The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-10-09
STRUCK BY A CYCLONE.
Havoc Wrought i'm a Little New
Jersey Village.
A Church, Schoolhouse and Other
Buildings Demolished,

A real Western cyclone struck the little
village of Westwood N. j., on the New Jer-
sey g. New York railroad, twenty-five miles
from New York. Sunday afternoon, causing
great damage to property, but fortunately
no loss OF life.
Shortly after l o'clock the villagers noticed
n dark, funnel-shapcd cloud, which seemed to
rise from behind the hills west of the village.
Its peculiar appearance attracted attention,
which was quickly turned to apprehension as
the cloud was seen to approach them at a
terrific rate of speed. The first building
struck by the cyclone was De Bauns Park
hotel. In twinkling the building was in
ruins Mrs. DE Baum, wife of the proprietor,
was blown from a second-story window and
dashed violently to the ground, sustaining
severe injuries about the head. At the first
appearance of danger men, women and chill
dren rushed into the streets frantic with fear,
and many persons were lifted off their feet
and thrown down, or were struck by flying
missiles, but strange TO say, not one except
Mrs. De Baum was seriously hurt.
The path of the cyclone was about POO feet
wide, almost directly through the center of
the village. Within this limit not building
was left uniniured Houses and barns were
tossed about and demolished or lifted into
the air and moved many feet; roofs and
fences went flying through the air, and trees
were torn up by the roots or stripped of their
leaves and branches For fully half minute
gust after gust swooped down on the terror
stricken town The air was filled with flying
boards and branches of trees and many per
SONS narrowly escaped death or serious in
jury. The hotel a new but an unfinished
school house, and the village church were
completely wrecked, and many dwellings,
barns and outbuildings were scattered about
the fields The New Jersey and New y ork
railroad depot was scattered to the Winds
telegraph poles were blown down and tele
graphic communication was cut off.
c. S. DeBauns distilery, which contained
5000 gallons of cider and a large quantity of
apple whisky, is also almost a complies loss.
Buildings not totally destroyed were moved
from their foundations or unroofed by the
gale and in many cases fences have entirely
disappeared.
Five minutes after the storm had passed
the sun came out clear and bright, and hun
dreds of people flocked to the scene of the
wreck to assist the sufferers i'll removing
their goods to place of safety. The total
loss is estimated at $4,000. Mr.. G. S. De-
Baum, proprietor of the Park hotel, is the
largest individual sufferer as his buildings
are completely ruined.
The scene after the cyclone had passed
beggars description The streets were strewIi
with trunks and branches of trees, timbers
and broken lumber and household furniture
been knocked down and bruised or cut, and
in some cases the clothing was al.
most stripped from the body. The
/ force of the cyclone was ire.
si,tible and swept all before it. In some cases
persons were lifted INTO the air and carried a
| considerable distance without being in juro
| beyond a few slight bruises. Many stories
are told of hair-breadth escapes, and the fact
that so few were injured and nol.e fatally, is
considered quite remarkable.