1874.] ( 339 ) 
VI. THE IOWA AND ILLINOIS TORNADO 
oF May 22, 1873. 
By JAMES MAckKINTOSH, M.A. 
trees, buildings, &c.—be traced further back than 
Section 35, Warren Township, Keokuk Co., Iowa. 
At the point where the destruction commenced, the South 
Skunk river bends southward, and then again to the east, 
thus half inclosing a low level area of about 1 mile in length 
by 3a mile in breadth. ‘This bottom land is surrounded by 
bluffs about 70 feet in height on nearly all sides, the river 
flowing close to the bluff on the S.W. It was at the north- 
east edge of this natural amphitheatre that the tornado first 
attained force sufficient to demolish fences. It is difficult 
and unnecessary to determine its starting-point: there is, 
however, no doubt of the fact that it first attained to deso- 
lating violence on the farm of W. W. Morrow, situated 
half-way up the bluff. Its previous history was only that of 
a thunderstorm, accompanied, perhaps, by an unusual 
tumult and whirling of the clouds. In tracing its develop- 
ment and progress, therefore, I probably labour under no 
disadvantages which do not necessarily attach to the history 
of all such meteors, except those arising from the circum- 
stance that the tornado was not at any point of its progress 
witnessed by a skilful meteorologist. 
Mr. Morrow testified that neither he nor any of his people 
noticed any funnel-shaped appearance or tongue of cloud 
approaching the earth. There was a strong wind for a 
minute, but the destructive gust appeared to be instanta- 
neous. A smart shower of hail followed the gust. A 
whirling of the clouds was observed several minutes before 
the wind. A little lightning was seen. The storm travelled 
E.N.E. over Andrew Surber’s farm, blowing down fences 
with a S.W. wind. He saw the clouds whirling lke a great 
wheel, 35 degrees in width, before the storm, but did not 
notice any funnel appearance. Some hail fell with the 
wind, and a considerable shower of rain after it. 
John Malcum, Section 30, Lancaster Township, was 
I mile south of tornado when it occurred. Heard a roaring 
like steady thunder in the west about a quarter of an hour 
before the storm came. Saw no lightning. A cloud covered 
the western, the northern, and north-eastern portion of the 
sky. It extended somewhat beyond the zenith. The rest 
‘a tornado could not—by its destru¢tive effects upon 
