280 THE STORMS OF JUNE AND JULY, 1S77. 



was not regarded as more than a brisk gale, but between here and Chicago 

 it reached an average velocity of nearly 50 miles per hour, between here 

 and Cincinnati a velocity of 52 miles per hour, and between here and Col- 

 umbus, O., an average of 57 miles per hour. 



On Saturday evening June 30, a severe tornado, originating in the State 

 of Illinois a few miles east of St. Louis, Mo., struck the town of O'Fallon 

 and nearly destroyed it. Its approach and unusual action are thus de- 

 scribed by an eye witness : 



"Light colored, but heavy clouds, had at intervals during the day ob- 

 scured the sun. In the afternoon, dark cloud banks rolled up Irom the 

 northwest. The atmosphere became sultry and oj)pressive, and was' heavi- 

 ly charged with electricity. The dimness of twilight fell over the land- 

 scape. Fitful flashes of lightning in the west were accompanied by low 

 rumbling thunder. The storm at last took position, heaven's artillery was 

 wheeled into line, as it were, a flash of lightning of great brilliancy was 

 seen, and the forked tongue of the shaft launched downward. A monster 

 oak in a grove one mile west of the little town was riven by the stroke. 

 A deafening clap of thunder followed. The flood-gates were opened, and 

 the rain poured down in a deluge, while the lightning flashed and the 

 thunder rolled with a frequency that was almost horrifying. The tempest 

 abated. The streets were filled with water. Some few people ventured 

 out. The tempest had passed almost due east from west. Those who look- 

 ed out after this lull suw that it was raining off towards the northwest. A 

 loud noise was heard, like unto the rumbling of a train of cars crossing a 

 covered bridge. The rain in the northwest advanced in a southwesterly 

 direction toward the town. Heavy clouds, which, from time to time emit- 

 ted sullen electric flashes, scudded before the wind from east to west. 



The clouds from the northwest continued on their course, the angry 

 roar growing louder as the storm aj)proached. It struck the path of the 

 tempest. There was a strange commotion. The clouds were seen to bub- 

 ble and boil violently, the appearance being that of vapors struggling to 

 liberate themselves. In an instant a cone-like form was assumed, and as 

 if directed by some revengeful spirit omnipotent in the air, the cyclone 

 darted toward the earth, striking the ground at a point a half mile due west 

 of the town. A small frame building, owned by A. C. Jones, Avas seized in 

 the grasp of the destroyer, and the fragments went flying through the air. 

 Unlike the Mount Carmel cyclone, this one did not follow anj especial 

 route, nor did it make a clean sweep before it. It bounded from right to 

 left into the air and back again like some wounded thing. Whatever it 

 touched it destroyed. It would make a bound and a swoop, and some sub- 

 stantial building would fall in ruins, while some fragile structure a few 

 yards away would remain unharmed. Stables were overturned, while resi- 

 dences within twenty feet would be passed unscathed. At times the thing, 

 seemingly not satisfied with its work, would go back upon its track and 

 destroy something left in safety before. It passed on through the town, 



