76 Notices of Tornadoes, &c. 
~ “The most interesting appearance was exhibited when the tor- 
nado left the shore, and struck the surface of the adjacent river. 
Being within a few yards of this spot, I had an opportunity of 
accurately noting the effects produced on the surface of the 
ater. 
“'The circle formed by the tornado on the foaming water was 
about three hundred feet in diameter. Within this circle the 
water appeared to be in commotion, like that in a huge boiling 
cauldron ; and misty vapors, resembling steam, rapidly arose from 
the surface, and entering the whirling vortex, at times veiled from 
sight the centre of the circle, and the lower extremity of the 
overhanging cone of dark vapor. Amid all the agitation of the 
water and the air about it, this cone continued unbroken, although 
it swerved and swung around, with a movement resembling that 
of the trunk of an elephant whilst that animal is in the act of 
depressing it to the ground to pick up some minute object. In 
truth, the tapering form, as well as the vibrating movements of 
the extremity of this cone of vapor, bore a striking resemblance 
to those of the trunk of that great animal. 
‘Whilst passing off over the water, a distant view of the cloud 
might have induced the spectator to compare its form to that of 
a huge umbrella suspended in the heavens, with the column of 
vapor representing the handle, descending and dipping into the 
foam of the billows. 'The waves heaved and swelled, whenever 
the point of this cone passed over them, apparently as if some 
magical spell were acting upon them by the effect of enchant- 
ment. Twice I noticed a gleam of lightning, or of electric fluid, 
to dart through the column of vapor, which served as a conductor 
for it to ascend from the water to the cloud. After the flash the 
foam of the water seemed immediately to diminish for a moment, 
as if the discharge of the electric fluid had served to calm the e&- 
citement on its agitated surface. 
“ The progress of the tornado was nearly in a straight line, fol 
lowing the direction of the wind, with a velocity of perhaps eight. 
or ten miles per hour. 
I felt no extraordinary gust of wind; but noticed that the breeze 
d to blow uninterruptedly from the same quarter from 
which it _aaaees sos the tornado occurred. 
_ “ Near as I was to the exterior edge of the circle of the tornado, 
‘~ 
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