Smyrna times., 1888-06-20


peals of thunder. The cloud
by this time was too nearly past, but
the cratic condition of the elements,
rs if they were all on a spree, threw
out a stiff east wind that gathered the
clouds, drove and held them back, Civ
ing us altogether half hour of vary
ing showers and most excellent rain
fall All this time two miles to the
north and west of the town they were
the rain and at a safe distance
from the electric fluid
CYCLoNIC GUST.
The cloud which had evidently been
moving along over a considerable
stretch of country in a state Of rest,
developing its invisible powers, sud
denly like an aroused tiger burst forth
in one Of its widest moods about two
miles to the south of the town, and in
a gust of eddying cyclonic currents
moved its way through peach
orchards and over fields from the
south west to the north cast, carrying
havoc in its path.
The development was over the farms
occupied by Jas. X. Orrell and Jos.
r. GoldsbOrough, about half way be-
tween this town and Breniord, some
what damaging their peach orchards.
1t covered Il space Of over mile, worse
in some places more than others, going
in veines as it were. 1t had hardly
got started before it was manifesting
its destructive force. The peach or
chard of John J. Jones, large fully
matured trees looked after the storm
had passed as if it was torn to pieces
twisted off, smashed to the ground.
broken limbs in every direction-a pic
ture Of destruction. Geo. Reed Lof-
land, Geo. T. Thompson and S. B.
briggs came in for portion of it. At
the residence of the latter large will
low tree and several apple trees were
blown down. Mrs. PetersOns on the
northern line of its course also suffer
ed, bat the orchards Of Geo w. Cum
Minis, w. p. Cummins, Jas. Starting on
tie farm of Jas. p. Holfecker and w.
o. HOtlecker all in the same neighbor-
hood and in direct line Of that of Mr..
Jones above referred to, all suffered in
their old trees about the came as MIR.
Jones. Col Cummins places his trees
destroyed at from 500 to 600. and the
loss of tue peaches at several thou
sand baskets. II was the most destructive
storm he tells us he has ever been Wis
! tied with in his life. The destruction
in the orchards of the other partie,
named above was perhaps as great a.
in his. The orchards on two Other
farms of Col. Cummins two miles fur
ther on, occupied by Jas. T, and Geo
Trunx We're also considerably dam
aged, and doubtless others we have not
! heard off.
Shade and fruit trees beside tn,
peach went down before the storm
chief of which a very large handsome
ceder tree on the farm of w. O. Hof
tecker, nearly the only one left of th,
many that fifty or more years ago gave
this road the name of Cedar Lane :
The Big Oak on the state road ais,
had a further part of what remain!
from former storms, blown away.
The Neck otherwise than on III,
line of this whirling current that wa
also accompanied by quite a hail fall
had only beside the severe lightnin,
and thunder, splendid rain that wa
getting to be needed. The destruc
ton by the wind was so much create
than that by the hail as to make th,
latter 60 almost unnOticed. though i
was quite severe, as evidenced in MI
Starling's field where the corn was Gu
in ribbons,
OTHER PHASES OF THE STORM.
In the midst of the dpScpndin0 tbuu
der bolts and lurid flashes of lightnin,
that seemed to play around the feet G
so many simultaneously, thouCI
squares apart, the prevalent impres
sion was that some place had bee
struck each time, but fortunately ther
are no such disasters to record in tn,
town. A report was circulated to thi
eftectinrelation to both the Presbvteria
and Methodist churches, but If so. tn
fluid was safely carried off by the light
ming rod. A gentleman tells us of on
of the instances, that he was lOokiu,
at the steple of the first named whe
the fiery shaft fell, and seemed to hin
TO be arrested at this point. The finia
of the steple seemed abaze he sal
with a VibratoIy, flashing light tha
distinctly emitted little explosions lik
those in striking parlor matches. Th
storm which came to us at 5 o'cloc
and was so destructive in both win
and hail fall in ThorOughfaTe Necl
came from the north east and covere
mostly the space to the north of th
town not touched by the first rain.
1t was the lightning from this thu
struck in the most places. Wm. |
Davis in the Alley had a valuabI
young five year old horse struck out i
the field and instantly killed. Thr5
or four colts were near it at the tim,
but not in the least hurt. Mr.. Dav
was fortunate in having an insuranC
of Sl4O on the horse in the Kent CouI
ty Mutual.
A large poplar tree on the farm OF
: cupied by John F. GoldsbOrough wa
struck twice, one of the shafts maxim
a half inch opening on its course.
| AT Clayton one or more Telegram
: poles were struck, and at Brenford
telegraph pole on one side and a cherI
f tree on the other side of the resden,
/ of Jas. G. Farson.
) A tree was also struck at Ge,
} Truax's and there were doubtless 9th,
} casualties that have not come to OF
notice.
r The telephone line to Dover WI
: broken down by falling trees in froi
3 of Woodlawn."
: The rain though much heavier
: some localities than others, seems
have Over-lapped the country genera
| ly. A gentleman and lady from S
= Georges who had been recommends
9 by a physician of that county who ha
+ knowledge of DIR. Dwight's skill in IL
= examination and treatment of eyes.
: riding down to see him in the afternoC
= passed through three distinct thund
r storms in reaching here, one of them
: hail storm below Odessa. from viii,
j, they had to seek shelter.
r The strip of country passed over /
Q the storm-between the "big oak
+ and the Smyrna mill pond-seems
: be favOrite track for cyclonic deve
opments. Three years ago two funn
: shaped clOud-enyeloped energies, wit
IN six weeks of each other, separate
about mile and striking with a for
: Ofabout 2000 lbs. to the square inc
: plowed their way over this stretch f
2 two or three miles or until exhauste
{, or lifted into the clouds again.
2 A GIRLS BATTLE WITH A SNAKE.
Thursday near Seymour, Ind, Mi
f Mollie DinsmOre, young COUNT
i school teacher, went to the rescue