Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-07-01
VISITED BY A CYCLONE.
INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF WESTERN CYCLONE
by LADY VICTIM.
MILLER, IA, juno 21st, 1881


MILLER, IA, juno 21st, 1881.
Editors Vermont Phgnir. Knowing the
many conflicting reports in regard to the oy-
clone which passed through here at G:3O
o'clock on Saturday evening, June 11th,
write, hoping to be able to give you a truth
full account OF the storm In our immediate
vicinity.
The day was one Of continued showers from
early morning till night, and after the cyclone
the night was perfectly clear, giving those
who were able chance TO watch the total
eclipse Of the moon. The cyclone was pre-
ceded by heavy shower from the southwest
with high wind this was scarcely over
when the final blow came, finding most of the
people in its track totally unconscious of dan
ger. Some FIVE or six buildings were destroy
ed before it reached us, the last being simply
unroofed, while the one before it was lifted
from its foundation, carried over tall trees,
and finally dropped to the ground and crushed
as easily as though il were but an egg-shell.
There we're six persons in the house. One
young man, seeing the danger rushed out Of
doors just in time to escape going with the
rest. He grasped tree and chung to it, and
came out without a scratch. The rest were
more or less injured except a boy of five
years Mrs. Gould, the wife of the farmer,
was terribly injured about the head and back,
but still lives, and hope for her speedy recov-
cry is now entertained Mr. Edwin Miller,
formerly of Brattleboro, with another gentle
man, was riding near by, in heavy lumber
wagon drawn by two horses. The horses,
frightened at the Storm became almost un-
manageable, and it required the united efforts
Of the men to stop them. Mr.. Miller then
jumped from the wagon, thinking to reach
the horses heads and take them by the bits
but he had barely left the wagon when his
companion was thrown to the ground the
wagon lifted high in the air and carried away,
together with the horses. Both men escaped
unhurt, and leaving the team to its fate,
rushed to the rescue Of the suffering family
near them. The horses were found later in
slough at some distance, with fragments OF
the wagon. One wheel was found buried out
of sight in the mud all the burrs were re-
moved from the wheels as nicely as it could
have been done by human hands, aud were
found near by, while the heavy wagon box
was not to be found. Another team, carry
ing gentleman and lady, was struck half a
mile to the northeast, and scattered about in
the same manner. No serious injury was sus-
tanned by either the team or the occupants of
the wagon but the wagon-box is still missing
Then came our turn. My husband had
just come in, drenched by the preceding
shower. We were busy getting his dry cloth
ing together and did not know our danger
until few seconds before we were struck
even then did not anticipate any serious dam
age. Our log house tumbled down over our
heads like a cob house, our stables were de-
molished, and the debris was scattered in ev-
cry direction. One horse, a valuable animal,
was fatally hurt, but the family escaped with
a few slight bruises My husband crossed
the room to the east side just in time TO be
carried out at the north end Of the building
and away from the ruins lie dropped upon
the ground and staid there safe until the
storm passed. Our ten-years-old daughter
was up stairs Seeing the walls crumblng,
she clung to the bed near her aud was car
ried out Of the house and some three rods
away, striking upon bag of rags. Two
heavy logs rolled to her, one of them holding
her by her clothes. Her escape from death
was simply miraculous. Mother Clark, my
self and little son were near the southwest
corner of the room, and were all thrown to
the floor by the pressure of the air and the
dense volume of rain at the first break in the
walls. Three logs wero left standing the
rest rolled over US, but were prevented from
hitting us by the sewing machine, lounge and
stove left standing in their places. The fur
niture in the lower rooms was mostly left un-
injured a table was badly broken, and a very
heavy bureau was carried out of doors and
badlg bAOhth up. lHt lhElllOub htEo Gar
ried, no one knows where and everything in
the upper part Of the house was scattered to
the four winds, articles of clothing and por
tions Of furniture being found more than
mile away. Heavy logs went more than
quarter Of mile. Our clock, an old family
friend, fell from its high shelf to the ground
and escaped without even broken glass.
might cover many pages in recording the
curious freaks of the storm. After it left us
it did great deal more damage, killing one
man and injuring several Others In the tim
Der the strength of the storm can be seen to
greater advantage. Oak trees two or three
feet in diameter are twisted and broken.
Among other strange incidents, we learn of
well being completely cleared OF ali its con-
tents, two buckets and a dipper lost some
time before being brought to the surface of
the earth and left, and all the water in the
well carried away. l might keep on, and not
be able to tell the whole in a day. can sim
ply say that the scene after the storm is much
easier imagined than described.
We were drenched with rain and mud, and
chilled through, but the sun came out and
shone upon us as though nothing had hap
pened. Kind friends came to our assistance
and took us to a place of safety, gave us
warm, dry, clothing, and cared for all our
wants. Although our loss is heavy one, we
cannot complain, but thank God we are all
alive and uninjured and among kind and sym
pathizing friends, who will not see us suffer
and who have already aided us in procuring
for a new house and will assist in
buildingit. II the weather permits, in a week
we will be once more under a roof of our
own. tell you, friends, there are not found
on this broad earth kinder hearts or more
willing hands than we find here in this newly
settled country. We have tried them, and
they are not found wanting. The crops in
this section are still uninjured, and look very
promising; what the harvest will be remains
10 be seen. Mrs. @. A. CLARK.