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 Fhcn0.

A remarkable phenomenon occurred on Friday last
Mason City, about SIX miles west of Jack som
yie Illinois. II Is regarded as one OF the most re.
marsabe tornadoes or incipient cyclones ever Wit
messed In this or any other country. currespon'
dent o the chicago T'tbule says That on the morn.
ing OF the day stated, while the air was Intensely
sutry, an iDkynned cloud Or slnoAe-like column was
observed gathering near the earth's surface. Soon
this great black column, the base OF which rested
the earth, shot up three distinct ana weltdelned,
bur narrower and spire.like Cloud columns. which
Continued to ascend raoidy unit; they reached ana
seemed TO attach themselves Glossy 10 . passing
cloud above. The frightiu spectacle continued 10
move eastward sioWy, hut constantly Tor some
fifteen minutes then changed Its course slightly
TO he scuineaslward, greatly 10 tie relief
OF the people OF Mason. VINO were expecting tc see
their Town torn 20 pieces Dy the anary Clements.
For some fifteen minutes longer the dreadful arpa-
rton moved slowly on, changing IL shape cons.de-
rabiy AZ 1t progressed. 1ne two outer spire-liKe
columns soon disappeared, leaving none but the
inner column resting upon the great base cloud be-
low, and still attaching iisei. to the cloud above
Suddenly toe awful appariiion disappeared. as II IL
had been but visioE or dream. and not fearful
reality. While the black current was moving a
sensib, felt at Mason CITY, and mile away RON
It's track 40 olor mach ike that OF burning sulphur
was inhaled Dg several persons A gentleman who
had been q solder ana was In many battles stood
but hundred yards from the tornado when 1t
passed aud he says that small flashes OF electricity
were constantly visible in the storm column pass
ing from The earth 10 the cloud above, ana that
RAPID popping, cracking reports were heard. re-
mindins him most forcoy OF an infantry regiment
Ia battle firing their muske's rs fast as possible.
AS fearful as. was the appearance Of this column
ana taking fast hold the clouds OF heaven, more
, marvellous II poSs bic, was Its destructive work
miles in length and varying IN width from twenty
to eighty feet Not spear OF grass, not stalk OF
corn or wheat, no. shrub. not particle of green
vegetation was lett alive Had the fires de5cende
from heaven and fallen in the pathway OF this tor
nado as they dld on Sodom, the destruction Of
every living thing OF The vegetai lie kingdom could
, not have been more complete. For some distance
in It's path the earth was literally ploughed up 10 the
depth OF SIX inches. In passing over the unDrokcn
! lnCpQgeiVaDiV
rotary motion Of the wind OF the tornado hat the
earth was gathered up from the deep roots OF the
prairie grass, and the turf with Its bare roots az
clean as II they had been washed, was lifted from
the earth and lett strcwn In the storms pathway.
wheat field every stalk OF wheat standing In It's path
was torn Gown ana twisted into every conceivable
shades and where an Usage hedge lay across its way
Tor the width OF its path the hedge bushes were torn
ilto snred5.
BIT the most wonderful OF all the phenomena
connected with this tornado Is that the column OF
whirling air must have been intensely hot as Is
Shown by the fact that every spear OF grass stalk Of
corn and wheat--every green thing In it, path
were literally dried to cilsp. The prairie grass
along the storms track. which was luxurianty
green before the tornado passed, was LEFT as brown
and dcat as 1t IS found in midwntcr. The leaves
OF the hedge where the tornado passed across liz
way crumbled as do the dead, dry leaves OF the
forest after the Blasting autumn liost has done ts
is way 8 as PACK as il n1 WIsnsrins mr., IRE
OF this tornado was, that white It's rotary
motion must nave been of inconceivably great We.
locity lt3 progressive motion vas not above the
rate OF six miles an nour The Outlines OF its path
way were so well defined that hvc feet from the
outer line Of total destruction oil vegetation OF every
KIND not vestge o. It's effects could he seen. In
act, the outlines or It's path Of destruction were al
most as clearly marked as that OF mowers syath
through the meadow, and It's work more complete.
Fortunately no house stood IN the tornado's lac
OF march. u passed between q farm honse ail
barn, but capped both It's onward movement was
slow that beast, II In Its way could easily
escape. Tue progressive motion OF tornado Is
usually at The rate OF thirty 70 sixty miles an hour;
the TACT oil this ono moving ut the rate OF miles
per hour was most singular. the path OF tornado
l. usually quarter or half mile IN wiotn this one
was but twenty TO eighty ieet Ia width. This IL
another unusual feature.