MEANS OF DISPERSAL. 15I 



whirling round and round, and not many yards in 

 breadth, while at its base the water was lashed into a 

 circle of white foam. It was next heard of in the 

 neighbourhood of Staffordstown, about a mile from the 

 lake, where it partially unroofed two houses, and 

 damaged any trees or crops which happened to be in its 

 course. From this point it travelled in a straight line 

 for Randalstown, about three miles distant. It passed 

 across a field close to Mr. Webb's house, levelling eight 

 haystacks, and carried a considerable part of the hay up 

 into the air out of sight. . . . Everything it lapped up 

 was whirled round and round, and carried upwards in 

 the centre, while dense clouds seemed to be sucked 

 down on the outside, and came close to the earth. . . . 

 Mr. Webb next observed its track in a hollow, some 

 three hundred yards further on, where it knocked down 

 a haystack, and then plunged into a wood of fine old 

 Irish oaks. Here it tore numerous branches and limbs 

 from the trees, carrying some along with it, and throwing 

 others to the ground. ... It next passed across a corner 

 of Shane's Castle demesne. Some who were at a short 

 distance from this point describe its approach as causing 

 considerable alarm. ... It crossed the valley over the 

 railway viaduct, close to Randalstown, fortunately 

 avoiding the village. It here presented the appearance 

 of a vast whirling column of leaves and branches, 

 mingled with clouds which looked like smoke. The 

 railway station next suffered, innumerable slates and 

 two and a half hundred-weight of lead being torn from 

 the roof in an instant. A great part of the railings 



