Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-15

the top As the pillars curled around, binding
themselves together, the cloud vomted hghtping'
as though sick of the performance: Kising from
the lake, boiling and belching hre, the centre
throwing out huge volumes Of smoke to the cir.
cumfsrence, the lower part shrunk upwards, until
the whole formed . ball of wreathing, curling
dull-colored smoke, and then dropping for an in
slant to the surface Of the water it was lost hen
the cloud arose again, the ball was gone and the
white waves were left victorious on the field. The
fight occurred about mile southwest OF the criD,
and lasted in time about minute and nall.
Such another fcene may never come 10 TINS gen
Grafton, and it is to be regretted that the cynder
could not have been caught and picked for sclen-
tifc investigation. The damage to the city Is
about $3.50, 900. Houses were unroofed and CHIN
neys persisted everlastingly. The old County
Hospital presents dismantled appearance from
the southwest. The upper roof is gone, and
scantling and splinters hang over the parapet.
Upon the old site Of the Reaper Mission is heap
of ruins. Along Wabash avenue are assorted
scuttes and rolls of tin roofing blown from nous,
es on all sides. Here and there tree Is turned
over, roots up in the air. Huge pieces of plate.
glass abound, and the constituent element OF
chmneys a,e scattered far and wide. One chin
ney on St. Mary's Church toppled over upon the
roof of DIR. Eldridge's house, on Eidridse court,
and, p,unging through, secured safety from an
other attack
Two of the pinnacles Of the Wabash Avenue
Methodist Church were lifted and dropped. One
fell to the NORTH and landed in the street. Inc
other went southwark upon the roof OF Parsons
drug store, smashing in hole. An immense
beam bearing evidence Of dry rot ratified down on
the veranda back of the store, smashing the ran
and loosening things generally.
Surmounting the tower on the southeast corner
of Grace Episcopal Church was tall steeple:
The tornado fell on it, and the steeple tumbled
over into the yard, carrying away the brick wall
between the church property and the garden OF
H. H. Buell. of No. IA Wabash avenue. The
garden was filled with huge beams and scantling
and stones. The roof on the southern side of the
church was torn away for forty feet, and the rub.
blst, falling through, smashed in the floor and
landed in the basement. A centre beam poked
one of its ends through the eastern stained WIN
dow, close up to horse shoe which had been
nailed to the window for luck The stone work
on the tower was torn, and huge block weigh
ing two or three tons, was moved a foot from Its
place. and hangs over the roof, just balancing.
Nearly all the stained windows on the southern
side are more or less broken. The inner walls are
cracked and stained with water. Mrs. Buell. and
Miss Nav and Miss Nette Buell. we're in their
house 1t the time. Hearing the crash, they went
to the windows, but the air was thick and heavy
with smoke and dust. Nothing could be heard
but the roar of the storm aud the grinding OF tim
bers The house trembed and shook. Fearful
of what they never Knew, the ladies rushed from
the house, and never learned of their narrow es-
cape from the falling steeple until their arrival At
the house of friend. Mr.. Buell. house was only
slightly injured. The damage to the church is es-
timated at sic, OO0.-CAiedgo Tribune.