356 The Iowa and Illinois Tornado. (July, 
The storm having ceased to act as a tornado upon the 
surface of the earth, I proceeded to Westchester, Washing- 
ton county, where it was reported to have struck. There 
can be no doubt, however, that a strong—though not a 
destructive—wind was felt over the intervening space, and 
that it obeyed the usual law of cyclones by blowing in 
spirals toward the point over which clouds continued to 
whirl like a great wheel. 
Rev. J. P. Coffman, Cedar Township, Section 33, gave 
the following evidence :—The tornado arrived about 3 P.M. 
Heard the noise for more than one hour previously. When 
it was hailing, heard the sound just as distinct as before. 
Did not hear roaring after the storm passed. The wind 
before the storm was nearly due south. After the storm, 
and with the rain, the wind came from the north and north- 
west. Have learned that 2 or 3 miles to the north the rain 
was tremendous. There was lightning in the north-west 
previous to the tornado. As it approached, saw light fog- 
like clouds, rushing, with the greatest rapidity, from the 
north. Its form was not so distinét before as after it passed, 
when it presented a decided funnel appearance. It was 
nearly clear in the south. When the funnel was distant 
about I mile it appeared to subtend an angle of about 25. 
The funnel might have entered the dark, overhanging clouds, 
but it appeared to be wholly in view. There seemed at one 
time as if there had been a violent explosion in the revolving 
mass, as it was somewhat broken up. Hail larger than 
pigeon’s eggs fell with the south wind before the storm. 
After the tornado the wind came from the north-west, with 
rain. 
The tornado passed over Mr. Coffmann’s house, blowing 
down fences about a quarter of a mile in width, and damaging 
buildings. It was all done by a south-west wind. 
The storm-centre passed right over the house of John 
Maughlin, Cedar Township, Section 25. He testified that. 
he saw a complete funnel form about 200 yards distant, and 
that it went up into an overhanging mass of cloud. The 
funnel was perfectly opaque, and left a fog behind it, so that 
nothing could be seen for several moments after it passed. 
At the distance of 200 yards it appeared to be only 15 degrees 
in height. Saw no lightning. 
The outhouses on this farm were badly damaged. 
Fig. 21 shows the position of the ruins. The arrows point 
in the direction toward which the buildings were blown 
down. ‘The fences were blown toward the storm-centre; 
those at the centre were carried away. 
