The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-29
A WATERSPOUT.
The RAIN RUNS ToGETHER-A HILL WASHED
AWAY

The RAIN RUNS ToGETHER-A HILL WASHED
AWAY.
The Evansville Journel of Yesterday gives
the following description of a remarkable
flood: From West Franklin we obtain an
account of a terrific water spout which
burst upon the wooded summit of a high
hill in the rear of the little village, which
nestled like modest wild flower hid amid
the verdancy of a circle of hills. On the morn
ing of last Thursday, the same delugipg
rain that fell here, vent over West Frank
lin. For two hours the water fell in almost
solid streams, flooding every hollow and
sending the hill streams and brook let's
roaring and rushing down the courses to the
river. Bridges were swept away as if by
magic, and every thing in the course of the
hurrying waters disappeared before their un-
yielding force. The strong leve9 on the
west side of the village, protecting the West
Franklin and Mt. Vernon road, was washed
away. Fences were not TO be seen standing
for long distances, and the growing corn in
the fields was washed up and ruined. After
the rain had spent its force, messenger
came into town and reported that the hill
in the rear of the village had been washed into
the course of the creek. Our informant to-
gether with many other citizens, hurried to
the north side of the town, which is bounded
by a range of high hills, eager to witness the
sight. The fearful force of the waters struck
all with amazement, as they gaZed upon tie
is quite abrupt, and the waters in the form
of a waterspout had struck the hill with
center force and swept all the summit and
side away SIS If by magic. The path of the
water was as clean swept and new as il it
had been engineered by human hands. The
width of the waterspout, rather or
the diameter ofthe pillar. must
have been thirty wards, Tor
down the sides of the hill, cutting it per-
pendicularly to level with the creek, was
cut of that width, extending from the
summit to the base as straight and unerring
as line. Every vestige of wooding ana
underground was gone with it, not root
remaining. Huge logs that lay upon the
Mill side were caught up by the roaring
torrents and dashed lightly as feathers up
on the crest. One was hurled off to the side
and lett coated with mud upon the verge of
the course. The depth of the waters above
the cutting of the hill must have been at
least eight feet, as the signs of the boiling,
Shiny, muddy waters were left to that Insight
upon the trunks of the trees standing near
the brink of the cut. One of the logs so
lightly tossed was measured and found to be
two feet aud half in diameter and sixty feet
long. The spectacle, grand and even SUBJ
lime as it must have been, was unfortunate
ly not witnessed by any person, the force of
the preluding rain driving everv body within
doors. There is abundant evidence, how
ever, that it was waterspOut, In The fact OF
the immense force required to cut the hill
so Clearly, the exact application of the body
of the fluid TO central point, and the i'm
menss and drenching rains that preceded
and followed it's bursting, noticed more
heavily at the little village and it's vicinity,
declining in volume as 1t receded from that
as a central point. If ii is not, there re-
mains the hill, the dismantled monument of
the waters. and special wonder OF tie
West Franklinites,