The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-08-30
Work of a Tornado.

WORK OF n tornado.
The Galena correspondent of Will
mington exchange gives a graphic &C
which visited the reighborhood of Sassa
fras, Kent county, sd, about two mile:
below the southern boundary of Cec
county on August 21st. The worst
damage WAS done on tho Farm of ]. G.
Brice. Tho correspondent says; it is
truly scene of desolatiou, portraying to
a painful degree the terrible and irresist-
able force of the tornado. Where formerly
stood old and sturdy trees, in themselves
emblems of strength, there remains but
hole in the earth to mark the place.
What were apparently strong buildings
are scattered everywhere, scarcely post
remaining to show where they once stood.
The funnel-shaped cloud was first no.
ticed near Kennedyville, travelling in a
northeasterly direction, but being well
up in the air. Little damage was done
except the uprooting of some trees of the
demolishing of fences until it had travel
led distance of probably ten or twelve
miles, when it suddenly descended upon
the farm of Thomas A. Jacobs, occupied
by Mr.. Thornleigh, where it destroyed
an apple orchard and some outbuildings.
Then crossing the road and two or three
fields, leaving its path strewn with debris
in tho cbapn nr hpn~Jc sbipuInc -
struck the apple orchard of Mr. Brice,
destroying portion of it. His wheat
stacks were next taken, being picked up
bodily and the greater part of them
thrown together in heap. Next came
his barns and shedding, which were en-
tirely demolished. Large timbers were
carried for distance of perhaps half
mile. The wind then made a circle
around Mr.. Brice's house, destroying a
large porch, tearing off a portion of the
chimneys and injuring the roof Thence
it went to another stack yard and hay
barracks, the latter being unroofed and
badly twisted while the wheat stacks
were scattered for miles over the country.
AN ORCHARD DESTROYED.
Another apple orchard was next struck
and nearly all of the trees were torn out
by the roots, a number of large trees be-
ing carried quite distance and thrown
in pile against the side of hill The
storm then swept across tho farm to @
woods of old hickory and oak trees,
through which it moved a wide swarth.
Hickory trees measuring two and three
feet in diameter were twisted off as
though they were small saplings. After
leaving this woods the wind appeared to
have lost its force or again raised above
the earth.
Mr.. Brice with the assistance of neigh
bors has gathered up and restacked the
greater part of his wheat, hauling some
of it over mile. He says that he has
been informed that sheaves were found
two miles away. The fields near the
buildings are strewn with lumber, broken
implements, wheat, apples and other de-
bris. The writer saw the frame of corn
shelter 200 yards from the house. 1t had
been broken into several pieces An iron
rod several feet long was picked up about
the same distance away. \ cow was
blown or carried several feet from her
stable and injured somewhat.
NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH.
The escape of Mr.. Brice and his hired
man was providential, they having been
in the barn milking. Mr.. Brice succeeded
in reaching the house, but the hired man
had only got as far as the gate leading
from the stable yard, when the wind
struck the barn and swept everything
away behind him, leaving only the gate
to which he was holding. A shed post
buried three feet in the ground and eight
inches square was pulled out of the
ground within four feet of where the
man was standing. He was slightly in
jured by being struck with something,
but he does not know what.
Mr.. Brice thinks that had his house
not been built of brick with heavy walls
it would likewise have gone. A tenant
house short distance away was twisted
from its foundation several inches. He
is unable to estimate his loss, but it will
amount to several hundred dollars, be-
sides the buildings. The only stock kill
ed was one sheep, one or two hogs and
some pigs. There was horse in the
stable, but it was left standing uninjur-
ed. The wheat lost will be over 300 bush
els, bnsides two farm wagons, sleighs
Gone new). corn shelter and many other
implements.