The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-21
wArERsPouTs ON LAKE ONTARIO.
Extraordinary Display Witnessed
Near Oswego Recently.

OSWeg0 Times.
Waterspouts not frequently seen off the
great lakes especially on Lake Ontario.
Over thirty years ago three passed down the
lake one Sunday afternoon, but none has
oldest sailors, men who have followed the
lakes since they were boys cannot remember
having met with any of these terrors to ship
ping, which ingu1f large boats upon the broad
expanse of the ocean.
A few days ago at about o'clock in the
morning four passed by this port. Three
burst when short distance to the east
ward, and the fourth, the largest and most
terrific. sped down the lake at race horse
speed holding itself intact until lost sight Of
by persons who were watching it with marine
glasses.
When the morning dawned the sky was
overcast by dark clouds. which denoted both
wind and rain. strong wind blowing
from the northwest making a nasty, chop
py sea. Suddenly out of the western horizon
there could be seen sweeping down the lake
a conical-shaped column. 1t looked like a
rapidity of lightning. This column reached
from the dark, overhanging clouds to the
surface of the lake. AS 1t approached off
this port 1t was seen to be five or six miles
in the lake. AS it whirled along it seemed
to pick up large volumes of water and whirl
them into the air. The water at its base was
churned into caidron. When mile or two
below this port it burst. AS it did so flash
of lightning came out of the east and thou
sand tons Of water which had been taken from
the lake fell back causing mighty swell
No sooner had this strange phenomenon
disappeared than another seen following
in its course It was larger than the first and
agitated the water more violently. 1t broke
at about the same place as did the former
There was wait OF perhaps half an hour
when one OF the grandest and most awe
inspiring sights ever witnessed on the lakes
was seen Two of these whirling, writhing
columns standing obliquely from the lake
to the sky were seen coming down the lake.
They were both larger than the two which
had preceded them, and they raised noun
famous sea along their course They were
as black as black could be. On they came
picking up thousands of tons of water and
whirling il into the air as IL 1t was the light
est OF feathers. When opposite the Della
ware. LackaWanna & Western coal trestIe,
Peter Griffin, who had a marine glass CEN
tered on them, said it was a sight which will
long be remembered by him. The outside of
the conical columns was one whirling black
mass Through the center could be seen
a white streak through which the water was
being drawn from the lake to the clouds in
steady stream.
and seven miles in the lake. When just be-
| low the Irwin & Sloan malthouse the
smaller one burst its immense volume of
water falling into the lake. But the large
one remained intact and whirled down
| the lake toward the mouth of the st. Law
renee river, keeping intact until lost sight
of.
These wonderful formations of vapor and
| water are dreaded by seafaring men. for a
vessel, no mater how staunch she may be,
! is but a plaything in the power of we'll
| developed waterspount. The largest which
entity between seveHty-dve and 100 feet In
diameter at the base. and had it struck q
vessel would have sent Ii to the bottom.
crew and all.