Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1869 — Remarkable Phenomenon. [ARTICLE]

Remarkable Phenomenon.

On Saturday last—the day of the great rain in Watkins—the most extraordinary atmospheric phenomenon ever experienced in Schuyler County took place near the residence of Issac Fero, In the town of Orange. It was of tho description usually denominated whirlwinds, and yet quite different from any which have hitherto been developed in this section or the country, being very different from ordinary hurricanes. The rain fellin torrents during its continuance, and in its effect very much resembled a water-spout. It had a forward and rotary motion, and devoloped its greatest violence in the immediate vicinity of Ml Fero's residence. Barely escaping his house and taking off two poplars near his front gate, it swept onward, as if winged with destruction, through a pathway some thirty or forty rods wide, devastating everything in its course; until its fury was exhausted. Strikinga schoolhouse, it lifted it bodily into the air, tore it in pieces, and scattered the fragmentbof the wreck—some of them—miles away, hurling the brick of which the chimney was built backward in tho direction from which it came, while most of the materials, including the roof, were swept forward and hnrlea in every direction from Its centre. On reaching a piece of woodland, it twisted off the largest pines, or tore them up - by the roots, as ir they were but w)n>s of straw, and left nothing but a chaotic desolation in its track.

Stump fences, composed of those of the largest size, were throWn over the fields from whence they came almost as promiscuously as if just “ pulled.” The scene presented after the work Was done beggared all description, and on Sunday attracted the people for miles around. We have not learned the extent of this strange visitant’s fantastic and terrible -ffaeks, nor that any washiUed or inSred, but understand that it swept onward a southeaßternly direction over a portion of the town of Gatlin. lit is reported that a man aod boy had taken refuge in the school-house, but escaped the instant it started on its aerial night.. —Rochester (JST. Y.) Etpra*.