The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-07-24


 Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. On rare occasions, however, they have visited this part of the country. Of these the most destructive in New England was the one which struck Wal lingford, Conn, on August 9, 1878.
 3a Killed, Scores Hurt
 This tornado left behind it the loss of thirty-four lives, twenty eight severely injured and the de- struction of 160 buildings, includ- ing forty dwellings,, fifty barns, one church and one schoolhouse. The total property damage amounted to $200,000.
 In the last part of July and the first of August showers accom- panied by thunder and lightning occurred almost daily in New Eng land, and there seemed to be more and greater thunder showers than that section had experienced be- fore. Winds, blowing with the force of tornadoes, were frequent, especially on the eighth and ninth of August. On the afternoon of August 9 there was great destruc- tion of property and several per- sons were killed by lightning in southern New England. The rain fall in Boston was the greatest ever known. According to Sidney Perley, in his Historic Storms of New England," the tornado that occurred at Wallingford was the most terrific and resulted in the greatest destruction of life and property that was ever caused in New England by such means"
 Lightning Vivid
 At 6 o'clock on that Hateful aft ernoon rain began to fall, soon in- creasing to a deluge, and heavy, black clouds gathered over the will lage. The darkness was occasion ally broken by flashes of lightning. Thunder continually rolled and crashed. Without warning, and when the downpour was at its peak, the tornado struck the northern part of the town, travel ing from west to east. Hail fell to add to the general onslaught of the heavens. Nothing movable stood in the way of the twister. Wooden houses were blown off their foundation, and others were unroofed. Some were blown an eighth of a mile, such was the fury of the wind. The track of the tornado was less than half mile wide and about two miles long. It lay over what were known as the sand plains," about quarter of a mile north of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad station.
 Fire started among the ruins in many places, caused by burning lamps and stoves. But no great damage was done, as the rain con- tinuing for about an hour, extin- guished the flames. Barns were raised clear of the hay contained in them, which was left standing" Trees and fences were hurled through the air like straws. "Elec- tricity of the most terrific kind filled the air" and straight rods of fire came down from the sides of the clouds to the death; the de- bris of houses was scattered along in parallel lines, as though a mighty river had passed"
 Town Tall Became Hospital
 The rural community of Wal lingford twas in state of uproar and consternation, and the greatest excitement prevailed" Immediate help was needed, but there were no means of communication, as the telegraph poles and wires were blown down, and the cars were ex- pected to be late. The nearest town was Meriden, six miles away. Little John Hoey, 12 years old, rode on horseback to Meriden to call for help, thinking that the trains would be late. But at 2 o'clock train arrived and a mes sage was carried by it to Meriden. The express that left there at 7:30 carried seven physicians and other assistance, and systematic work was imm ediately begun. The town hall was transformed into a hos pital. Public meetings were held in several of the nearby towns to raise funds to assist the sufferers.
 Team Blown Over Cliff
 Many wonderful incidents were related of fearful deaths and nar- row escapes. Over the lake at the Wallingford community two clouds appeared to come together, and reaching down to the water drew it up in an immense spout seem- ingly 200 feet high. A. man was out on the lake in a boat, and when he saw the fearful commo- tion he jumped into the water and swam ashore; but had scarcely done so when he saw his boat car ried into the air and lodged on a hill. Michael Kelly, driving a-bug- gy, was blown over cliff, but both he and his team escaped with slight injury. A boy named Mat thew Mooney was blown fifty feet and almost beheaded. A woman was liftedA hundred feet in the air, carried along 700 feet. and then dropped to the earth, her remains being found horribly mangled.
 The tornado itself whipped through unfortunate Wallingford in few seconds, and was gone. At o'clock the rain had stopped. and the moon in clear sky looked down serenely over the scene of disaster.