New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-31
DESTRUCTION ON THE HUDSON
A SMALL TORNADO SWEEPS THROUGH
ULSTER COUNTY.
nuI1pIyGs IEyELLED TO THE GROUND. TREES
TORN UP AND PEOPLE SERIOUSLY HURT
NEAR ELLIS CoRNERs-HEAvY LOSSES
BY GRAPE GRowERs-THE STORM
fay TELEGRAPH TO THE IhIBUsE.1


| rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TaIBUsEI
Poughkeepsie July 30.-A heavy bank of inSyA
black clouds was seen lowering over the noun
tains on the west side of the river at z O'clock
this morning and men who stood on the wharves
at Iloyd's Landing noticed what seemed TO be
myriads OF twgs and small branches whlrhng
about high in air In an hour after word came
that portion of Ellis Corners, Ulster County,
four miles west of Highland, had been struck
by tornado Immediately large number OF
men started for the place, where they found
desolation and ruin visible for some distance
Ellis Corners has about ten buildings, and there
are many outlying vineyards and orchards. An
eyewitness of the approach of the storm says 10
seemed to come from funneLshaped cloud which
hung over piece of woods south Of the hamlet
at Mathew Harcourt's vineyard, and the roar OF
the approach was so terrifying to the people that
everybody sought shelter hurriedly. Mathew
Harcourts vineyard is about ten acres in extent.
The tornado struck that first and completely de-
stroyed it. tearing out every post and trellis and
whrling them long distance, leaving the ground
as clear and as even as floor. 1t next struck
Mr.. Harcourts apple orchard, pulling every tree
up by the roots and carrying them of as though
they were feathers. Twigs and branches were
caught in the whirl of wind and carried hundreds
of feet into the air.
About a mile from Harcourts vineyard and
orchard stood John Nelson's story and a-half frame
house, and close TO it was his barn filed with
hay, horse, sleigh, wagons, etc.
The tornado struck Nelson's house and destroyed
it down TO the main floor and
carried the broken timbers hundreds of feet in
the air. Mr.. Nelson and his wife were on the
main floor, having just finished their breakfast
Both were blown out of the house along with the
flying tmbers and both badly bruised and
cut. They were found lying helpless on the
ground partially covered with timbers. The storm
next struck their barn and entirely demolished it,
the horse being taken out of the debris some dis
tance from the barb, cut and bleeding from dozens
of wounds, and with one leg broken.
The tornado then struck two barns belonging
to Mrs. MCGOWAN, widow one large building,
and completely destroyed both of them, tore Oft
the roof of Mrs. .McGowans house and crushed in
the roof Of another house a short distance away.
There were no other buildings for the wind to
destroy north of Mrs. McGowans, but as far as
the eye could see it had cut a swath two or three
hundred feet wide, and in all probability spent
its force on the mountains and bills beyond.
Along its entire course hundreds of trees were
uprooted, fences demolished and the ground torn
up. In some places stone walls were scooped out
at the top as one would scoop snow out of a
drift with a shovel Mr. Nelson had just finished
costly additions TO his house.
Said eyewitness: 1t looked TO me as
though the clouds were bowling along the ground
and l never heard such frightful roaring noise
The downfall of rain was something like deluge
The water seemed 10 come down in sheets, and for
/ a time nearly inundated everything The people
were all badly frightened As soon as the worst
over messengers were dispatched 10 Highland
and other points for help, and large numbers
came from Highland
p,t.sGaId Mass Jufv (SDecian Pain has
fallen lrere in torrents for nearly two days, and
the streams all through the county are greatly
swollen washout on the Hcusatonic Railroad
below Lenox prevented the afternoon trains from
passing over the track, and the passengers were
transferred. Large gangs OF men are repairing
the damages The Boston and Albany Railroad
is washed at Beckett, and the afternoon trains
were greatly delayed. Several bridges have been
washed away and the highways damaged Much
damage has also been done 20 crops
Kingston, N Y, July 80 tSpecial).-The rain
has been coming down in torrents here to-day.
River grape-growers report that tine vast grape
crop is almost ruined. The green fruit has rotted
badly, and Is already falling TO the ground
in heaps all through the vineyards The presene
indica r1ons are that the yield Will not exceed
one-quarter Of q full crop. The storms are SO
FREQUENT and severe that the newly discovered
remedies for the rot cannot be successfully applied
Dover Del. July 30 lSpecaD.-In a heavy
storm this evening lightning struck the team Of
William Johnson, a farmer Both horses were
killed the wagon torn to pieces, and Mr. John
son. who was driving, so badly injured that IL is
feared he will not recover. horse belonging ia
Captain Wentz, near the same place, was killed
Boston, July 80 CSpecial.-Some places in New
England were struck this afternoon by storm
of considerable force. At Haverhill trees were
upyooted. and buildings and gardens badly dan.