DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO. 113 



from their beds, and even the surface of the earth itself broken up, as 

 if with "the plough-share of destruction." 



"The Massachusetts Spy," September 26, contains an ac- 

 count, taken from the Concord (N. H.) Patriot, of another 

 violent hurricane that swept through the towns of Croydon, 

 Wendell, New London, Sutton, and Warner, New Hampshire, 

 at nearly the same hour this tornado burst forth in Franklin 

 County. They lie about fifty miles away, in a northerly 

 direction from Warwick. 



During the preceding century a severe hurricane occurred 

 in the West Parish of Groton, now known as Pepperell, of 

 which an account appears in " The Boston Weekly Post-Boy, " 

 August 15, 1748. It is as follows: — 



Groton, West-Parish, July 30. 1748. 

 We had here, last Thursday, the 28th Instant, a terrible Hurricane, 

 with shocking Thunder. The Course of the Whirlwind was from 

 South to North, tho' often varying, sometimes bearing to the East 

 and sometimes to the West. It has torn up a vast Number of large 

 Trees by the Roots, twisted others off in the midst, took up and 

 carry'd away some Apple Trees to such a Distance that they could 

 not readily be found, remov'd some large Logs from the Ground, and 

 carry'd them to some Distance from the Place where they lay ; en- 

 tirely demolishing two or three Buildings, taking off part of the Roofs 

 of some, moving others a Foot or two from the Foundation : It hath 

 carried away a considerable part of the Roof of the Meeting-House, 

 threw down the Fences, Stone-Walls, laid the Corn even with the 

 Ground ; the Air was fill'd with Leaves, Hay, Dust, Pieces of Timber, 

 and Boughs of Trees of considerable bigness, for a Quarter of an Hour, 

 which was the Time it was in passing thro' the Parish ; one House 

 which it took in its Way was garrison'd ; one Side of the Garrison was 

 thrown with great Violence against the House, the other Sides levell'd 

 with the Ground, and part of the House carry'd away : There was a 

 Woman and three small Children in the House, who were all wonder- 

 fully preserved, from receiving the least Hurt. Notwithstanding the 

 great Desolation made among us, there was not Life lost, thro' the di- 

 vine Goodness, tho' many Persons were in imminent Danger. We 

 have not yet heard where it began ; it went quite thro' the Parish ; 

 it's Impetuosity ceased near the Line between Hampshire and this 



