Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-07-11
STORM.

The storms that have dev1stated diff
ferent parts Of the county since our
last issue were aIarmingly numerous,
and dreadfully destructive. Que Of
the most destructive ones visited Ches-
ter county, this State. The Chester
county Republican says: The storm
moved over the village Ercildoun, in Its
destructive course, for distance Of
two miles in nearly straight line, the
cloud mass hiving two distinct mo-
tions, the very rapid revolving one aud
a comparatively SLOW onward motion.
The width Of its track was about three
hundred yards, nearly everything be-
ing blown away or cut off in that width.
A gentleman who was walking in
the fields, intent on psying an afternoon
call, was caught in the vortex, taken of
his feet, and carried away. He has no
recollection of what happened after he
left the ground, but was found two
m,ies away IN lumber yard, with his
jaw broken aud sadly bruised about the
body, so that there are some doubts
with regard to his recovery.
The seminary for young ladies, own
ed by DR.. Darlington, had fortunately
but few occupants, the school having
closed last week and the pupils gone to
their homes. When the storm came
up Mr.. Darlington and his family took
refuge in the cellar, probably saving
their lives by doing SO, as the roof was
blown off and one side of the building
shattered
Three ordinary wooden barns with
their contents were taken up by the
storm and entirely destroyed, so that
nuthing recognizable is left Of them.
A contractor was erecting house for
MIR. Darlington not far from the school
it being IN an advanced state of com
pIetion, just ready to plaster and
pant; it was entirely blown away and
destroyed, the very foundation being
torn up and removed. The loss will in
this instance fall upon the contractor.
A COW was blown two hundrds yards
and instantly killed. A stone house
had its roof gone aud the end blown
away. An orchard of apple trees was
torn up by the roots and carried con-
siderable distance, the leaves and
every particle of bark being taken off
by the violence to which they were sub
jected. A buggy was taken up and
blown away and the horse so bruised
that 1t was expected he would have to
be killed In all this terrible vista
ton there was nothing but wind, not a
drop of rain or hail fell, while at
Coatesville the rain and hail we're both
very severe and violent. A roof OF a
barn was blown of at Ercildown aud
wrapped tightly around tree at the
distance of one quarter Of a mi.e.
Eight families are left entirely home
less, their household goods az we'll as
the houses themselves being entirely
gone the linen, bed quilts, &c, were
torn into sh-eds and are entirely valu
less.
A wagon, loaded with gram was
taken up, the grain thrown off, and the
wagon blown an eighth of mile, the
hubs being wrenched out OF the wheels
during its progress. In one of the
barns blown away horse was in the
stall, and was found there after the
storm, with the stones piled up around
him, aud perfectly sound and unhurt,
althogh trembling in every limb.
A tree, two feet 10 diameter, was
snapped as though it was a pipe stem.
The growing corn was cut off about an
inch above the ground as Clean as
though it had been cut by kuife.
The whirlwind, after doing all this
damags, followed the same northeast
erly course to wood about two miles
beyond Ercildoun, where 1t broke, de-
posting the various materials it had
been carrying with it. Shingles,
stones, furniture, bedclothes, straw,
hay, trees, bark and leaves were seat
tered around in a chaotic mass. Hea
w pieces Of timber, weighing two or
three hundred pounds, were caught up
and carried along as though they were
nothing more than straws, and hedge
of the tough Usage orange. we'll trim
med and closely matted, was stripped
of all its thorns, leaves and bark, moth
ing remaining but the whitened boughs
and smaller twigs. The village is
situated on one of the highest points in
the neighborhood, and the whirlwind
crossed no creek in its course.
A heavy axle was torn from under
farm wagon and blown completely
through frame house, leaving large
shattered apertures at its entrance and
exit. The Friends meeting house was
uninjured, but some of the outtuiidiugs
including the horse sheds, we're blown
away, and the graveyard was covered
with this and other debris.
The damage done was very consider
able, aud will be greatly felt by the oc-
cupants of the ruined houses, most of
whom were farmer. in a small way and
la borers. The greatest loss will proba
bly, accrue to Mr.. Darlington, amount-
ing to at least $4,000 the insurance
against fire not covering loss of this
kind.
Snakes.