O. N. Stoddard on the Brandon Tornado. 73 
The tornado then crossed the valley of Sycamore creek, and 
ascending a gentle slope on the eastern side, struck Dr. Wheaton’s 
house and barn, (4, 5,) which were utterly demolished. A brick 
church (6), a brick school-honse (7), and a log house (8), were en- 
tirely swept from their foundations. A Presbyterian Church (9) 
Was unroofed ; a small frame house (11) had the roof and ceiling 
raised but not thrown off; an out-house (10) was destroyed; a sta- 
ble (12) was also unroofed ; a large frame house (13) was moved 
18 inches from its foundations; a stable (14) carried 12 feet; a 
blacksmith and wagon shop (15, 16) and E. Squire’s brick house 
(17) were prostrated. Some small buildings on the right, not rep- 
resented, were unroofed or otherwise injured. About one-fourth 
of a mile east of Brandon it struck a dense forest. At this point a 
careful survey was made across the track; represented by Section 
IL. For nearly three miles its course was mainly through the 
forest, with intervals of cleared land, uprooting or breaking al- 
Most every tree, and crushing the buildings which unfortunately 
Stood in its way. Crossing the Newark and Mt. Vernon railroad, 
It swept over cultivated fields, destroying the few trees which had 
been left, and razing to the ground a stable and brick house. 
Three-fourths of a mile beyond this, an open grove of very large 
storm’s axis. They seemed like an advanced guard to the forest 
alittle farther in advance. ‘The tornado struck them with appal- 
ing fury, and appeared well nigh irresistible. Scarcely one was 
left Standing ; some were uprooted, others broken, and split into 
fragments. 
Near this place where it entered the forest, another survey was 
made (see Section III). In this survey, as well as the other ex- 
Plorations made during this day, the writer was aided by Rev. 
-C. Colmery, of Mt. Vernon. A part of the forest here passed 
through was heavily timbered and covered with a dense under- 
stowth. ‘Though the action of the wind was less symmetrical 
While struggling through and entangled among so many obsta- 
cles, yet the renewal of the velocity as fast as destroyed, and the 
ree with which it plunged down and clung to the earth, were 
exceedingly interesting features of its workings. 
.'S path was followed several miles farther, in all about eleven 
miles, and occasional bearings taken, but as they correspond 
*ntirely with the previous ones, no special record was made of 
them. The breadth of the track became somewhat less, but 
Without any decrease in violence. Houses included in its vortex 
Were still demolished ; a horse was lifted into the air and carried 
over a fence; a cow was blown twelve rods against a tree, stri- 
King it twelve feet from the ground. In the vicinity of Gambier, 
ter a course of twelve miles, its destructive influence was for a 
While suspended, till it again struck the earth in another county. 
Stooxn Semmes, Vol, XVIII, No. 52—July, 1854. 10 
