The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-08-18
TnE Water spour-A RARE PEE

TIE WATER SPouT-A RARE PIE
NoMENoN.-We gave a brief account,
yesterday morning. of water spout
which appeared at Langley, 8. O.. last
Wednesday afternoon. We copy the
following particulars of this strange
phenomenon from the Augusta Chro-
nicle and Sentinel:
A dense cloud was first seen ap-
preaching the pond. being apparently
considerable distance up. Nothing
particular was thought of it. the citi-
zens of Langley being ut the time
occupied in trying to keep cool-a
hard thing to do with tho Thermometer
ut 100 degrees in tho shade. Bnt pro-
sently startling circumstances oc-
CURED. The cloud had hulted over
the pond and established connection
with tho latter. a genuin. water
spout had in fact been evolved, uud nu
immense quantity Of water wns rush
ing skywnrd through the liqn;d Goa
ductor. When first seen, the water
spout WAS near She dam. and Travelled
slowly across the pond until it reached
tue railroad trestle-work, u distance Of
mile aud quarter from its starting
point, when 1t disappeared, and the
cloud moved nujcet;oaiIy of. carrying
with it thousands Of gallons OF water
which had been drawn from tho pond
The latter, covering an area OF GOO
acres. was. in fhct, lowered fully two
inches. The huge column which
Joined the upper region to the expanse
Of wnter below resembled conc III
form, and rotated horiz )ntAlly with
exceeding rapidity. The marvellous
speed with which the column turned
impressed the behulder Immediately
with tho idea thut it was associated
with whirlwind. This was most
probably tho Case, rs Il tremendous
wind passed over Augusta from the
direction of Langley some hours after
wards. Science has demonstrated that
In almost every instance the pheuo-
mena denominn:ed water sponts are
dependent upon some form of whirl-
ing wind. generated by some disturb
anco Of the elements. Electricity,
that great force with which man hus
become SO intimately acquainted dur
ing the last quarter Of u century, and
yet knows 30 little Of, doubtless has
ouch to do with the phenomena of
water sponts. The heavens were bril-
liant with incessant flashes of light
ming after The spout described above
had disappeared. There was no rush
ing noise connected with it, as is the
case ia some instances. The water
underneath the clouds just before the
spout formed was in state of great
agitation. Waves rolled angrily and u
perceptihle bulge was seen. As the
cloud hnlted, sort of funnel pro-
truded from it and dropped slowly
down. becoming larger as it length
ened, 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 snrface
of The latter rose to meet it, ard the
two ut length joined, when the water
from the pond commenced ascending
into tho cloud, which moved slowly to-
wards the trestle-work. The waves in
the waterfall leaping and tending to.
wards the spout-and the spout itself
continued the vorticul motion referred
TO above. The outside of the watery
funnel was dnlk and not we'll defined,
while tho centre WIS much lighter,
boing rather Of blush cast. This
would seem to indicate that the CO.
lumn was partly hollow, the dark por-
tions representing the sides. There
can be no doubt but that the immense
quantity of water which WAS trans
terred from the pond to the cloud was
literally sucked up. Tue spout finally
disappeared, III if it had been drawn
up bodily into the cloud. while the
latter quietly moved off to parts un-
known. Not drop Of rain full dur
ing the occurrence or afterwards. The
formation and subsequent motions OF
the spont arc described as having
made up spectacle grand in tho cx-
treme. Nothing OF the kind was ever
before seen in that section. The
strangest part of the phenomena was
the fact that the cloud. 80 burdened
with winter, moved off without dis
pensing any of it in the form Of rain
III the neighborhood.
fatal ACCIDENT 10 BRIDAL PATTY.
A young lady and gentleman, reccutly
married. lie at the point of death ia
Dover, N. j.. in consequence of having
been thrown over n nrecinico Nphav