1843.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 361 



from the sources of the streams towards their mouths. The quan- 

 tity of rain which fell will decrease as we proceed in the same 

 direction, j)articularly tVom the middle parts of tlie County down- 

 wards. 



In those sections of the County where its greatest violence 

 was expended, the character of the storm more nearly accorded 

 with tiiat of a tropical hurricane than with anything which ap- 

 pertained to this region of country. The clouds wore an un- 

 usually dark and lowering appearance, of which the whole 

 atTuosphere seemed in some degree to partake, and this cir- 

 cumstance, no doubt, gave that peculiarly vivid appearance to 

 the incessant flashes of lightning, which was observed by every 

 one. The peals of thunder were loud and almost continuous. 

 The clouds appeared to approach from different directions, and 

 to concentrate at a point not very distant from the zenith of 

 the beholder. In many places there was but very little wind, 

 the rain falling in nearly perpendicular streams ; at other places 

 it blcAV a stiff breeze, first from the east or northeast, and sud- 

 denly shifting to the southwest, while at a few points it blew in 

 sudden gusts with great violence, accompanied with whirlwinds, 

 which twisted off and prostrated large trees, and swept every- 

 thing before it. 



So varied was the character of the storm at different places, 

 that the committee of the Institute, in order to present a satis- 

 factory account of it, was obliged to embody the remarks of the 

 different observers throughout the County. Brief extracts will 

 be made from these remarks. 



In Concord township the heavy rain commenced at about a 

 quarter before three o'clock, p.m., the wind being E. S. E., but 

 it veered so rapidly retrogade to the sun's motion, that the 

 clouds appeared to verge to a centre over the western section of 

 Delaware County, from several points of the compass at the 

 same time — the rain falling in torrents resembling a water 

 spout. At about a quarter before four o'clock the wind had 

 nearly boxed the compass, and blew a gale from W. S. W., and 

 about that hour, a tornado or whirhvind, passed across the 

 southern part of Concord, about a quarter of a mile in width, 

 prostrating forest and fruit trees, and scattering the fences in 

 every direction. In the neigliborhood of Concord the rain con- 

 tinued about three hours, and the quantity that fell in that 

 vicinity, as nearly as could be ascertained, was about sixteen 

 inches. It is not probable that a greater quantity of rain fell 

 in any other part of the County. 



In Newtown township the heavy rain commenced about two 

 g'clock, and terminated about five o'clock, P. M., the wind, 

 during the rain, being nearly N. W. There was a heavy blow 



