The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-08
THE HARRISBURG TORNADO.
Terrible Fury of the Storm King
at Pennsylvania's Capital. ~
Conformation at Hotel-The Roof Lifted rom
Above Sleeping Women and Children Floor}
and Beds Drenched Trees Blown
Down-Destruction Of Property Near =.
the Capitol Grounds-Morale. -


HARRISBURG, IA, August Z, 1871
arrived here last evening just in time to witt
ness the terrific storm that passed over this city
during the early part of the night The press dc.
spatches win have given You the main points be-
fore your receipt Of this letter, but will endeavof
In this to give you my own experience and some
Few particulars that may be interesting to the
readers or the HERALD. The day had been d
pleasant one, not over warm, but the night air had
become very sultry, which, with the appearance al
the western sky and frequent lightning nashea
In tile distance, gave evidence that q
storm was brewing for us somewhere and
Its coming was not likely to be very long delayed.
lts intensity, however. no one guessed or Inn
agned; and, for one, anticipated its coming with
pleasure, for the relief it promised from the an
parently increasing heat OF the night. At about
hafpast ten the lightning flashes became more frer
quent and intense, ~
LOUD PEALs OF THUNDER FOLLOWED Tst
one another with the regularity of o national
salute and q light rain commenced to fall. At this
time but slight breeze was blowing arose and
closed my windows and shutters and sat down,
again to write. Suddenly the wind came with trer
mendous power and hail and rain fell in torrents
For a few moments it seemed as If ventosus
and Jupiter Pluvius had let loose their
minions, and, maddened and Infatuated, were laying
waste the earth and planting their everlasting
domnions within all its borders 1 have been
crooked in the cradle OF the Deep" at midnight,
King was furious and his winds and his waves
rolled alike over our frail and unprotected craft,
and even the waters, bursting the barriers that
separated them from us, came dashng into our
cabins have seen the lightning flash and heard
on our Western plains, but never felt more keenly
the frightful character Of tempest and storm, I
never
Tor briel period than did for the space of three
minutes last night, when the tornado swept over
describe it. could hear the trees crashing and
bricks falling, and could feel the very building
shake and culver. Bricks came rafting and ciate
tering down the chimney tlues, and striking and
crashing against the building and on the pavement
below: The whole building seemed falling about
me, and not even fire escape could save me. A
large brick church stands a few feet west Of the
building, and it seemed that each extra gnsh would
roof of the hotel and into the room in which was
sitting. The fact that the church had no steeple
until after the storm had passed The rain con-
tlnued pouring down IN Hoods, but
its way after brief sOjourn OF three minutes. The
hotel was literally "alive with its excited inmates.
put on my coat and Joined the others in the halls,
and such sight! There are three floors above tho
one on which am quartered, and the inmates Of
the rooms those and from every part OF the build
ing were hurrying together; children in their night
dresses women in their wrappers, with bare feet,
and men half dressed and others wet to the skin.
the landlord seemed the most sefpossessed Of all,
the whole tin roof had been carried away from tho
new portion Of the hotel; l went into the uppe4
me indeed. There was nothing to prevent the rain
from coming in, and the
ROOMS ON THE UPPER FLOOR WERE FLOODED. J
Many were in bed on this floor when the storm
burst upon us. but do not care even to imagine
and went Wiring away with the Winds. One moor
could not contain the water, and 1t found its way
very rapidly into the rooms below The rain con-
'Es A TA was quiet On the lines" this morning as
by the storm. The tin roof from the hotel was car
ried bodily into the state Capitol grounds and
ing place. II remains as 1t fell, across the wide
plank road in the park having brought with It to
Its present resting place q beautiful medium sized
tree and the branches Of many larger ones.
THE DAMAGE To PROPERTY
throughout the city Is immense. Several other
struction is so great as at the State Capitol Hotel
Brants public hall was unroofed and portions OF
every part OF the city were greatly damaged and in
very many cases totally destroyed The shade trees
In the city have suffered severely Front street.
bortlered on the river side with beautiful shade
trees has paid dearly for Its entertainments OF last
and 1t is almost impossible to- go from one
end of the street to the other on ac-
trees Some Of the trees are broken of
close to the ground, others broken halfway to the
top, while others are torn up by the roots. Some
while in many cases they have fallen against
houses, doing them more or less damage.
REFLECTIONS
Three large magnificent shade trees, which stood
in front OF CamerOns residence on Front streety
feet order, with roots upturned ana the pavement
with them. IL Is not the shadow OF sr'Ujrth; sts
event Is IL, that we see S castin from s,S.ae
tell the defeat OF his candidate for Governor OF the
OF Pennsylvania, and his own fail
Senate And whose may the other shadow be ?
Is it Grant Or GreeleyY And they oil three fell
together