THE NATCHEZ TORNADO. 337 



gate post and stones, where he clung fast. Isaac Crandall, 

 Samuel Gripham and Daniel Sherwood, had their bams 

 destroyed and houses injured. Jeptah Wilbur had three 

 large barns, cider mill, sheds, &c., torn away, so that one 

 stick lay not upon another ; his dwelling, three stories high, 

 was stripped, except the floors ; on the floor of the third 

 story, was found a cart wheel and axle tree ; his wagons 

 and all his farming utensils, were strewed about his fields 

 in pieces ; even hams that were in his smoke house, were 

 found in divers places, some carried more than sixty rods 

 distant ; had horses, cattle, sheep and hogs killed. Much 

 other destruction of buildings has come to our knowledge. 



This tornado took its origin near the river, as near as we 

 can learn, and coursed easterly through Redhook, Milan, 

 Pine Plains, North East, and became partially exhausted 

 in Salisbury, Conn., about thirty miles distant. Its width 

 varied from sixty to eighty rods, as appeared from its de- 

 vastated path, wherein trees, limbs, tops of saplings, rails, 

 boards, pieces of roofs, were promiscuously scattered, with- 

 out the least notion where they belonged. The amount of 

 damage is incalculable ; we learn no destruction of human 

 life, yet many persons were seriously injured. These ruins 

 are richly worth a visit ; they cannot but indicate a striking 

 proof of Almighty Power. 



The Natchez Tornado, 7th May, 1840. 



NATCHEZ, MAY 30, 1840. 



Matthew Henry Webster, Esq., Cor. Sec'y of the Albany Institute. 



180. MY RESPECTED FRIEND; You will herewith receive 

 some brief observations concerning the tornado that deso- 

 lated this city on the 7th instant. You may rely upon 

 their correctness, as they were made the evening succeed- 

 ing the storm. I deem it unnecessary to go into an extend- 



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