Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-19

carried them into the clouds. The photo
graph was taken by f. n. Robinson, OF
Howard, Miner county, Dakota, and was
very successfully done. The engraving is
also excellently done, and gives an exact
reproduction of the original photograph.
From the appearance of the aerial mon
ster, it is easy TO understand how these
terrific tornadoes lay waste towns and cities
and scatter death and devastation unstayed
in their paths. The description of the
storm as given ty the Signal Corps ob-
server, was as it appeared when 1t was in
the vicinity of Huron, but the photograph
was taken when it had reached about twenty
miles west of Howard, where Mr.. Robin
son happened to be with his apparatus. A
brief description of the facts connected
with the cyclone, which we reproduce from
the photograph to our readers, cannot fail
to be of interest, although quite extended
accounts of it, and the casualties resulting,
were given in the dispatches at the time.
PRELIMINARY CONDITIONS.
This cyclone occurred on the 28th day
of August 1884 and from the official re-
port the following data concerning 1t Is
cleaned: The preceding day was warm.
but the weather was fair, with slowly
falling barometer. AS the sun neared the
western horizon the sky assumed a smoky
red appearance, which extended in broad,
growing rays, half way TO the zenith after
the sun had disappeared. The night was
clear, but warm and close, the prevailing
southeast breeze seeming to be laden with
sultry moisture. August 2Stll opened with
dense fog, which continued until A. "
The air was extremely sultry, but with
fresh breeze from the south. AT 10A. N.
there was glaring white atmosphere.
through which the sun penetrated with
scorching power. The barometer fell
slowly, and the temperature inereasen, the
heat seeming, however, TO be eYen 2llch
hotter than indicated by the thermometer,
There seemed to be aiack of something in
the air to enable easy and natural breath
ing. About p. NJ. there were numerous
clouds in the heavens. of light and dark
intermixed, and changing from the lighter
to dark, and assuming midsummer tnun-
der-shower appearance. Finally The clouds
seemed to concentrate in the north, and
appeared to become agitated, until they
resembled the confused and uncertain
whirling of..a flock of sea gulls just before
storm. AT 230 p. NJ the air was oppres
sively sultry, and every one supposed the
temperature was in excess OF 10Go, but, in
fact, it was only $50. At 3 p. NJ. amonI the
clouds in the north appeared a
WHITE FUNNEL-sHAPED FORMATION,
With the lower end first extending and
then contracting in its line towards the
earth, but apparently having 10 connec-
ton with it. In a few moments, however,
a cloud of dust resembling ,se smoke Of q
new-fed locomotive was seen to accumu-
late on the ground, acquiT. rotary mo-
ton and form into the share of an inverted
letter ~" With the swit.ness Of thought
the funnel-shaped cloud dropped lower,
and then spun out towards the ground a
white, ribbon-like line, about which there
was a rapid rotary motion. The cloud and
ground disturbances were now imme-
diately connected by smoky-looking fiue
or column, which also had rotary mo-
ton. At this time the ground disturbance
was at least 900 feet in advance of tae
cloud disturbance, and afterwards, during
the tornado, from 200 to 300 yards
in advance. When any object was en-
countered, it seemed to augment its force
from the clouds by white line with a
round bright mass at the end of it, which
would dart down with remarkable rapidity,
and after the obstacles were removed would
slowly contract again out of sight The
observer regarded this peculiar phenom-
enon due to electricity. The bright mass
at the end of the white line ives described
by many as ball of fire. There was no
ignition, but vegetation Immediately when
it had passed was brittle as though dried
by high degree of heat.