I04 TRANS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIENCE. 



2:42 the hail again ceased, and at 2 : 50 p.m. the rain ceased, 

 the total rain and hail having been 1.92 inches. 



For the history of the storm after passing St. Louis, the follow- 

 ing report by Dr. Wadsworth is presented. The manner in which 

 the facts were investigated by him makes his statements worthy 

 of implicit confidence — a confidence which has been heightened 

 in my own case by a visit to the scene of disaster in his company. 

 Even the historic order in which the facts were brought out is of 

 interest, and at my request this has been given somewhat in 

 detail. 



F. E. NiPHER, Sec'ty St. Louis Academy 0/ Science. 



Dear Sir : — I enclose herewith the result of my investigation 

 of the Collinsville tornado, which occurred April 14, 1S79. Be- 

 fore entering upon this subject, allow me to suggest that it must 

 be borne in mind, that this phenomenon came upon our people 

 without warning, and passed before their vision with a probable 

 speed of more than a mile a minute. The impression thus made 

 would necessarily be far from complete. Of those in or near the 

 path of the tornado, one would observe the lower, another a higher 

 portion, very few noticing just the same features. It came to some 

 with the shock of an explosion, or (as occurred with the writer), 

 if they were so fortunate as to have it lift as it passed over them, 

 they might see that a lumber-yard was being poured down upon 

 them, which would be equivalent to not seeing the real cause at 

 all, only a secondary result. To others, again, personal preser- 

 vation was the first law of nature — (we might have said mental 

 pertubation, for it rarely occurred that any act followed the im- 

 pression until all danger was passed). To those to the north or 

 south, or some distance in advance, and so fortunate as to have 

 their attention properly directed, are we most indebted for what 

 little history of this tornado we have been able to gather, other- 

 wise than that to be obtained from the study of the destruction 

 it left behind it. 



It will readily be seen how varied must be the effect of these 

 impressions upon the people, be they ever so astute as observers ; 

 and it has been a most interesting study, second only to the event 

 itself, to note these peculiarities. To illustrate : one of our most 

 clear-headed and observant citizens, perceiving the approach of 



