morning, which from the eastward is rather an
unusual occurrence. About ten A.M. the sky had a most singular, I may
say, a most awful appearance; presenting to the view a vast arch of
rolling blackness, which seemed to gather strength and density as it
approached the zenith. All at once the clouds began to work round in
circles, as if chasing one another through the air. Suddenly, the dark
arch of clouds appeared to break up into detached masses, whirling and
eddying through each other in dreadful commotion. The forked lightning
was incessant, accompanied by heavy thunder. In a short space the
clouds seemed to converge to a point, which approached very near the
earth, still whirling with great rapidity directly under this point;
and apparently from the midst of the woods arose a black column in the
shape of a cone, which instantly joined itself to the depending cloud:
the sight was now grand and awful in the extreme.

Let any one picture to the imagination a vast column of smoke of inky
blackness reaching from earth to heaven, gyrating with fearful
velocity; bright lightnings issuing from the vortex--the roar of the
thunder--the rushing of the blast--the crashing of timber--the limbs of
trees, leaves and rubbish, mingled with clouds of dust, whirling
through the air--a faint idea is then given of the scene.

"Through all the sky arise outrageous storms,
And death stands threatening in a thousand forms;
Clouds charged with loud destruction drown the day,
And airy demons in wild whirlwinds play;
Thick thunder-claps, and lightnings' vivid glare
Disturb the sky, and trouble all the air."

I had ample time for observation as the hurricane commenced its
desolating course about two miles from the town, through the centre of
which it took its way, passing within fifty yards of the spot where a
number of persons and myself were standing watching its fearful
progress. As the tornado approached, the trees seemed to fall like a
pack of cards before its irresistible current. After passing through
the clearing made around the town, the force of the wind gradually
abated, and in a few minutes died away entirely.

As soon as the storm was over, I went to see what damage it had done.
From the point where I first observed the black column to rise from the
woods and join the cloud, the trees were twisted in every direction. A
belt of timber had been levelled to the ground about two miles in
length, and about one hundred yards i