Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-07-12
For the Freeman.
Letter from Iowa.
RED OAK, MoNrdoNERf Co, !
ynH- .InIu l lS-I

IOWA, July l, 1871.
MR. EDITOR II made promise when a
your Office to send you occasionally items o
news for publication, and also to numerous
friends and acquaintance 10 Montpelier and
ncighboring towns but the many cares in
cideut to getting located and settled dowr
have hitherto prevented. This afternoon
however. we were visited with a severe storm
of hail and rain, which called my attention
to the matter.
About four O'Clock this afternoon there
were signs of an approaching shower some
what to the southwest of the city of Red
Oak. Presently the rain began to fall in
large quantities, accompanied with vivid
flashes of lightning and heavy peaIs of thun-
der, till the earth seemed to shake upon its
I foundation. Soon after hail-stones of the
size Of robin eggs and hens eggs began to
descend with the rain gradually they be-
more frequent, and soon reached the size OF
goose eggs. The storm carried destruction
and ruin to the crops in its course, sweeping
the class from the windows. and in MANY
cases the sash aico. The city was full OF
# pcor,e from The surrounding country,
whose teams were htched upon the square
norses broke loose and ran in all directions,
locking wagons and causing general confu-
sion. Harnesses we're cut and wholly spoiled
to liberate horses that were down, young
colts were knocked down, and even men and
boys who were trying to relieve the uni0rtu-
nate ieasts, were pelted to the ground. One
team ran into 4 store door as far as possible,
and one horse forced his way in. Hail-stones
were picked up which measured 10 IS inches
III circumference, ard weighed from four TO
five ounces. One was handed to me which
had been picked up six miles below our place,
about two hours after it fell, measuring eight
inches in circumference.
The storm Of bail commenced, 50 far as we
can ascertain tins evening, at our place,
which Is up the Nishabotapy river, three
miles northwest Of the city Of Red Oak, and
extended southeast through the town how
much farther VIC are unable to ascertain to-
night, but as nearly as / can learn, the vein
was about twelve miles wide. All crops in
the path Of the storm must be nearly, if not
totally ruined. Some wheat fields OF hun
dr-d acres and over, which were ripening fast
and nearly ready for the reaper, promising a
crop Of twenty bushels to the acre, are now
Lying in ruins Any amount Of corn was
standing seven feet high before the storm.
For the benefit Of friends and acquaintance
in the East VINO may see this notice, | would
sa,- that ,ro %.rrunptars escapeI unharneI
lt touched the south side Of James Somer-
Hes field Of corn Of one hundred and
twenty acres, but very lightly in comparison
with those farther west Hail-stones could
be shoveIed uP by the wagon-load after the
storm had passed over
Mr. 2. J. Mason, an old settler of this
place, informs me that he never saw a storm
so severe before. The like is not Of common
occurrence in this region A. soon as w.
can ascertain the extent and amount Of dam
age done. | will inform you.
Tuesday July l.
The storm covered strip of territory
twelve miles wide and twenty miles long
Report says the wheat and corn is entirely
destroyed, many pieces being cut down to
the g-ornd The hail--tones were so large
ana plenty that the they were gathered and
used for he on tho occasion Of the 4th at Red
Oak. Report says to day that the hail de
moliahei two dwelling houses few miles
outh OF this place it asIo killed sheep.
knocked boards off the fences and did much
more damage More anon