370 The Iowa and Illinois Tornado. (July, 
and again could one find a man who could give any informa- ~ 
tion even of what happened on their neighbour’s farm a 
week or two before. 
At this point I gave up the search, and took train for 
Illinois. Previous to describing its effeéts there the following 
testimony may find a place :— . 
H. C. Vittitoe, Warren Township, Keokuk County, about ~ 
3 miles north-west of the tornado, witness :—Saw a little 
south of the zenith the white under-clouds rushing in circles 
toacentre. The gyration was contrary to the hands of a 
watch. The funnel had not yet touched the earth. The 
wind came from the north-west pretty strong after the 
passage of the tornado, bringing with it a little rain and 
hail. 
Dr. W. D. Hoffman, Sigourney, witness:—Mrs. A. T. 
Page colle¢ted a number of the largest hailstones. When 
melted, it was found that they had contained a quantity of 
twigs, leaves, dry grass, and mud, all reduced to fine pro- 
portions. Hailstones weighing from 4 to 8 ounces were 
common. One hailstone, which was shaped like an apple, 
measured 44 inches in diameter. The roaring was heard 
about twenty minutes before the hail began; it rose and fell 
like the cannonading in a battle. During the hail the wind 
came from the north-east, but it was very light. 
Sigourney is 4 miles north of the storm. 
Extracts from a communication received from R. L. Jay, 
Harper, Keokuk County, physician :— 
‘‘ Was in the village of Baden, Keokuk County, German 
Township, 3 miles to the north-west of the storm-path. 
‘‘The tornado maintained an upright position. It moved 
rapidly at times, at others seeming to remain quite still. 
It was apparently about a quarter of a mile in height, and 
was funnel-shaped, and very dark and angry-looking. It 
whirled with the hands of a watch. There was a continual 
whirling of the clouds above the funnel: this was observed 
for some time after the storm had passed. Saw no lightning 
and heard nothunder. It was impossible to hear thunder 
owing to the noise of the storm, which was terrific. The 
direction of the wind was north-east until the storm had 
passed, when it changed to the north-west. Rain fell in 
torrents. Quite an amount of hail fell, of all conceivable 
shapes: three hailstones were picked up weighing 3 1b. each. 
Half an hour after the storm the thermometer stood at 92°.” 
Extract from the ‘‘ Sigourney News,” May 28, 1873 :— 
‘‘ While the cyclone was mowing its path a few miles 
south and east of Sigourney, a tremendous _hail-storm 
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