Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-11-05


what shorter than the railroads,
but it zigzagged enough to compen-
safe for this. Its rate. therefore,
was a mile minute, ''including
stops" but 'between stations" it must
have been much greater, for when
doing its most destructive work it
appeared to halt or move slowly. One
observer states that it played before
him as he trotted quietly in its wake,
and that he could easily have over
taken it had he cared. There are
other evidences that this is true.
When first seen west of Centralia-
fourteen miles west of Mexico the
storm cloud had five of the usual
funnel-shaped tentacles writhing high
but harmless in the air. But they soon
descended. massed themselves into
one, and for six miles wrought zig
gag course of great damage-worming
itself this way and that, sometimes at
right angles to its course, to lick up a
building. At the end it rose in the
air again. and became obscured at each
side and beneath by intervening clouds.
During this fight Its velocity and
force were probably terrific, as its
ward At the end of nine miles it
several whirling tunnels.
The external phenomena of this
storms march were perhaps not very
peculiar. At the time of its greatest
fury, white steamy streak, apparent
| ly foot across, was seen to run UP
and down and sway with the lam
bent cloud. and then to part in the
midt re, ana the upper portion to
slowly withdraw above. The funnel
cloud was dark, when simply travel
ing, but steamy white when doing de-
structive work, its point touching Its
victims, at times, with the delicacy of
a serpent's tongue. At some houses,
however, the cloud seemed to lie in
mass, and great, tilmy tentacles, with
vertical revolution, would dart
violently out and in. These offshoots
were also observed high in the air at
other places. At times the main fun
mel was preceded by a smaller one,
which would be overtaken and alb.
sorbed by the larger, with every ap
pearance of an explosion.
Tho electric displays, while extern
sive, were not more remarkable than
those accompanying large ordinary
storms. The switch boards at Mexico
land perhaps other places) were burnt
out, and. on the edge of the
track, some stock were killed by light
ming. In the direct path, Immediately
after the passage, some crisply burnt
green leaves were observed, indicating
perhaps, heat, either electric or fac
tional, but none of those persons
passed over by the funnel, report an!
evidences of immediate electric action
There are, however. some remarkable
phases of this tornados traverse tina
may indicate at least electric attrac
ton. Noticcably. the storm crosse'
the county of Audrain for distanc'
of thirty miles on q township linz
dotted with homes and left q straigh
! line at no time the distanc
OF stones throw, except to- pic
, up a building. Near Centralia, il
boone county, ITS oscillations acros
its general course were Us great as hal
, a m,le-at one time gong directl
north on lane and demollshin9 tw
, or three buildings. The study of tn
diagram (herewith) of the tornado
track north Of Mexico will convinc
any one that upright objects had tn
power of attracting it from and defiet
ting it again out Of the line of II
march. House No. was only slight
moved on its Foundation. The dire
ton of the trees shows gathering {