Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-27
A TROPICAL STORM.
A Vivid Description of Its Approach-The
Breaking of the Tempest-Terror of the
Animal World

A Vivid Description of Its Approach-Th,
Breaking of the Tempest-Terror of tn,
Animal World.
Midday approaches The clouds frs
erect themselves in vaulied forms from the
horizon upward. Now they gather to
gether In thick, wind masses, and grad
ually darkening the sky approach the sun
which still rules the landscape beneath
with his perpendicular rays. Under hi;
scorching fervor the plants fairly culver
Self-lost, they yield themselves to hi:
mighty attraction. Gold-winged beetle:
and humming-birds buzz or hum joyfully
nearer. In the hveliest display of colors
gay and brilliant butterflies ana dragon.
flies near the river bank engage in wautor
sport. The pathways swarm with ants
which, In long extended lines, are dragg.
ing leaves to the structures they are so in.
dustriously erecting. Noxious animals
too, feel the fierce glow and unwonted at,
traction of the midday sun. The crocodile
mounts upward from out his hiding-places
in the deep ooze of the river-bed and street
ches himself at full length upon the burn.
ing sand Tortoises and lizards creep out
of their damp and shady retreats Hand
somely variegated as well as dusky-colored
serpents crawl along the warm and bril-
iantly lighted pathways
And now at length the clouds begin to
over, forming themselves vertically in
huge, separate strata, while ever heavier,
thicker. gloomier, they surround the hor-
lion, while just in the zenith they tower
upward in enormous widespread masses,
clear, shining, in marked contrast to the
clouds of deep leaden hue on the horizon.
A beautiful image of gigantic mountains
is seen in the air Suddenly the whole
heavens become overcast, and only here
and there appears patch of deep blue sky
between contiguous clouds. The sun con-
ceals himself Fiercer than ever, however,
gfows the furnace heat of the atmosphere
over the landscaps.
Midday is past. In awful gloomy
melancholy suspense, hangs the dismal
hour, big with terrible consequences, over
all nature. Deeper and deeper grows the
gloom. More and more awful the suspense,
as woe to be brought forth, which the
air of the day has gendered.
Driven by hunger and thirst, the wild
beasts roam hither ard thither in anxiety
as looking for the coming of some terrible
calamity; only the quiet, sluggish animals
concealed in the deep shades of the forest
have no presentiment that mighty crisis
is at hand-eyen at the very doors The
crisis cannot be avoided With rapid
strides approaches the storm, so soon tC
break forth in irresistible violence upon
the expectant earth beneath. The temper
allure of the earth rapidly descends. The
winds arise from every quarter of the
heavens and engage in fierce contention
They root up the forest. They lash the
sea into foam-a sea that ever blacker anc
more awful grows beneath the dark anC
angry clouds overhead, while the loud
rushing torrents that plunge in its bosom
whose very roar is drowned In the fierce
whistling wind), grow dark and back as
night, while they seem to empty therein
without the slightest noise-each like {
very Phlegethom river of hell!
The storm breaks Twice, thrice, tears
streak of fawn-colored lightning through
the dark background of clouds Twice
thrice, rolls the thunder, with long son
tinued and steady trembling through the
quaking sky. Drops fall The plant
world RECEIVERS from its exhaustion
Another peal sharper, heavier than be-
fore, as though the whole heavens were
falling in one tremendous crash that
shakes the world. 1t is no longer rain
that falls, but the very fountains of the up
per deep are opened and pour out Their
contents from the bending heavens. The
forest of gigantic trees sways and signs
while the lisping, rustling sound of the
leaves has increased to a roar, striking the
ear somewhat like the dull rolling of q
distant drum Flowers shake. Leaves
fall. Torn-off branches and stems are
preclpltated to the ground, or are driven
through the air by the violence of the
wind The hurricane snatches away the
last charm of virginity FROM the PROSTATE
plant forms And why not? Have they
not bloomed and loved? Does the Inca
curl together alone its emptied stigmas
Does the Banistery alone allow its golden
sepals to fail from its already fertilizeC
calyx? Does the stock of the Arum plant
heavy with fruit give alone its withered
husks as prize to the tempest
The animal world, too, feels the effect
| of the awful hour-an hour of fright anC
terror to the stoutest and widest of beasts
Dumb, terrified, the feathered tribes o.
the forest futter on the ground Filled
with fear, seek the myriads of insects
safety beneath the leaves or fallen trunks
of trees. Dissuaded from combat anC
| dealing of death, ravenous beasts CEASE
from following their prey. The cold
blooded amphibians alone rejoice in tn,
descending floods, for at intervals in the
storm can be heard the large chorus O
frogs and toads croak forth their hoars,
but not unpleasant music from the water!
meadows.
In deep brooks and streams runs tai
muddy waters through the narrow fores
paths to the river, or pour themselves int
fathomless abysses in the ground Lowe
and still lower sinks the temperature o
the air. The storm is gradually CROWN.
less in violence The clouds are empty
ing their liquid contents slowly-a tim
and the storm will be over. The wind
cease. In rejuvenated splendor suddenl,
the sun steps forth from behind the lonI
stretched layers of clouds, which graduall
separate themselves more and more from
each other, dispensing themselves toward
the north and south, until at last, as il
the morning, there are left only light an
gauzy cloud forms skirting the deep azur
field at the horizon. Again heaven smile
out of its deep blue eyes upon the cart
beneath, which soon forgets the terribl
ordeal through which it has so recent
passed. An hour later and not trace O
the storm exists Dried by the warm sun
shine, the plants stand erect in fresl
beauty and vigor, while the various beast
of the forests, driven inexorably by thei