rtherly_ and
_southerly_ side upon the _magnetic meridian_, in _two currents_ with
_polarity_, which meet in their passage up at the center; curving toward
the center in the posterior part as the spout moves on, when acting in a
normal manner, and making the "_law of curvature_" observed: That no
conceivable movement of the air alone in such limited spaces could produce
such effects; or if so, that no agent but electricity could so move the
air: That the air in a building could not shoot the roof upward, and into
fragments; much less could the air in a cellar by any conceivable force,
be made to elevate _or shoot up_ the entire house, and its inmates, and
contents--effects so totally unlike what takes place in gales,
hurricanes, and typhoons: That elastic free air never did nor could take
hold of the plow chain, and plow up the ground; or scorch and kill the
vegetation; or twist the _limbs_ from one side of a tree, while the most
delicate leaves on the other, and within two or three feet, remained
unaffected and undisturbed; or pick the chickens: That even if the
expansion of the air could produce these effects--if a sudden vacuum were
produced--_nothing but currents of electricity could produce the sudden
vacuum_, by removing the air above.

It is well settled that atmospheric electricity can and does flow in
currents with light, by experiments in relation to the brush discharge,
etc. That it may do so without light or disruptive discharge, and in a
stream, or as it is termed, by convection, with the force and effect seen
in the tornado, is perfectly consistent with what we know of it--and it
is, I think clearly evinced that such is the character of the phenomena,
by the fact that a sudden powerful _disruptive_ discharge, _with light, up
the spout_, produces an instantaneous partial or total suspension of its
action; to be renewed as the cloud passes over _another_ and more highly
charged _portion_ of the _earth's surface_. Peltier gives instances where
the spout has been entirely and instantaneously destroyed by such a sudden
and powerful discharge of electricity; marking the spot where it was so
destroyed by a large hole in the earth, from which the discharge issued.
And in fact these tornados are often steadily luminous, and so much so,
when they occur in the night, as to enable persons to read without
difficulty.

The lateral inward and upward currents, are accompanied, after they meet
and unite, or seem to unite,