The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-27
A DISASTROUS HURRICANE.
fERRIBLE EFFECTS or a WIND
STORM IN PENSSTLVANIA.



eu,ldipss. Bridges. aud Tree sopt whiriins
Through the Air-Csttie aud Horses htiled
Marrow Escapes and Incidents.
PORTAGE, PA, June 28.-About six o'clock
Saturday evening a disastrous hurricane broke
on this place. It came from the west. and was
hrst noticed in the shape Of two black clouds,
which increased rapidly In sizs and approached
'eaoh other with great velocity. They rushed
swiftly toward the village. When abouta mile
away, at the beginning Of wyckon mountain tho
two clouds came together with binding hash
of lightning and fearful clap OF thunder The
cloud became a revolving pillar and rushed
along the mountain with rush and roar that
terrified the Inhabitants OF the valley Many
usd across the river to the open Fields. The
cloud In It's progress tore up great trees, demol-
ished everything In the shape Of a building that
stood 10 Its path, and filled tho air with timber,
trees, and debris. Tho cloud constantly re-
yolved, and now and then would leap a hundred
Feet In the air, and then sweep down upon the
earth with fury, IL beloved me course OF the
A road runs along tho base OF the moupan,
and this was literally chokcd up with the deoris
thrown down by the hurricane. At point q
mile below the village the hill runs clear down
Co the river, and from the road to the opposite
side. the strenm being crossed by long covered
bridge. The hurricane struck this bridge and
lifted II bodily from its abutmente. breaking IL
ssd teo poS. awe ,oo,he tbtey fss, i"Ds
and weighing many tons, was carried = long dis
tsDce down the stream, into which 4 I'm lily fell {;
caught In the midst OF the cloud. was borne
Desfiy mile away, where the wreck fei on the
Farm OF Charles Goodman, crashing Into his
bsrpyard and killing COW and a horse. MIR.
Goodman's family saw the black mass coming,
end fed in terror to the fields. No damage was
The wind cloud passed on to the south of the
village, and the damage done there was confined
10 that caused by the belt Of wind accompany
Tug the wind cloud, which did not seem TO cover
an area more than quarter Of mile wide. II
was severe gale. however. and unroofed seven
house, In the village, demolished the steeple Of
the Union Church, removed several buildings
from their founda tions. and uprooted hundreds
of trees, rendering one or two streets impass-
able. A small building containing calf was
~ IN ar ,b and fv carried aed enp ,s
When the wind struck the river, It Isshed the
water into waves, and turned II into whirlpools.
A party o. i've Young men were swimming In
Bunts Eddy and were caught by the storm.
filled tho air along the shore, and the party
Thought IL snfest to remain In the water They
There was no loss Of life. but several narrow
SoaIes IN i ,ho vae' dufRf ase pTosres' 81 hs
village. attempted to go to his barn to shut his
COW In. He was lifted from his feet by the gal Q
and thrown heavily against his house. He had
two ribs broken and was badly bruised. A far
mer named johnson WIS driving along the road
when the storm overlook him. He jumped from
his carriage and clasped a small tree. His horse
was blown down an embankment, and bis car
rage swept away In a hundred pieces.
A large raft was moored In the river below
where the brigde stood. When the bridge was
carried away the raft was torn loose, and wss
blown clear across the river, and forced high
aud dry on the other shore.
Trees were carried three hundred feet. The
steeple of the Union Church was lifted IN the
air, and toppled on the roof OF an adjoining
house, crushing II In.
Two boys were picking cherries on farm h ALT
mile out OF the village. They heard the storm
coming and escaped from the tree, and reach ed
tho shelter Of d deserted cellar. The next in
slant the cherry tree was whirina away with the
hurricane. being torn from Its roots as II n
bad been a reed
John Golden, who lives on the opposite side
OF the river was on bis way home when he heard
the approach OF the hurricane. and saw the TO ad
dllin9 up behind him with bushes and trees.
He was near the bridge. and at first thought he
would run and reach the shelter, as IL was
covered. Fortunately he changed his mind
and clambered down the steep bank to the left
Of the road In less than ten seconds he saw
the bridge lifted from Its foundation aud de.
molished as stated.
The people who new from the VILLAGE and
reached the fields on the other side OF the rivel
had full view OF the passing hurricane, and
describe the scene as most terrific. no fury u
tue storm did not last longer than fifteen min.
utes, but 1t left behind II a scene Of desolation
and misery. The loss will reach ten thousan
dollars Nothing like this storm was ever before
seen in this section.