niRFXTlOX OF WIXD IX LOCAL STORMS. 211 



ing was siiltn', the forenoon hot, with thermometer at 

 98°. The \\ ind was unsteady, but iVoni southerl}- points 

 at about noon, a dark low cunudus eloud appeared in the 

 west, which rapii'l\ increased in size imtil it hunj^ with 

 inky blacl<ncss (jver tiie eastern part of Concord, aljout 

 five miles away. At noon there was a strong breeze from 

 the east setting directly towards this cloud, and quite 

 steadil}'. At one o'clock, p. m., there was a hard gusty 

 wind blowing directl}' from the sliower, feeling c[uite 

 cliilly aitcr the forenoon heat, and causing the thermome- 

 ter to fall in a few minutes to 70''. The cloud hung over 

 the same jjlace for half an hour longer when it became 

 lighter, and was soon broken up in fragments and dissi- 

 pated. During the afternoon small showers came up 

 round about, and at three it rained slightly at Lunen- 

 burgh. 



The next morning hearing reports from the hail-storm, 

 I went to the field of disaster. I found the storm of o-rcat 

 severity, but of limited extent, all being within the ra- 

 dius of one half mile. When within a mile of the storm 

 there were Indications of a strong wind from the west, 

 (I was approaching from the east), sufficiendy so to 

 blow down many trees beyond the limits of hail and rain. 

 'I found upon examination some trees blown down upon 

 every side of the storm, yet the wind was invariablv from 

 the storm cloud. Upon inc^ulry 1 found the wind, as far 

 as noticed before its commencement, blowino- directlv 

 towards it from all quarters. 



The storm though so limited was of unusual violence, 

 in fact almost without precedent in this section. The 

 lightning was terrific, striking trees, etc. The testimony 

 showed the thunder the heaviest ever known, and was al- 

 most incessent. The cloud, to the parties living there, 

 seemed, as it appeared to me five miles distant, to form 



