352 The Iowa and Illinois Tornado. (July, 
down east of the centre was about one-quarter greater than 
that thrown down on the west of it. 
The corn-stalks in a contiguous corn-field were thus dis- 
posed :—Those on the south-east side of the centre curved 
around from pointing nearly due north to nearly due west. 
Those on the north-west side curved around from pointing 
nearly due south to nearly due east. Along the centre all 
pointed with the storm. This shows the direction of the 
last wind, strong enough to alter the position of the stalks. 
(See Fig. 17). 
Matthias Linen, a quarter of a mile north-west of the edge 
of the storm, testified that it presented the appearance of a 
great column, reaching from the ground to the clouds, and 
whirling contrary to the sun. It seemed to remain almost 
still at some places, and then would dart forward. Hail 
4 inches in diameter, very irregular in form, fell as the storm 
passed. 
Paul Piffer, Clear Creek Township, Section 9, testified 
that the tornado looked like a big tree, only it was five times 
greater at the top than the bottom. It turned like a wheel 
in a mill. Its direction of evolution was against the hands 
of a watch. At the distance of a mile, its top, when it 
entered the cloud, made an angle of about 60°. Hail as 
large as pigeon’s eggs fell before the storm, and it rained 
very hard after it. Saw lightning in the west previously. 
Mr. Piffer’s house stands about 70 yards to the north- 
west of the storm-centre. Its path is here about 200 yards 
wide. The arrangement of stalks in a corn-field was the 
same as that already given. The roof of the house was 
carried south. A stump-cutter, which was standing by the 
house, was carried—the iron portion 50 yards south, the 
wooden portion half a mile to E.S.E. Wheels which came 
