The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-11-07
Bill Wye and the Cyclone.

Those who know me best will remem-
Der that have never, openly or secretly.
written or uttered sentiment that could
in any way be warped into an adverse
criticism of the cyclone. Whatever
may have learned or OBSERVED derogatory
to the cyclone and its cruel and treachcr-
Gus nature, | have religiously kept to
myself | have even gone so far as to
stand up for and champion the cause of
the cyclone when its enemies sought to
damage j. in my hearing. When others
spoke in harsh and severe terms of the
vandal, murderous work of the cyclone,
said: ''Ah, yes, gentlemen; but do
not overlook the great work of purica-
ton that is done by it in its mad gyra-
tions. Think how necessary are these
atmospheric upheavals to rid us of super
fluous electricity and purify the stagnant
air." | did this until | suffered person
ally among men. and even the blue -nosed
and sore-eyed hoodlum pointed at me as
/ passed, and said: "Therc goes Bill
Nye, the friend of the cyclone"
And what is my reward for all this -:
Like peaceful Ute, stealing up through
the sheltering ambush to saw open the
windpipe of dear friend, comes the
ring-tailed peeler of the sky, scarcely
moving the green leaves as he steals
along the valley on his hind legs. The
air is like the atmosphere of death. No
sound is heard except the dull thud Of
the woodlands axe as it buries itself in
the heart of a pine tree that belongs to
someone else. The sun has dropped be-
hind a duh gray cloud that Is
faced with pale green. Still lower
down. the steel gray and purple clouds
come boiling over the tree tops. The
tree toad makes a few desultory remarks,
Katydid says good evening"" and the
premature twilight has come. Up from
the southwest comes sullen muttcr. a
crash, roar, like twenty oceans in Joint
caucus the rush of falling trees, the
crash of giant hail stones, the thunder
of falling waters, and, like the deadly
charge of heavens artillery, it is over.
That is cyclone-one of the adult va
riety when it is feeling well. When YOU
see one of that kind sliding up into the
sky, do not try to twist its tail as it goes
by. 1t takes strong, lick man to
reach out over the dashboard and twist
the tail of cyclone. He must be strong
in the. wrists, cool-headcd, and soon in
movements.
The cyclone which visited Northern
Wisconsin on the 9th instant was about
mile and half wide, and lasted
through period of time, | would say,
such as would be measured in pronounc-
ing the word "Scat" in an ordinary tone
of voice. 1t blew down three churches,
sparing all the saloons, jerked the school
buildings crooked, knocked the postof-
flee silly, and demolished dozen stores
and places of business. 1t killed two of
the most promising young men and the
purest Christian woman in the village.
Then it went out int the forest, where
was riding along, attending to my own
business, tipped me over and broke my
leg. Everywhere it sought out the young
and fair. 1t spared the old, the sinful,
and the tough, but spent its fury on the
tender, the good, the true, and the beau
tiful. Is it surprising that it jerked me
galley westl No, indeed | am only
surprised that am alive Bill Nye.