Litchfield enquirer., 1874-07-09
-PouoHKrrpsrr. June Both. 1874.

Aoo0hhEEPSlE, June OUGH, 1Of4. MIR. EDITOR. .-Y Yesterday afternoon, the most furious tornado I ever witnessed vis- lted this place. The weather had been extremely hot all the forenoon, the ther- mometer ranging from 98o to 1929 in the shade. At about half past three, dark clouds began to gather in the west and north, which soon became consoli- dated into one black mass, with now and then bright flashes oflightning illumining the blackened sky, followed by far-off mutterings of thunder. The mass of clouds moved up slowly, and the wind lulled, when suddenly, directly across the river from vassar's Brewery, the water was seen to be greatly agitated, and soon 1t was known that hurricane was ap- preaching; though, judging from the streaks on the water, it was not more than one hundred feet wide. The full force of the tornado first struck the south build ing of Vassar's Brewery, which is seven ty-five or one hundred feet in length, tear ing off the entire roof, and carrying it off into Water street, completely blocking up the street. Not a person was injured. The damage to the brewery was about S1 600, and if the malt was wet the dam age will be much greater. The cross on the Holy Comforter church was torn off, together with two of the top-most pieces of the steeple (which is of stone)-the two pieces weighing, should think, between five and six hundred pounds. One of crushing in a portion of it.
 The roof of building at the corner of Main and Harris streets was lifted but not carried away; and many chimnies in the neighborhood were partly blown down. Several tin roofs were taken away con- pletely, and one made of slato was consid- erably shattered Trees were torn up by their roots, and blown down in various parts of the city, and much damage was done to vegetable and fruit gardens. Corn was laid level with the earth; and, just outside of the city where oats and other grains are raised, the fields suffered great ly.
 At place called the "Whale Dock" the wind lifted yawl boat and carried it twenty feet. A horse-car was also blown from the track, sign.boards were seen walking and flying about the streets. Hats rode on the wings of the wind in every direction, and you ought to have seen the patient, long suffering look the faces of losers wore. A tree on Hamilton street was blown down, soaring the horses attached to carriage which was passing, which was overturned and considerably damaged.
 Several schooners on tine Hudson River were sunk, but it is believed that the crews of all except one were saved. A MT. Bagnall says he saw two small boats full of people in the middle of the river, off New Hamburg about 9 miles below coming across, just before the storm burst in all it's fury, and as soon as the first of the blast was over he looked again for them and they were nowhere to be seen. He thinks they were all lost. After the blast had subsiaed the rain began to fall in sheets and kept steadily on till 5:3O p. m. The evening was cloudy, but much cooler than the day had been, and there fore much more pleasant. I think the 29th of June will ong be remembered here.
 I visited the cemetery, not long sinco, and found it very nicely laid out ground. Most of the graves orc covered with flow CTS, giving them the appearance of flower beds. There are numerous large monu- ments with tho name and date of birth of husband and wife on them, but as they have not yet died, the date of death is unavoidably withheld. It is singular custom, I think, but then, suppose they are afraid they may die poor, and have no monuments at all. The fremen's monu- ment is the incest in the yard. It is Q large, white stone, about twenty feet high, with the statue of fireman Qife size) in uniform, standing on the top, with a trumpet on his right arm, and cap in his left hand. A hand engine, hook and ladder truck. and hose-cart, are carved on the stone, and the inscriptions: Greeted by the volunteer fire department, 1873." "Duty on earth; Reward in Heaven.'
 G. c. R.