The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-28
ACAROLINA WATER-SPOUT.
1 Singular Phenomenon at Langley
Mill POHd-Six Hundred Acres of
Water Lifted Up TO the Clouds.

Singular Phenomenon at Langley
Mill POnd-Six Hundred Acres of
Water Lifted Up to the Clouds.
From the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel, An
gust Y.
A dense cloud was first seen approach
ing the pond, being apparently consid-
cradle distance up. Nothing particular
was thought of it, the citizens Of Lang
ley being at the time occupied in trying
to keep cool, hard thing 10 do, with
the thermometer at one hundred degrees
in the shade. But presently startling
circumstance occurred. The cloud had
halted over the pond and established
connection with the latter. y genuine
water-spout had, in fact, been evolved,
and an immense quantity of water was
rushing skywarl through the liquid
conductor. When first seen, the water
spout was the dam, and travelled slowly
across the pond until it reached the rail
road tressle work, distance of a mile
and quarter from its starting point,
when it disappeared, and the cloud
moved majestically of, 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 join
ed the upper region to the expanse of
water below resembled a cone in form,
and rotated horizontally with exceed
! ing rapidity. The marvellous speed with
which the column turned impressed the
beholder Immediately with the idea that
it was associated with a whirlwind. This
was most probably the case, as a tremen-
dous wind passed over Augusta from
the direction Of Langley some hours af-
| terwards. The heavens were brilliant
with incessant flashes of lightning after
the spout described above had disap-
i peared. There was no rushing noise
connected with it, as is the case in some
instances. The water underneath the
| clouds just before the spout formed was
in a state of great agitation. Waves
Z
rolled angrily and a perceptible bulge
was seen. AS the cloud halted a sort of
funnel protruded from it and dropped
slowly down, becoming larger as it
heightened, the broader portion or base
being at the surface of the cloud. When
it reached point about one-fourth the
distance between the cloud and the
pond the bulge on the surface of the lat
ter rose to meet it, and the two at length
Joined, when the water from the pond
commenced ascending into the cloud,
which moved slowly towards the trestle-
work The waves in the waterfall
leaping and tending toward the spout
and the spout itself continued the verti-
cal motion referred to above. The out
-ide of the watery funeral was dark and
not we'll defined, while the center was
much lighter, being rather of blush
cast This would seem to indicate that
the column was partly hollow, the dark
portions representing the sides. There
can be no doubt but that the immense
quantity of wafer which was transferred
from The pond to the cloud was literally
sucked up. The spout finally disap-
peared, as if it had been drawn boldly
up into the cloud, while the latter
quietly moved off to parts unknown.
Not drop of rain fell during the oc-
currance or afterward. The formation
Il
described as having made up specta-
Gle grand in the extreme. Nothing OF
the kind was ever before seen in that sec.
ton. The strangest part of the phe.
nomenon was the fact that the cloud, sc
burdened with water, moved off with.
out dispensing any of it in the form O
rain in the neighborhood.
The following interesting statement
was furnished by gentleman who re
quested Mr.. VIM. Phillips, civil engi
neer, to make the calculation.
Area of mill pond, 600 acres; deptE
of water diminished, two inches by
water-spout, which prevailed for abou
, ten minutes. The superficial area o
one acre is 1850 square feet; the deci
NAL for the depth of two inches is 0.166t
of foot; hence 43,560xO.16-6,9G6.6 .6'
cubic feet is the quantity taken from
one acre-and then 6,9696Ox6OO give
Us 4,1S1,7 ,760 cubic feet as the Who'll
, quantity taken from the mill pond. Th
The cube root of this last is about 16
feet, SO a cube of that size would nearl
. measure the quantity of water taken of
This quantity would make a column tel
feet diameter, 53,243 feet high-rathe
more than ten miles. At 623 pounds t
! a cubic foot, the above 4,181, ,760 cubi
. feet would weigh 261, 100000 pounds