316 PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS. 



were seen to be arranged on the ground with some irregu- 

 larity, certainly, but with far greater conformity of position 

 than we could have anticipated. Their longitudinal direc- 

 tion was generally towards the central line, and also to- 

 wards the point to which the storm was moving. Many of 

 these were found far beyond the belt of ground on which 

 the violence of the wind had been exerted. Their position 

 may be explained by referring to the three forces in action 

 at the moment they reached the ground : first, the force 

 of gravity, which, if the a'ir had been motionless, and the 

 bodies descending perpendicularly, would probably from 

 the unequal density of the parts of the several masses 

 have caused most of them to descend endwise ; and then 

 the position, subsequently taken by them respectively, 

 would have been a matter of indifference, and we might 

 have expected ,to find them lying promiscuously. But, 

 second, they were, while in the air, moving onward with 

 the storm in an easterly direction, and when the lower end 

 struck the ground, the composition of this force with gravity, 

 would naturally have thrown the centre of gravity over to 

 the east, and we should have expected to find the lighter* 

 end of every piece of timber in that direction. But, third, 

 if a current of wind were encountered near the ground, 

 running towards the centre of the path, we should, on the 

 north side of the path, expect to find the lighter ends of 

 each piece directed to the south east, and on the south side, 

 to the north east; precisely what appeared to be the case, 

 so far as could be judged from the general appearance of 

 the masses. 



The next set of facts observed, was that which relates to 

 the course of the materials projected upwards after they 

 had arrived at a considerable elevation. All accounts agree 

 that the appearance of the cloud was that of a funnel or in- 

 verted cone with the apex resting on the ground. The falling 

 rafters, scantlings, and other parts of the ruined buildings, 



