Notices of Tornadoes, S^c. 79 



forthwith, all the dust and other light bodies which covered the 

 surface of the earth mounted towards the apex of the cone formed 

 by the cloud. A rumbhng thunder was continually heard. Small 

 clouds wheeled about the inverted cone rising and descending with 

 rapidity. An intelligent spectator, M. Dutour, who was admi- 

 rably placed for observation, saw the column formed by the tor- 

 nado terminated at its lower extremity by a cap of fire ; while this 

 was not seen by a shepherd, Oliver, who was on the very spot, 

 but enveloped in a cloud of dust. 



" To the southeast of the tornado, on the side exposed to it, the 

 trees were shattered, while those on the other side of it preserved 

 their sap and verdure. The portion attacked appeared to have 

 experienced a radical change, while the rest were not affected. 

 The tornado having descended into the valley at the extremity of 

 Fontenay, approached some trees situated along the bed of a rivulet, 

 which was without water though moist. After having there bro- 

 ken and uprooted every tree which it encountered, it crossed the 

 valley and advanced towards some other trees, which it also de- 

 stroyed. In the next place, hesitating a few moments as if un- 

 certain as to its route, it halted immediately under the first men- 

 tioned thunder cloud. This although previously stationary, now 

 began as if repelled bythe tornado, to retreat towards the valley 

 to the west of Chatenay. The tornado after stopping as I have 

 described, would infallibly on its part, have moved on towards 

 the west to a wood in that direction, if the other thunder cloud 

 had not prevented it by its repulsion. Finally it advanced to the 

 park of the castle of Chatenay, overthrowing every thing in its 

 path. On entering this park, which is at the summit of a hill, it 

 desolated one of the most agreeable residences in the neighborhood 

 of Paris. All the finest trees were uprooted, the youngest only, 

 which were without the tornado, having escaped. The walls 

 were thrown down, the roofs and chimneys of the castle and farm- 

 house carried away, and branches, tiles and other movable bodies, 

 were thrown to a distance of more than five hundred yards. 

 Descending the hill towards the north, the tornado stopped over 

 a pond, killed the fish, overthrew the trees, withering their leaves, 

 and then proceeded slowly along an avenue of willows, the roots 

 of which entered the water, and being during this part of its 

 progress much diminished in size and force, it proceeded slowly 

 over a plain, and finally at the distance of more than a thousand 



