The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-24
aKnnsas watcr.Spout.
DESCRIPTION OF WEATHER on A kANsA
PRAIRIE.

PRAIRIE.
frank Wilson In New York SUM-
Early June in 1876. The wheat plants
were large and stropg-apparently out OF
danger. Now began the period OF my
greatest anxiety. looked earnestly at all
clouds that arose In the west. II there was
the slightest tinge Of pink in them ! wor-
ried and fretted until the storm bad passed.
Hail is indicated by the pinkish tinge, and
though hail always moves in sireaks, every
farmer fears that bis wheat will be in the
streak. With my usual luck had
experience OF hail. l had been TO the
blacksmith.shop to get some needed re-
pairs made on a corn cultivat0r. As |
was driving slowly hone my little son
called my attention to q strange, angry
looking cloud that hung in the northwest /;
n dark cloud that almost touched the bori-
zon, but not quite, rs could see narrow
line Of blue under it. Looking carefully, l
made out huge wdter-spOut far of TO the
northwest. Stopping the team, gazed in
iently at the cloud that gave birth to the
spout. Evidently it was still in labor, as
srest funnesbaped pieces OF cloud would
drop half way TO the earth 10 be instantly
sucked back again. From another point
another funnel dropped down. The spout
OF this funnel grew longer and longer; then,
rs though imbued with life, describing
great circles, ii reached down toward the
earth. The surface OF the earth, thus mes
meriZed BY the hand OF nature, gradually
resDOnded The surface air directly under
the forming spout circIed round faster and
faster, forming black dust-cloud that rose
high In the air. The spout of the cloud
funnel continued its mauipulations until
the dust-cloud on the earth, no longer able
TO withstand the woOing, assumed the shape
OF an inverted funnel, with long spout
swaying wildly upward. The rapid rotary
motion OF the dust and cloud portions of
the foamBg water-spout became intensified.
The long, flexible trunks circed round and
refund, apparently searching for each other.
They approached, and with rush joined
The sand-cloud OF the earth was drawn ra-
mildly I'D. The whrlng continued faster.
The water.spout lost the tunnel shape, and
looked like an exaggerated sugar-loai, such
az used 10 hang on nails III grocers' stores.
Fully formed, ii moved down the valley OF
the Smoky Hill river. | sat In my wagon
and watched three Of these engines OF DESC
lation form aud start on their march. The n
I thought 1t time to go home, and went.
Calling TO my men as passed, babe them
get the horses under cover.
saw dark, dense cloud rise from the
northwestern horizon and shoot rapidly up
toward the zenith. 1t came sweeping on
ward, with fierce battery served by the
= hand of Nature at It's head. The surface oil
its edge was gridironed by bars OF light
ming. The roll Of the thunder was a loud
and steady roar. This cloud, as the sun
played Oh it for an instant, | saw had q
pinkish tiage, and l at once feared hail
Tue thunder and lightning almost
ceased. but the cloud still cam(
on with great velocity. Leaning against
NV barn caught the first faint
puiIs OF the north wind; then gust; then
the strong cold wind blew 6crcely. hearl
noise as OF great winds blowing through
forest; louder, louder, then harsh and dis
cordant-" the hail grinding together rs i
falls" thought. 4 few seconds passed
and the advance OF the hail was upon me
Large, Irregular pieces of ice, driven by
strong wind, fell faster and faster, and IL
less time than il takes to tell it my wheat
fields that bad been waving in pillows in
the wind were ground into the earth
ruined, utterly ruined. The work OF
year was lost In an instant.
We have MANY water-spOutS in Kansas
Drifting rapidly before the fierce storm
winds OF the plains, the water-spout ad
vanees. Tie rotary motion constant!
increasing in strength, the power Of sue
ton increases. The work of destruction
begins. Houses, barns, fences, wagons
harvesting machinery, tools. are torn Il
pieces, and the suction, combined will
the rotary motion, causes them TO noun
upward in the spout. The rubbish OF Tbs
prairie that lies in the path of this de
structive engine rises up and adds 10 tbt
denseness Of the cloud. A water-spout on
land is not body of pure air in fantastic
shape; but it is an almost solid column Of
sand, sticks, remnants OF houses. head, o
grain, bits OF hay-stacks, corn-stalks, with
now and then an animal or man, riding in
dry water-spOut-nO mounting TO HEAVIER
in a fiery chariot, like Elijah, but riding t.
eternity in tornado. Everything 10 It.
patE--animal, or created by man-disap
pears. annihilated as far as form is concern
ed. The course OF water.spout can b,
followed with the eye, as the charge o
McDonad's column at Wagram was, by tn,
dead, the wounded. and the ruin hat en-
cumbers the path.