Il6 TRANS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIENCE. 



when lo ! on my return, it had ahnost disappeared, and the wind 

 was veering N., settling in the N.N.W., from whence it blew 

 during the whole of the storm. The whole western and north- 

 eastern sky had become dark, and presented a very threatening 

 aspect. Now came the gale with a few claps of thunder, accom- 

 panied by lightning and very little rain, followed by more or less 

 of a calm of about 25 or 30 minutes' duration ; then gusts of rain, 

 hail the size of hazel-nuts, with much electrical disturbance, last- 

 ing, I should judge, about 50 minutes. From all I could find 

 out, I feel confident there were no vortices formed in this neigh- 

 borhood." 



It was also observed at Lebanon, 12 miles E.S.E., by Prof. E. 

 E. Edwards, of McKendree College, from whose letter we quote : 



" Dear Doctor : — Your card was received. After reading Prof. 

 Nipher's report in the Globe- Democrat, I thought of writing and 

 furnishing all the points from my standpoint. I give the diary 

 entry, entered 'Monday evening, Apr. 14. Two o'clock, evidence 

 of a cyclone to the N.W. Mercury fell in barometer about half 

 inch rapidly. Faculty meeting from i till 3 p.m. ; after which, 

 went down stairs to hear class (which recites at 2:50). Then 

 noted barometer. Very dark, could hardly see figures on black- 

 board ; considerable hail. At 3 :40 the storm seemed at its worst ; 

 had botany 'class for a few minutes, and then dismissed and hur- 

 ried home, reaching home before the rain commenced. Prof. 

 Deneen dismissed his classes through apprehension.' 



"I will add recollections: From 2:30 to 3:30, a dark blue- 

 black cloud, apparently charged with electricity, overhung one- 

 third of the heavens N.W. of us. I knew it was a tornado, and 

 was much distressed, as I had reason to think my wife was on 

 the train that passed Collinsville about that time. She describes 

 it as terrific beyond conception or description. 



"Mrs. E. gives these particulars of the tornado as it appeared 

 from Highland : — As the train left Greenville, there appeared 

 forward and to the right of the train a dense black cloud with a 

 purple or bluish tinge. Nearing Highland, the aspectof the nearer 

 clouds was changed ; they seemed charged with livid light, and 

 across which played the most vivid and incessant lightning. To 

 the right beyond, the clouds were low-hanging and of inky black- 



