ACCOUNT OF A HAIL-STORM IN TEXAS. 479 



A vromau wlio, vritli lier liusl)aii(l, liad camped out on tlie prairie, Lad 

 t'^o ribs broken, and was tliought to be fatally injured. A dog was killed 

 oiitriglit ; and there are numerous cases of cuts and bruises, more or 

 less severe. There are also reports of fatal casualties to liuman life in 

 the vicinity, which have not yet been authenticated. The momentum 

 of the hail-stones is shown by the fact, as witnessed by myself, of a hole 

 about four iuches in diameter through botli sides of a sheet-iron stove- 

 X)il)e which rose from the roof of a small out-house in the garden and 

 did service as a chimney. Boards of fences were knocked off and split 

 in pieces, and trees barked as if by cannon balls. I think the storm of 

 hail not to have extended over a path of more tlian two miles in width. 

 We hear of the storm having visited other places, but having no com- 

 munication, save by stages and a semi-weekly paper, we have not yet 

 learned its course. The hail came down at an angle of about 30"^ from 

 the horizontal, and lowered the temperature from 90° to G4P Fahrenheit. 

 The day had been close and sultry. The temperature again rose after 

 the storm, and the stones on the ground were soon melted. 



