344 Observations on the New Haven Tornado. 



the phenomena of the tornado, I am indebted to Mr. A. B. Haile, 

 who took the bearings of the various prostrate objects with a 

 compass. In most cases, I have been able to attest the accuracy 

 of the representations by actual inspection ; and in regard to 

 the few instances where my attention has not been particularly 

 attracted to the fact represented, I entertain no doubt of the entire 

 accuracy of the delineation. 



The diagram commences at A, at a mulberry grove half a mile 

 from the spot where the tornado first formed. The dotted line 

 bears N. 50° E. It will be perceived that the trees which lie 

 in the center of the track generally coincide with it, and that 

 those which lie on either side are turned inwards towards the 

 center. Yet several examples are seen, where trees lie pointing 

 outward from the center, both in the middle and in the marginal 

 portions of the track, as at N, Q,, R and S. These exceptions 

 moreover, are all on the north side of the track. Examples of 

 the remarkable law of curvature referred to, are seen at G and O, 

 where the figures represent the direction of stalks of corn in two 

 fields nearly a mile distant from each other. It will be observed 

 by the diagram, that from the margin the direction of the stalks 

 inclines more and more inwards, and finally, in the center, coin- 

 cides with the course of the storm. It is also obvious from the 

 figure that this Faw is more fully developed on the left than on 

 the right side of the track. The same tendency to this curve 

 is exhibited in the scattered fragments of a roof at I. 



The dotted lines connected with the figures of some of the 

 bodies that were thrown down, as at B, D and F, show the posi- 

 tion in which the bodies first fell, and from which they were 

 moved round into the places they now occupy. In some cases a 

 tree is seen to have commenced falling at right angles to the 

 track, but during its fall to have been twisted round towards the 

 course of the storm. Similar examples are found of limbs bent 

 around the trunks of the trees from which they were partially 

 severed. 



At E are represented the ruins of a building which was com- 

 pletely demolished, and its fragments carried in a right hue far 

 beyond the center of the track. According to Mr. Haile, the 

 fragments in the central parts of the track are arranged in parallel 

 lines, coinciding with the course of the storm, while in places 

 farther from the center, they lie promiscuously. In the parts 



