The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-07-10
soMERsET's visrfAIIoN sYA
TORNADO.
Great Damage TO Dwellings and
Crops.

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Our town was visited by terrific wind
storm, accompanied by rain together with
and Lightning, on Tuesday night
last, the severity Of which was never be-
fore equalled In this vicinity, and startled
even the more courageous of our COM
munity by Its ferceness. Clouds had
been gathering In the northwest the
greater portion Of the afternoon, and as
night approached, they came nearer and
nearer. A severe thunder shower was
apparent, and the people were looking
for this part Of the programme, but the
breeze that came as q forerunner, made
everything lively in its course.
The tornado was of short duration,
but when the clouds cleared away the
damage found to have been done to shade
trees was enormous, to say nothing Of
several barns and sheds that lay fiat in Its
course.
In drive about the north side of our
town we noticed on Madison street
tree blown over In yards of S. Leland
and E. T. Goodrich; on Water street a
tree reaching across the roof Of the old
Shirley house, branches gone at Truman
Sawyer's while o. r. Bachelors yard
was filled with wind falls; a tree lay
across the lawn of Geo. 7. Green, while
further up the street the glass from the
north side of Hotel Heselton Cupola was
gone; on High street 1t shattered q tree
In the yard OF the Parker Boies house,
and one less tree stands before the resi-
dence of DIR. G. A. WILDER; on Pleasant
street several trees were thinned Of their
branches; on Elm Street 1t took men
half Of the following forenoon to haul
and bring back the boards from the
staging around DR.. Commits new build
ing. Around the court House Several
tree are laid fiat while, a fine one In the
yard OF Mrs. vosmus is split down; on
North street branches are gone from
ees in yard Of the late DR.. Gushing and
Geo. C. Varney. On the Island = nice
elm on the school house lot is split In
twain. On the south side, Cedar street
had the severest disaster, q large elm in
front Of F. A. Williams new house be-
ing appended, falling upon the house,
crushing the chimney, the latter In falling
crushing through the roof Of the ell.
The side walk was torn up for several
feet by the up turned roots. Other parts
Of the South side received small damage
while the old barn In corner Of the street
leading from the shoe factory to Keen
vile was laid fiat-three cows and two
horses were In 1t at the time, but were
rescued uninjured. Many Of the gardens
about town are materially injured.
Out In the suburbs, we learn that barns
used for storing hay, belonging to Nat
Smith, l.. L. Morrison and II. E. Nc
Donald all situated In the vicinity Of
North street plains are fat and we also
learn with regret that those five magnia-
cent willows at Luther Cushing's are q
total wreck as well as the one before
the residence Of Mrs. Melzir Cushing.
Ar MADISON BRIDGE
The trees showed the effects of the
wind: chimneys were blown down, and
many buildings were damaged. Capt.
Goodrich had tn frame up for a large
house an this was all fat upon the foun-
dation. The corporation wood shed 200
feet In length, was blown down. H.
Wescott had his barn lurched to one side,
and 9 5shssaa belonging - FL. Psrkias
was toyed with by the wind.
Between the Bridge and North Arson
It was evident that the wind had been Of
even greater force The telegraph wire
was down almost the whole distance, every
where the trees were stripped OF their
branches and In places the roadway was
blocked with PROSTATE elms. No kind
Of tree seemed to escape and especially
destructive was the blast to orchard trees.
Tho damage to the orchards cannot be
easily estimated. B. H. Smith had his
farm buildings damaged to the extent Of
$500, while VIM. H. Jones, his nelghbor,
had his barn and sheds, entirely destroy
ed. John j. Jones had his barn damag-
ed about 800. L. Thompson's large
barn was In the path Of the wind; one
half the roof was blown of and scattered
over the fields, while the whole building
was twisted from the foundations.
BLACKWELL HILL, MADISON
Reports from this section are rather
meager, but the storm was severly felt
and did much damage. In one instance
a tract Of eight acres of poplar belonging
to a Mr.. Dunton was laid fat Here also
q most singular accident happened to a
young man, Arthur Richards. who was
running for shelter. A. large elm was
split in twain, and In It's fall he was
caught between the parts, causing concus
sion Of the brain. He was unconscious
for 70 hours, but is now rallying.
In NORTH ANsoN VILLAGE
Chimueys were blown from the houses of
Joseph Merry, Frank Psrlin and Mrs.
Cushman. The brick store owned by G..
A. Steward, had . front window blown
out, the chimney upon the ground, the
gable end blown In, and half Of the roof
WAS in the road several rods distance.
THE SOMERSET r. r. BRIDGE
Across the Carrabasset also suffered This
bridge is q covered wooden one, and was
built only few years ago. The whole
structure was twisted and the track has
three sharp curves In 1t. In several places
the roof was started, and many beams
were splintered. Superintendent W. M.
Aver was on the bridge yesterday with a
crew Of men, and will soon have it so
that the train can pass. Now the baggage
and freight is transferred across the
bridge on q hand car. Superintendent
Aver has commenced to jack up the
bridge to It's former position and esti.
mates that the necessary expense will be
at least $500.
Augustine Simmons. Esq, had 3 very
narrow escape from death. His barn was
blown dat while he was 10 1t and his es-
cape was miraculous. Mrs. L. H. Moulton
Of New Portland, In company with .
lady, had just driven into the barn, and
while they went TO the house Mr.. Sim.
mons was holding their horse. Al he
heard the barn start, Mr.. Simmons ran
for the door. but was struck down before
he could reach IT, he said that he WAS
unconscious until he found himself with
his hand on the knob Of the sid4 door Of