Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-08-21
ACAnOs-EnA WATER SPOUT
A SINGULAR PnEE1RHEMtlN Ar
LANGLEY MILL POND.
Six E.Hndred Acres of water Lifted
Up to the Clouds.

spooo ~" Langley -. O-' Oi " NN'i-N /
day afternoon:
A dense cloud was first seen ap-
preaching the pond. being apparently !
u considerable distance up. Nothing |
particular WAS thought OF it, the citi- |
zens of Langley being at the time en-
ployed in trying to keep cool, hard |
thing to do, with the thermometer at
one hundred degrees IN the shade. |
But presently startling circumstance |
occurred. The cloud had halted over
the POM, and established connection
with the latter. 4 genuine water
spout had been evolved, ana an I'M
mense quantity Of water was rushing
skyward through the liquid conductor.
When first seen, the water spout was
near the dam, and it Travelled slowly
across the pond until it reached the
railroad trestle work, distance of a
mile and quarter from its starting
point, when it disappeared, and the
cloud moved maiestically Off, carrying
with it thousands Of gallons Of water,
which had been drawn from the pond.
The latter covering an area of SIX
hundred acres, was. in fact, lowered
fully two inches. The huge column
which Joined the upper region to the
cxpanse Oh water below resembled acone
in form, and rotated horizontally with
exceeding rapidity. The marvellous
speed with which the column turned
| impressed the beholder Immediately
with the idea that it was a whirlwlnd.
This was most probably the case, as q
tremendous wind passed over Angus
tn from the direction of Langley some
hours afterwards. The heavens were
brilliant with incessant flashes Of light
| ming after the spout, described above
had disappeared. There was no rush
| ing noise connected with it. IS is the
case in some instances. The water
underneath the clouds just befO1e the
spout formed was Il @ state Of great
agitation. Waves ROLLED anSrily, and
4 perceptible bulge was seen. IS the
cloud halted sort Of funnel protruded
fro1n it and dropped slowly down, be-
coming larger as it heightened, the
broader portion or base being at tlIe
surface of the cloud. When it re 2clled
a roint about one-fourth the distance
between the cloud and the pond the
bulge on the surface of the latter rose
10 rect it, and the two at length join
ed. when the water from the pond con-
| menccd ascending into the cloud,
which moved slowly towards the tres
tie work. The wares ID the water
al le&riEg &nd tending towards the
spout-antl the spout itself continued
the vertical motion referred to above.
The outside of the watcry funnel was
dark and not well defined, willie tie
centre was much lighter, being rather
OF h.uish cast. This would seem 20
Indicate that the column was part, :
hollow, the dark portions renr sent
ing the sides. There can nc II. 2.s'iht
hr,t that the immense quantity Is
water which. was transferred from. s.:9-
pond "a the cloud was literally III
up The s;,out finally Gisa. ,.a>'r,,3,
as i i had been drawn J., div J:n i..to
: the cloud, while. the latte. :!a.etiy
, niy, /. III 10 PATS mndmo9n. %o5 :,
dsoi, OF .:.:n trii during Tho e'<,,,:s.I.;:...
or afterwards. Tia formation and
; Subsequent motions q the sront are
described as having made mp & spec-
tace grand in The extreme. Notiiii e
of the fit,t; WIS ever bef; t. seen 4
| that section. The stranccst l@Ht al
the pharolnencA IVES the fact that the
cloud, ST. bur,;c..c,i with water, moved
Off with o,lt discussing any OF ii il us
form of rain in tic ne:Ghborh0Cd.
The following interesting staten.cls;
was furnished ~ 4 gentleman who re
quested lr. WIn. Philips, civil eng
( neer to make TIE ca!cnlat;on:
Area of mill pond, Geo acres; Grptl
of water diminished hy two inches by
| water-spout which prevailed fol-
about ten minutes. The superficial
: area of one acre is AZ, $50 square feet
, the decimal for the depth Of two inches
is O. 16G6of foot; hence q, 560z0. 1866
$685. 60 cubic feet Is the quantity tt,i1el
: from one acre, and then $500 6Gz60(
gives Us 4,1S1, 80 cubic feet as the
whole quantity taken from the MI
: pond. The cube root Of this last is
about ISL feet, SO q cube of that size
would nearly measure the quantity oi
water taken oil. This quantity would
make column ten feet diameter, 50,
233 feet high-rather more than ter
miles. At 81! pounds to q cubic foot
the above 4,1S1,76 cubic feet would
weigh 2G1, $685. pounds.
MODERN <;eogras,ny.
Spain is country whence come
grapes and cable dispatches The
grapes are about twenty cents pound
and the dispatches are about fighting.
France IS pleasant land, very bad
" situated at present. Is chief pro.
dactions are the Can-Can, naughty
plays, barbados and rows. It is rap
idly producing one OF the latter - this
writing. We would give short sketch
Of its government, but are afraid il
. will change before We get to press.
England is chiefly noticeable fCl
having produced Shakespeare, bottled
ale, and the late Tom Sayers. 1t is
reigned over by the champion mother
! in-law Of this planet. The chief aniuso
ment of the natives IS to imbibe {
large quantity Of 'arf-and-arf, and
then sing Brittons never Will be slaves
Italy exports little boys who play
F the harp, and greasy fellows in velvet
cen trowsers, who come over here and
locate in Market street il immense
quantities. Also maccarcni and music.
1t likewise does an immense business
in Courts handsome fellows with
black mustaches, who marry American
boarding school girls, and then turn
out to be Chicago BARRIERS. Petrach
:, who wrote a humber Of silly valen-
tines to young person named Laura,
was q native Of Italy.
Prussia is responsible for Wagrer's
operas, the Frankfo"t sausage and
nearly all of orr resident beer saloon
keepers. It is presided over by VII
liam, who happened 20 be z Bill that
France couldn't settle. Bismarck also
hangs out in Prussia. The chief in
dustry is the manufacture Of ruined
| -; III l.