HURRICANE IN OHIO. 329 



same evidence of two currents in exactly opposite direc- 

 tions, having passed over precisely the same spot. I know 

 of but one supposition which will explain all these pheno- 

 mena, namely, that the air near the centre of the track had 

 a whirling motion. 1 A tree then which was levelled as this 

 whirl was approaching it, would be turned to the right for 

 example ; and another which fell as the whirl was reced- 

 ing, would be inclined to the left ; so that we might have 

 trees side by side, lying parallel to each other, but with 

 their tops turned in opposite directions conformably with 

 the observations. It appears, however, that this whirl did 

 not extend over the breadth of the entire track, for then 

 trees must have every where fallen, occasionally at least, 

 parallel to the track, a fact which has been observed only 

 near the middle of the path. 



We are now, I think, in a situation to explain nearly all 

 the phenomena which have been observed. The wind 

 blew from the opposite sides of the track, and doubtless 

 from every point of the compass, towards some point in 

 the centre of the track ; here the wind rose violently with 

 a gyral motion. This vortex itself had a rapid motion from 

 west to east, sweeping along over the middle of the hurri- 

 cane's path. Trees then upon the borders of the track 

 would every where fall towards this vortex. Those which 

 were prostrated as the vortex was approaching, would have 

 an inclination to the west; but those which fell as the 

 vortex was receding, would be found inclined to the east, 

 and we should no where find trees falling outward from 

 the track, or even parallel to it. All this is in exact con- 

 formity with the observations. We may now, moreover, 

 explain a fact which at first view might have seemed quite 

 anomalous, viz. that the house D was carried in the direc- 



1 It does not appear to me, that a whirl is clearly proved by the phenome- 

 na, though it is to be expected that it must sometimes take place. The Pro- 

 fessor does not say which way it whirled. AUTHOR. 

 42 



