Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-12
THE CHICAGO CYCLONE.

The tornado of Saturday came in from the
southwest, and laid its course almost northeast.
Occasionally it swerved, but its path was almost
direct. AS it came the prairie it presented
the aspect of tall column having swift rotary
motion from right to left. The clouds above it
hung lower than those around, drawn down by
vacuum in the centre. Its color was smoky, and
it was composed Of sticks, stones and masses of
dirt. AS it Numbered along it did not seem to
lie very low.on thcground but bounded from point
to point like ball. Wherever it struck It tore
the earth and drove parts of the debris Of which
it was composed into the ground. Its velocity
prevented good view OF it, and it dashed BY and
was gone in a second. In the city it apparently
took an upward shoot till it hun. above the roofs
OF the houses. Had it dropped and run continu-
ously on the surface, the absence of everything
that stood in its track would have marked its path
As near as it can be ascertained it fell from its
height but two or three times, and then ascend
again. Where it dropped is marked by the ruins
of houses and uprooted trees.
AS II passed the boundary of the city and out
upon the lake, better view of it could be had.
Striking the water about mile from the shore, it
staggered for moment aud stood still. 1t was
then composed of eight or ten columns grouped
together, all whirling around a central point. The
columns, or spirals, twisted and writhed like
snakes. Inc group was about 800 feet in dame
ter the various parts leaning at the top towards
the GENRE, and bullying slightly at the middle.
Now and then a column would d,aw away from
its fellow aud then sweep back as it struck driving
one from the other side short distance from the
path. As 1t recovered from the attack upon the
water and gathered for fresh sweep, the spiral,
twisted their lengths around each other, and
seemed as if fighting. The cloud above was black
as ink and Jlst over the centre Of the pillar it bel
I lied down until the top of the one and lower sur
face of the other touched The down rushing air
IN the vacuum drew the ol)ud d w and absorbed
IT, Directly under the mass the lake WAS fiat and
still. Around it the waters were dashed and torn
The waves dashed upon the spirals as if driven to
madness by the attack. Now and then the top of
one Of the twisting pillars would sepa ate from
the other, aud bending down would wave and
struggle above the angry waters and then slowly
rising, resume It's position. Sometimes the great
ags cation Of snakes-ior they lool e like snakesd
would shrink down drawing the black cloud
with it. Then it stretched out again, driving the
cloud back again. Around it the rain fell in tor
rents, but, instead of beaiing down the waves,
they seemed to grow more and more enraged All
around the suffering cloud the others hung a duh
pallid gray, as though they were frightened by
the awful battle in their midst.
The tornado was q deep dun color Between
the constituent columns the gray could be seen
beyond. As the mass arose from the lake, to
continue its course it fattened from the top. The
heads of the spirals fell outwards. and, dropping
down, twisted around the centre and drew the
whole tog, ther like sheaf. The attendant c, u
followed'downwaids, and lay like huge cap on