The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-10-09


was . cloud absolutely black. For tho
first time ] knew what the phrase "inly
blackness" meant Neither before nor |
since have ever seen : cloud Of that
color. u was roughly cone-shaped, the
point toward the earth. hut even its
shape and color were not the most ter
rible things about II The mass was
''boiling." No other word applies 20
the inccssant rapid changes In IL text
ure. which al the time preserved is
blackness; and through Il there were
constant flashes Of lightning. But we
heard no thunder then. I shall never
forget the whiteness that came 70 Mans
face. Without knowing that saw
them, yet remembered afterward that
her fingers were clutched painfully
about the bride. and that she rcclcd
slightly In her saddle.
| sI4et me think" she said. IN . low
voice did not speak. but my sister.
who did not see Mans face. said. In
commonplace voice:
rs not that rather belligerent
specimen Of cloud?"
| Nan did not apparently hear her; she
sat silent for perhaps half minute,
then she turned to US and said quickly:
~ hope you can ride fast We can't
get home: what good IL we could? There
Is narrow gulch about mile and a
half from here. It's the only place I
know"
She turned her horse sharply TO the
right and told him ficrcely 10 90. We
followed. riding as ! had never ridden
before. The horses caught fire from
us. and raced on in that wild way they
have. which is not like the manner Of
horses in the East In spite OF the fear
which now possessed US all, there was
y certain glorious feeling in that ride.
After we had turned we could look OF
ut our right at the cloud. which was
rushing on with terrible quickncss. and
which now fancied was pursuing us,
and us alone.
Suddenly there was thunderous
sound toward the west. and looking
that way l saw vast herd OF cattle
sweeping on. dark. surging mass,
with tossing horns glancing white in
the sunshine, for the sun was shining
j brilliantly 1T this time. II was stam-
pcdc never knew whether they were
frightened by the cloud or had been
urged on By the unexplained impulse
that sometimes comes TO them TO flee
mady over the plains. At another time
this sight would have been OF stirring
interest now did not care to watch
the fight Of the cattle. was too in
tent on our own race against the cloud.
The lightning was playing through the
black vapor necessarily. More clouds,
having the appearance OF common
thunder heads rose and dispersed
themselves over the sky. and. at last OBJ
scurcd the sunlight 1t was relief to
me when the sun ceased TO shine, for
the scene seemed less abnormally ter
riiic.
Within few rods Of the opening Of
the gulch heard roar, as Of oncom-
ing wind. Nan cried out again to her
horse, the animals lnrched forward yet
faster. and in a moment we were all
entering the ravine. 1t was extremely
uneven ground and covered :by broken
sharp stones. Ny sister and were
watching Nan; she slipped oil the sad
die and hurriedly motioned 70 us TO do
the same. The instant we were dis
mounted the horses scrambled rapidly
I. forward into the gulch. and we did thu
same, Nan now in the rear and driving
us along. That night found my shoes
| cut and cash in ms foot. but did
l not feel the wound when | received IL
I While we were thus hurrying 10 get 4
the deepest shelter Of the gully. the roar
, above Us was awful. and was increasing
: every moment. II revcrberated strange
" through the ravine. We could not
have heard a word had we spoken. W.
ali stopped simultaneously and looked
! at each Other. They We're two yer,
white faces that saw. with strained
/ frightened eyes. Nan made . move
! ment with her head that we were not K
B 90 on: and we crouched down against
4 tile rocky sides OF the earth. The mex
J instant Emma leaned heavily upon me
aud silently pointed upward TOWARD
the chasm's opening. where w
had entered. The black CLOUD
| was Just going past our poin
} Of vision: 1t had dilated to twice it.
) former size, but still retained its cylin
! der shape II il could be possible, i
} was more dense than ever. and boiling
: in it, blackncss Balls Of tire sped bach
} and forth in the air; or my sight wa,
under an Authorization to that effect
All the phenomena seemed 10 have
their center in that cone Of black cloud
) The strangest, the most awful thing Of
} all that fearful experience was what
saw now. Behind that black cloud,
whether followingit or drivingit know
not, came o tall cloud Of intcnscst,
most dazzling white pillar Of glory,
growing every instant more like pillar
} Of fire. and soon appearing TO contro
the inky shape. The raving noise wa.
now at its height In . moment thu
, two mysterious shapes had passed from
our contracted line Of vision; they
marched on, destroying as they went
The crash Of timber along stream mo-
far Of. the cannonading Of the thunder
! which had now opened its forces, ant
above all the overwhelming roar Of thu
, wind. made us shrink and cover closer
together A fierccr blast caused us Il
| throw ourselves fat on the ston,
ground, grasping at each others hands
so ignorant was that believed at thu
time that we were in full power Of III,
, tornado, instead Of being comparative
} " sheltered BY the walls Of tho gulch
Aftcrwari knew that we could hardl,