The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-25
A WATER COLUMN
Scares the People of Battles
Wharf.

The following special from Point Clear was
received yesterday:
GRAND HOTEL, POINT CLEAR, Ala September Is.
After several hours OF threatening weather yester-
day remarkable disturbance Of water was OBJ
served near the end of the long wharf, which soon
eliminated In an enormous WATERFRONT. The waters
were seen to spout up into the air and connecting
with a cornucopa shaped cloud that descended to
meet them. thus forming massive column a mile
in height which waved TO and fro from sea 70 sky
at the same time travelling towards Batties wharf
where II broke from the conclusion OF thundrr. 1t
did copsderable damage to Battles wharf my feet
OF which was carried away, while several small
houses in its way overturned The steamers
Daisy and Annie fortunately escaped the path Of The
HateTspOut.
Another account was received as follows:
September -, l6S8.-Yesterday afternoon q little
after half-past tour beautiful sight occurred in
the boy at Battles wharf, in front Of our place.
water spout Of large proportion gathered III the bay
When we first noticed il the waves seemed very
much agtatcd. We thought it raining in one
spot. but we soon ascertained wfat it was Mr.. y.
Arton fired q shot into II and thus scattered 1t,
otherwise II might nave zone ferrous uam9ee. as
1t was 1t broke part OF Battle wharf II was
grand sight, nevertheless. We were very much
frightened md some OF us were thinking about
aking 10 running for the woods.
Eye-witnessos describe the waterspout as
presenting most impressive and beautiful
spectacle. 1t formed about half way between
Point Clear and Battles wharf and proceeded
slowly toward the shore, roaring at first with q
near the shore end and cut it off as neatly as
If it had been sawed off. The spout sucked up
great lot Of splintered wood and went dash
ing inland, carrying with 1t a mass OF whirling
debris, in the midst of which hundreds Of fish
were mingled. The waterspout proceeded up
the lane, tore off the corner Of a barn and then
fell to the ground with loud noise, depositing
the mass Of broken wood and fish.
Captain l.. u. Kennerly gives graphic ac-
count OF the phenomenon. He says that he
watched IylfprSnont hcpiupjuu
end. There was very heavy black cloud in
the sky off the point, and all the clouds in the
neighborhood were seen moving toward the
center Of the black cloud lie knew then that
@ waterSpOut was forming, and called atten-
ton TO the atmospheric disturbance. Presently
the water of the bay, some one hundreds yards
off the end Of the long wharf began to boil
and whirl around, with a loud noise. This
Whirlpool was directly beneath the black
cloud. The black cloud then formed in funnel
shape and let down a point, revolving
in direction contrary to the whirlpool
below. Soon the two bodies of water Joined
in forming column about fifty feet in dame
ter in the middle and reaching up about
mile in the air. AS soon as the junction was
formed the greater part Of tho rushing waters
ceased. The column stood apparently notion
less for about fifteen minutes, and had an angle
with the horizon of about sixty degrees The
funnel at the top was dead black but the body
Of the waterspout was slate-colored At the
bottom, where the spout spread out into a pyra-
mid, the water was green and white. 1t was a
magnificent sight
Then the whole mass began moving slowly
toward Battles, and came majestically along,
bending more and more as it advanced.
When it reached the shore, just where
the wharf Joins tho shore, the spout bent
In the middle, and report OF electric
discharge and a flash of lightning announced
that tho spout was broken Tho greater part
OF the water was sucked up in the heavens as
the spout parted i'll the middle, and the re
mainder fell with great noise, envelopng
the wharf and breaking it down for distance
OF perhaps fifty feet, reaching from the shore
to small house situated out on the wharf.
The effects of tho spout were felt on land
slightly. II was only remnant OF the
grating water that hit the houses on land,
aud the damage resulting was small. Dur
ing tho progress of the water spout a son of
Mr.. p. G. Boudousquie made three sketches
OF it, showing very clearly the successive
shapes it assumed. The people ON shore were
considerably alarmed at the approach Of the
water spout, and were about 10 seek positions
OF greater safety, when the exhibition came TO
an end.
Captain Kennerly adds that shortly after
the disturbance. telegraphio messages were
received from Mobile and Fort Morgan ask
ing if any damage had been done. 1t is evil
dent from this that the spout was seen by peo-
pie both in Mobile and at Fort Morgan.