The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-02-13
SEES TORNADO
FROM INTERIOR
Farmer Gazes Into Center
of Funnel and Es-
capes Unhurt.


Greensburg, Kan.
Mr.. Keller explained that on the
afternoon of June %, 1923, he no.
ticed the approach of dark cloud
and saw that it consisted OF not
only one tornado but three. After
hurrying his family to the cyclone
cellar he paused to watch the ap-
proach of one of the funnel-shaped
clouds, which was coming directly
toward him.
II have seen number of these
things and have never become pam
ic-stricken when near them. So
did not lose my head now, though
the approaching tornado was in
deed an impressive sight," he said.
"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 dis
lance away and looked to me like
great ropes dangling from the
clouds, but the near one was
shaped more like funnel with
ragged clouds surrounding 1t. 1t
appeared to be much longer and
more energetic than the others and
1t occupied the central position of
the cloud, the great cumulus dome
being directly over it,
Sees Lower End Rise.
"As 1 paused to look / saw that
the lower end which had been,
sweeping the ground was begin
ming to rise. knew what that
meant, SO / kept my position. i
knew that / was comparatively
safe and / knew that if the tor
nado again dipped I could drop
down and close the door before
any harm could be done.
''Steadily the tornado came on,
the end gradually rising above the
ground. I could have stood there
only q few seconds, but so I'M
pressed was l with what was going
on that it seemed long time. At
last the great shaggy end of the
funnel hung directly over head.
Everything was as still as death.
There was a strong gassy Odor and
1t seemed that could not breathe.
There was a screaming, kissing
sound coming directly from the end
Of the funnel.
81 looked up and to say astonish-
ment saw right up into the heart
Of the tornado. There was a cir
cular opening in the center of the
nfunneb about so or 100 feet in di-
ameter and extending straight up
ward for distance of at least one
half mile, as best as / could judge
under the circumstances. The walls
of this opening were of rotating
clouds and the whole was made
brilliantly visible by constant
flashes of lightning which zigzagged
from side to side. Had it not been
for the lightning ! could not have
seen the opening, not any distance
up into it, anyway.
around the lower rim of the
great vortex small tornadoes were
constantly 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.
81 noticed that the direction of ro-
tation Of the great whirl was anti.
clockwise, but the small twisters
rotated both ways, some one way
and some another.
'The opening was entirely hol-
low except for something which l
could not exactly make out, but
suppose that it was detached
wind cloud. This thiag was in the
center and was moving up and
down.
"The tornado was not travelling
ut great speed. 1 had plenty Of
time to get q good view of the
whole thing, inside and out. 1t
came from the direction of Green's
burg, which town is three miles
west and one mile north of my
place. Its course was not in a
straight line but it zigzagged across
the country in general northeas>
terly direction.
After 1t passed my place 1t again
dipped and struck and demolished
the house and barn of farmer by.
the name of Evans. The Evans
family, like ourselves, had been out
looking over their hailed-out wheat
and saw the tornado coming. Not
having time to reach their cellar
they took refuge under a small
bluff that faced to the leeward of
the approaching tornado. They lay
down fat on the ground and caught
hold Of some plum bushes which
fortunately grew within their reach.
Asl 1t was, they felt themselves
lifted from the ground. Mr.. Evans
said that he could see the wreck
age Of his house, among it being
the cook stove, going round and
round over his head. The eldest
child, a girl Of seventeen, being the
most exposed, had her clothing
completely torn OFF. But none Of
the family was hurt"
Mr.. Justice Endorsed Mr.. Keller's
story with the following words:
Mr.. Keller's reputation for
truthfulness and sobriety is Of the
best. Apparently he is entirely ca
pable of making careful and re-
liable observations