WADSWORTH i NIPIIEK— TORNADO OF APRIL I4, 79. IO5 



the Storm, although some blocks distant, ran from a very danger- 

 ous position, and found himself only across the street, holding on 

 to a loose stump, when the tornado passed over him. Afterwards, 

 while detailmg the predicament he was found in, a bystander 

 called attention to a large tree which had just escaped falling upon 

 him: looking at it for moment, he quaintly remarked, '•'• I never 

 knew that tree fell t/iere.'" 



We regret that these conditions have prevented us from obtain- 

 ing those exact data so desirable for the investigation of this as 

 yet mysterious application of force. 



Before entering upon the history of the storm, let us notice the 

 topography of this section so far as is necessary for a proper un- 

 derstanding of the subject. 



Collinsville is situated loj miles from the Mississippi river, 

 on a line due east of the northern part of the city of St. Louis, on 

 elevated ground 225 feet above the river, and about one mile east 

 of the high blufis which form the eastern border of the American 

 Bottom. Owing to the height of these blutls (1S5 ft. above the 

 valley,) all the little rivulets and creeks have cut deep ravines or 

 valleys in their course to the great valley below, producing a very 

 broken surface along and for a mile or so back of these bliit^s. 

 (See diagram i with profile of surface.) The valley (Am. Bot- 

 tom) is about 40 ft. above the river at low ^ater. Passing up 

 and out of the great valley in a N.E. direction, just bordering the 

 little city of Collinsville (3,000 population) on the E. is the Can- 

 teen creek, hemmed in with steej^ high blufts, at the commence- 

 ment 150 ft., and 3 miles above, to the E. of Collinsville, S3 ft. in 

 height. Through this narrow valley of the Canteen, taking advan- 

 tage of its grade, the Vandalia railroad escapes from the valley 

 below. Here are located many coal mines, also zinc works. 



Our personal observations of April 14th are as follows. Clouds 

 and sunshine ; the clouds of cumulus changing towards noon to 

 the cumulo-stratus form, and hanging quite low to the W.N.W., 

 apparently making slow progress. Returned home at 12 : 30 from 

 the country, was anxious to remove some shrubs before the storm 

 reached us, but was compelled to desist on account of the pecu- 

 liar exhaustion experienced from physical exertion. Air ver}' 

 warm and sultry ; heard occasional mutterings of distant thun'der. 

 2 p.m. — The clouds look very dark and threatening ; passed into 



