The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-17
Two PERSONS KILLED.
pfTrsNJEI Mass Julv 1e 1876

PIrTsfIELD, Mass. July 16. 1879.
At f-past two o'clock this afternoon a tornado
from the West struck the southern suburbs. Two
persons were killed and three or four wounded.
some of them fatally. Buildings unroofed and
blown down. hundreds of trees were levelled and
fully $4,000 or $4,000 worth of property
destroyed. The sudden appearance OF
black cloud in the west. while the
thermometer registered &c degrees was the
first warning of the approach OF the storm.
Within fifteen minutes the sky so black that gas
had to be lighted in tho stores. and the rain mingled
with hail. the rushing wind and almost incessant
lightning and thunder would have made the storm
memorable even had it not been disastrous.
Little damage done in the village. the
tornado taking course from west to southeast
about half mile from the business portion Of the
town. Toward tho west it FIRST struck Kellogg Place.
occupied by Thomas Payne. The wall of the Kitchen
and part of the house blown down and the barn
completely demolished.
Wagons were smashed and hay was blown away
Following along the valley to the southeast it lew
ellcd hundreds of trees Bridget Tate's house. next
in its course. was unroofed and the barn demolished
but the inmates escaped unframed Pomeroys fac-
tory WAS unroofcd. surrounding buildings
damaged, and the building known as the tannery
blown To pieces.
poY KILLED.
In the building were Matthew Collins. ten years of
age, who was crushed beneath the debris John Col.
Inns, brother of Matthew, who had both arms and
his jaw broken. and an old man named Mathern.
lngo the wind tore across tho fields dwelling fences,
orchards and crops, and next struck South street.
Wcntwor;hs house lifted from its foundation.
turned around and carried two rods. and other
houses in the vicinity lost chimneys, piazzas &c.
Taylor Place. occupied by Samuel Payne. fine brick
house, surrounded by stately trces was en-
tirely unroofod, tho trees all broken or torn
scene of ruin and wreck. he opposite residence
of J. N. Durham was unroofed. the conservatory
was ruined and barns were FRUSTRATED, but no one
hurt. Mr.. Dunhams son-in-law's residence ad-
joining also badly damaged.
LADY KILLED.
falling trce str,t k the horse of Mrs. Bcckwith.
of Stockbridge, which sprana around and over
instantly The storm then passed over open fields.
doing no damage Tor mile more. when IL levelled
an orchard the Willis place. tore up trees ound
bridge over Housatonic River and reached John W.
Mobiles place, where two barns were blown to
pieces anu Gleasons slaughter house destroyed.
From Mobiles the storm rushed across the valley
dwelling all distractions and at last struck the west
side of Washington Mountain. where six barns were
destroyed, two houses partly blown down and all
fences levelled. The track OF tho tornado was not
over sixty rods In width.
CHURCH AND OTHER BUILDINGS DAMAGED.
FTcmBuRo. Mass. July 1G, 1879.
One of tho worst tornadoes that ever visited this
vicinity passed the city to-day. beginning about
twenty-five minutes TO four r. M. II came down
River street, and first struck the Fitchburg Hotel
There had been indications of q thunder storm for
minutes. and everybody had sought shelter.
The tornado lasted but three minutes, and all the
damage done in that time. Tho spre of tho
Universalist Church was hurled into Main street,
opposite the Roll stone House. The tin roof of tho
City Hall launched into the street, n part OF IL
crossing over the house OF Walter Hevwood. The
oasierly wall OF the extension 10 the City Hail. which
was Ia process of construction, was blown down.
aud several workmen narrowly escaped being
buried ia the ruins. Nearly all OF the trees
along the street from tho fitchburg Hotel to
the Episcopal Church were blown down
broken OIL, as were several Hartwell,
Prichard and other streets Many houses lost all of
their chimncys seven falling from the Fitchburg
Hotel The damage to the City Hall s estimated st