The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-08-07


about four p. m, after an hour Of gather
ing clouds and contrary winds, storm from
the northwest burst upon M, increasing In
fury till il was one binding sheet of water.
It was but few moments before hail was
added, in quantities impossible to estimate,
with constant increase of wind and rain, so
that hail stones ploughed the ground and
bounded to the height of q mans head.
Many were as large as hens eggs, but mostly
smaller, making up in quantity what they
lacked in size There were chunks OF Ice
larger than eggs.
After the hail, which only lasted about
fifteen minutes, and the rain had abated, my
daughter, her husband and myself left their
snug little sod dug-out, 30 ensconced in and
between the hills as to be almost impervious
to any storm, to learn the fate of their
fathers family about forty rods west, and so
situated as to get the full force of the storm.
AS we raised and descended short, steep
pitch, we came to what appeared rushing
river of rain and hail, covering several rods
in width, where but an hour before was
beautiful growing corn, high and dry. With
the wind and current half knee deep, it
proved to be all we could stem and keep our
footing. Wading thirty rods of ice water as
deep as that, was, doubtless, cold, but so in
tent was / on learning the fate of my two
little children daughter and granddaughter
whoD were at the other house, that l did not
think of that. We found all alive and up
hurt but in a sorry condition. The hail had
broken every light of glass on the north, five
on the west, and one on the east side of the
house, causing suction strong enough to
lift the heavy board and sod roof the whole
lenght (36 it, of north side, two feet, admit
ting the storm and driving the inmates into
small rooms and corners to escape the blast
Unexpectedly to ALL the roof dropped back
into place, unframed
During the driving storm, while lightning
flashed and thunder pealed, the father, a
heavy man, stood braced back against the
north door, his arm resting on shelf, and
received an electric shock which hurt severe
ly, but caused no permanent injury. My
| little daughter and other children were cry
ing with fear, older ones sober and speechless
with anxiety, while bachelor friend of the
family picked up my little frightened grand
daughter, holding her safely through the
storm, and said he should have 'made for
under the bed" with the little one, if the roof
had gone.
While still raining, Michigan neighbor
rode up to the door on horse back, with his
little son, young Burr Robbins, wrapped up
in quilt, wanting to leave him while he
went to hunt for his team, which had taken
his wife, mother and older son to Sunday
school, and had broken loose and gone. He
feared his folks had started home and been
unable to reach it, so, leaving his four year
old son alone, he jumped on pony, rode to
creek that was so swollen as to take the
horse out of sight, aNl had to turn back and
go home. BY that time q man came to tell
him his family were safe, and of the escape
of his team, which, strange to say, was recov-
cred without damage. There were about
thirty people at Sunday school, in frame
school house, unfinished inside. The sound
of the storm on frame building was terrific,
and while at its height, no one could hear his
own voice. The north end of the house
swayed perceptibly in and out, and all expect
ed it to burst in, but instead the house was
driven southwark on its brick foundation,
six feet, swaying slightly around to the east.
Strong men paled, women seized their child
rem and were determined to go out into the
raging elements, but were held back, while
a few were calm and collected and able to
quiet others. 1t was scene that beggars all
description. No one was hurt, except a man
who had taken shelter in coal house, and
who was severely injured by its overturning.
Water was ankle deep on level when they
left the place and afterwards raised q foot or
more, coming into the house several inches,
and water was standing like small lakes, hub
deep, where it was never wet. Hail was
piled in drifts two feet deep, and stones were
picked up next morning larger than walnuts.
The country over which the storm ragged,
five miles in width, length not known, is one
vast desolation.
On the quarter section where | am staying,
out of twenty acres of crops, the rest nice
hay, not a vestige remains but stubble and
bare ground, and six acres of timber all de-
stroyed, and many others sharing the same
fate. Could not cut hay enough on this
place to keep one calf through the winter,
yet people are not discouraged, and are
already planning recovery for the coming
winter; large hearts are opening to help each
other, and, with trust in God, relief will
| reach them.
/ cannot close this recital without remind
ing its readers of the great and final hail
storm of Revelations 1921.
S. II. BONFGY.