The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-23
THE STORM.

A wATERsPoUT IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS DE
srRUcrIoN TO cRors-NxwToN, IN NEW JEn-
sEY, vmrTED WITH HEAVY HAIL STORM
DEVASTATION IN THE NORTHWEST.
SCRANTON. Pa, May % 1876.
terrific storm swept this region yesterday
afternoon and worked considerable destruction to tho
crops along tho mountains north OF this city. A.
about two O'Clock the gathering tempest was COM
Ing up from the north, accompanied by occasional
pcnl OF thunder, until Immense black cloud hung
over the mountains, spreading like pail over
the farming villages known the Notch.
Abingdon, Scott and several other places. Al the
afternoon advanced tho clouds grew denser and the
thunder increased, accompanied by vivid flashes OF
lightning until the mountains fairly shook under the
A. about four O'Clock the people living IN the
villages already mentioned were startled BY roaring
sound which seemed TO issue from the cloud, and was
fairly deafcning In ITS effect This strange sound
rushed like whirlwind over mountain gorge known
as the Notch, and lasted for nearly half an hour:
1t revcrbcratcd along tho ravines and easily hcnrd
In this city, although Ave miles distant. II seemed
10 the noise produced by an immense snowsldc, and
after lowering Tor some time over the Notch do
scendcd striking with terrific along the bed OF
tho which runs through that locality, tearing
away foot bridges and smashing the trees ~
It's path. Fortunately, tho portion OF the country
or @'''' the effect cs'> could not n,i to 10
farther north. This mimic waterspout had scarcely
spent It's force Gro sweeping AMI destructive haii-
storm descended all along the upper portion Of the
ackawanna Valley, extending quito close to this city
and dcmolshing the windows Of several fine dwellings
In the First ward including about $50 pancs OF bcaut
lul stained glass In the Providence Catholic church.
At Dunmorc, about two miles distant window pancs
broken by the petng hail. leaves wore torn
from tho trees, branches we're broken and flowers
entirely destroyed At Arlington and Scott town
ships the storm was terrible. The huge hailstones
came down with awful force, as II projected from
lannon's mouth, tearing up the crops and laying tho
rnit trees which but short time before were white
with bloom, completely bare. Windows shat
throughout the villages though they be-
ing shelled by some invading foe, and for upward
Of hour the people wore completely panic
stricken. It seemed % them as though the
end of the world had come Tho haiIstones strewn
along the valley seemed moro like the white pebbles OF
o chalky beach than frozen rain. The hercest portion
OF the embraced lar can learn Mt present,
cf some twenty miles square OF farming country.
The farmers whose lands II traversed entirely
Respondent II has bliRhted their crops, barred
their trees and banished evcry blossom and green
leaf from their farms The region at present presents
the appearance OF midwipter scene. In the centre
aud 10 tho south of this city drcnchng rain storm
fcll with vivid sheets Of lightning, but hall. Re-
ports coming from districts further north that
the storm worked greater devastation yet, and II
quite possible that lives wero lost among tho
mountains.