THE NEW HAVEN TORNADO. 331 



morning; it changed suddenly to the south, and in a mo- 

 ment more it was west, where it continued fixed. Accom- 

 panying these changes a heavy rumbling noise was heard, 

 not unlike the passing of a long train of railway cars, which 

 was audible in every part of the city. 



Its progress was indicated by marks of the greatest vio- 

 lence. Nearly every tree that came in its way through the 

 open country, was prostrated or broken off; six houses, 

 and a number of barns, were completely demolished ; 

 several other houses and barns were unroofed ; fields of 

 corn, then just earing, were laid close to the ground ; and 

 indeed the whole space over which the tornado had passed, 

 presented one uniform scene of ruin and desolation. 



In extent, this tornado appears to have been very limited. 

 Its length did not exceed four miles, and its average breadth 

 was only sixty rods, varying, however, a little in different 

 places. Its duration at one place did not exceed half a 

 minute, and its progressive motion may be estimated at 

 forty miles per hour. These estimates are made by com- 

 paring the impressions and statements of various individ- 

 uals who were within the limits of the storm. 



The appearance of the storm as it approached, was de- 

 liberately contemplated by numerous observers who saw it 

 coming over the plain. All describe it as a strange cloud of 

 terrific aspect, white, like a driving snow storm, or light 

 fog, and agitated by the most violent intestine motions. It 

 came suddenly upon them with torrents of water "there 

 was a rush a crash and it was gone." When first 

 seen coming over East Rock, it seemed lifted above the 

 ridge of the mountain, but fell nearer to the earth as it 

 descended the eastern declivity, and renewed its work of 

 destruction when it reached the plain. 



Let us now trace more particularly those facts which 

 have a bearing upon the laws which govern this storm. 



1. The first great fact that strikes us, is, that all the trees 



