Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-11-28
SEES TORNADO
FROM INTERIOR
Farmer Gazes Into Center of
Funnel and Escapes
Unhurt.

his experiences Is contained IN re-
port made to Alonzo A. Justice of the
weather bureau office here by Will
Keller, a farmer near Greensburg,
Kan.
Mr.. Keller explained that on the
afternoon of June %, 1928, he no
ticed the approach Of a dark cloud
and saw that 1t consisted of not only
one tornado but three. After hurry
ing his family to the cyclone cellar
he paused to watch the approach or
one Of the funnel-shaped clouds, which
was coming directly toward him.
81 have seen number of these
things and have never become panic
stricken when near them. SO l did
not lose my head now, though the
approaching tornado was indeed an
impressive sight" he said.
1.-THE surrounding country is level
and there was nothing to obstruct the
view. There was little or no rain
falling from the cloud. Two of the
tornadoes were some distance away
and looked to me like great ropes
dangling from the clouds, but the
near one was shaped more like fun
mel with ragged clouds surrounding it.
Il anneared to be much longer and
more energetic than the others and It
occupied The central position Of the
cloud. the great culnulus dome being
directly over it,
Seas over End Rise,
"As l paused to look | saw that
the lower end which had been sweep
ing the ground was beginning to
rise. l knew what that meant, so
kept my position. l knew that was
comparatively safe and I knew that
if the tornado again dipped could
drop down and close the door before
any harm could he done
Y the tornado came on, the
erd ar ually rising above rha ground
7 ii nave stood there only a few
soec but So impressed WIS ! with
what vas going on that i seemed 8
long time. At last the great sbaggg
end of the funnel hung directly over
head Everything was as still as
death. There was strong gassy odor
and it seemed that could not
breathe There was a screaming,
kissing sound coming directly from
the end of the funnel.
81 looked up and to my astonish-
ment 1 saw right up into the heart
of the tornado There was a circular
opening in the center of the funnel
about fifty or 100 feet in diameter
and extending straight upward for
distance Of at least one-half mile, as
best as could judge under the cir.
cumstanees. The walls Of this open
ing were Of rotating clouds and the
whole was made brilliantly visible by
constant flashes Of lightning which
zigzagged from side to side. Had II
not been for the lightning could NO
have seen the opening, not any dis
lance up into 1t. anyway.
Around the lower rim of the great
vortex small tornadoes were constant
ly forming and breaking away. These
looked like tails as they writhed their
way around the end Of the funnel
1t was these that made the kissing
noise.
Rotation Anticlockwise.
II noticed that the direction of 70
tation of the great whirl was anti
clockwise, but the small twisters ro
tated both ways, some one way and
some another.
The opening was entirely hollow
except for something which 1 could
not exactly make out, but suppose
that 1t was detached wind cloud
This thing was in the center and was
moving up and down.
'The tornado was not travelling at
a great speed. had plenty of time to
get good view of the whole thing
inside and out. 1t came from the di
rection of Greensburg, which town is
three miles west and one mile north
of my place. Its course was not In
straight line but it zigzagged across
the country in general northeaster
Iy direction.
AFTER it passed my place it again
dipped and struck and demolished
the house and barn of a farmer by
the name Of Evans. The Evans fam.
fly, like ourselves, had been out look
Ing over their hailed-out wheat and
saw the tornado coming Not having
time to reach their cellar they took
refuge under a small bIuff that faced
TO the leeward Of the approaching
tornado. They lay down fiat on the
ground and caught hold OF some plum
bushes which fortunately grew with
in their reach. AS it was, they felt
themselves lifted from the ground.
Mr.. Evans said that he could see the
wreckage of his house, among it be-
ing the cook stove, going round and
round over his head. The eldest child
a girl Of seventeen. being tire most
exposed. had her clothing completely
tern oil. But none Of the family was
hurt."
Mr.. Justice indorsed Mr.. Keller's
story with the following words:
''Mr. Keller's reputation for truth
fitness and sobriety is of the best.
Apparently he is entirely capable Of
making careful and reliable observa-