1 
* 
Notices of Tornadoes, §c. 79 
forthwith, all the dust and other light bodies which covered the 
surface of the earth mounted towards the apex of the cone formed 
bythecloud. A rumbling thunder was continually heard. Small 
clouds wheeled about the inverted cone rising and descending with 
rapidity. An intelligent spectator, M. Dutour, who was admi- 
rably placed for observation, saw the column formed by the tor- 
nado terminated at its lower extremity by a cap of fire ; while this 
Was not seen by a shepherd, Oliver, who was on the very spot, 
but enveloped in a cloud of dust. 
“'T’o the southeast of the tornado, on the side exposed to it, the 
trees were shattered, while those on the other side of it srenarved* 
their sap and vores: The portion attacked appeared to have 
experienced a radical change, while the rest were not affected. 
The tornado having descended into the valley at the extremity of 
Fontenay, approached some trees situated along the bed of a rivulet, 
which was without water though moist. After having there bro- 
ken and uprooted every tree which it encountered, it crossed the 
valley and advanced towards some other trees, which it also de- 
stroyed. In the next place, hesitating a few moments as if un- 
certain as to its route, it halted immediately under the first men- 
tioned thunder cloud. This although previously stationary, now 
began as if repelled bythe tornado, to retreat towards the valley 
to the west of Chatenay. The tornado after stopping as I have 
described, would infallibly on its part, have moved on towards 
the west to a wood in that direction, if the other thunder cloud 
had not prevented it by its repulsion. Finally it advanced tothe _. 
_park of the castle of Chatenay, overthrowing every thing in its | 
path. On entering this park, which is at the summit of a hill, it 
desolated one of the most agreeable residences in the neighborhood 
of Paris. All the finest trees were uprooted, the youngest only, 
which were without the tornado, having escaped. The walls 
were thrown down, the roofs and chimneys of the castle and farm- 
house carried away, and branches, tiles and other movable bodies, 
Were thrown to a distance of more than five hundred yards. 
Descending the hill towards the north, the tornado stopped over 
a pond, killed the fish, overthrew the trees, withering their leaves, 
and then proceeded slowly along an avenue of willows, the roots 
of which entered the water, and being during this part of its 
progress much diminished in size and force, it proceeded slowly 
‘Over a plain, and finally at the distance of more than a thousand 
