur
was inhaled by several persons A gentleman who
han been solder aud was In many battles stood
but hundred yards from the tornado when 1t
passed and ne says that small flashes Of electricity
were Constantly visible IN the storm column pass
ing irom The earth 10 the cloud above, and that
rapid popping cracking reports were heard. re-
mndnG him most foicioiy OF al infantry regiment
Ia battle firing their musAeS rs fast as possible.
AS fearful as was the appearance OF this column
or columns, resting upon the earth ana reaching TO
ana taking fast hod the clouds OF heaven, more
marvellous, II poss bic, was its destructive work
upon the earth III It's pathway, which was near three
to eighty feet Not spear OF grass, not stalk OF
or wheat, shrub, not particle OF green
vegetation was lett awe. Had the fires de5cende Il
from heaven and fallen In the pathway oil this tor
nado, they dld on Sodom, the destruction OF
every living thing OF the vegetable Kingdom could
not have been more complete. For some distance
In Its path the earth was literally ploughed 10 the
depth OF SIX inches. In passing over the uu0roken
rotary motion of the wind OF the tornado that the
earth was gathered up from the deep roots OF the
prairie grass, and the turf with Its bare roofs as
clean as II they had been washed, was llftei from
the earth and left strewn In the storms pathway
Where the course OF the tornado led through q
wheat field every stalk OF wheat standing in its path
was torn down ana twisted into every conceivable
shade; and where Usage hedge lay across its way
Tor the width OF Its path the hedge bushes were torn
BIT the most wonderful OF all the phenomena
connected with this tornado Is that the column OF
Whlrlng air must have been intensely hot as -
shown by the fact that every spear OF grass stalk OF
corn and wheat-eyery green thing In IL, path
along the storms track, which was luxIriantly
ereen before the tornado passed, was LETT as brown
ant dcau as II II found in midwlntcr. The leaves
OF the hedge where the tornado passed iSs
way cruinbled rs do the dead, dry leaves OF the
forest after the blasting autumn liost has done It,
WORK. The young corn which stood III
ITS way Is as back as IL whitening fire
mad passci through II. Another feature
or this tornado was, that while its rotary
motion must nave been OF inconcelvably great
locity, Its progressive motion was not above the
rate OF SIX miles an nour The outlines OF its path.
way were wei defined that nve feet from the
outer line OF total destruction oil vegetation OF every
Kind not vestge Oh It's effects could he seen. In
fact. Ile outlines or its lata Of destruction al
most as clearly marked as lhas OF a mowers syath
through The meadow, and It's work more compete.
Fortunately no mousse stood IN the tornaGo's lIlc
or march. IL passed between q farm house aud
barn. but escaped both Its onward movement was
so slow that man or beast II In It's way could easily
escape. 1le progressive motion or q tornado Is
usually nj The rate OF thirty 70 sixty miles an hour;
the TACT OF this moving ut the rate OF SIX niles
per hour was most singular. Inc path or y tornado
Il usually quarter or half mile IN w,otn this one
waa but twenty 70 eighty leet In width. This is
another unusual feature.