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Reports on the Effects of the Great Storm of Wind, l^th 

 October, 1881, on Trees and Animals. 



It seemed desirable that some record should be preserved of 

 the disastrous influences of the gale of October 14th, 1881, that 

 uprooted such numbers of trees in the plantations in the Border 

 districts, and in other ways spread disaster and ruin both on land 

 and sea. I have only as yet mentioned the subject to a few 

 members and correspondents, knowing that space could not this 

 season be afforded for numerous returns. Without further pre- 

 face I present the following instalments. J. H. 



BEEWICKSHIRE. 

 The Wind Storm of the 14th Oct., 1881, in the East of Berwickshire. 



The most furious tempest of wind resembling more a tropical typhoon 

 or tornado, than an ordinary gale broke over Berwickshire on the 14th 

 October, 1881, and was accompanied by deplorable loss of life at sea : as 

 well as irreparable damage done to the woods in the county. At break- 

 fast, 8'30 a.m., the barometer was observed to have dropped to 28-5 at an 

 elevation of 380 ft. above sea level. So low was the reading, that at first 

 it was considered there was something wrong with the instrument (a 

 Fitzroy's Barometer;. The morning was fine with a clear sky, which at 

 7 a.m. showed High Cheviot (31 miles due south) with first snow of 

 the autumn covering not only the summit, but also the ridge of the hill, 

 for a third of its altitude. A severe gale seemed imminent from the 

 barometric conditions, although complete stillness prevailed outside. As 

 I had occasion to be out on duty, I watched the weather with suspicion. 

 About eleven o'clock the northern horizon began to be obscured from east 

 to west and coming storm seemed certain. As the cloud travelled from 

 N. to S. as mid-day approached, its colour was blue gray, hanging omin- 

 ously in curtain like folds of threatening aspect, discharging sheet light- 

 ning ; accompanied with a peculiar rushing rumbling sound. As I have 

 previously stated there was an unnatural stillness, preceeding the out- 

 burst of the storm. Turning my horse's head I galloped home, and just 

 in time, for when within a hundred yards of the gate, the wind blowing 

 at first from every direction, broke on the top of a clump of trees close to 

 me, twisted them around as with a whirlwind, and within a few minutes, 

 eight of these trees were prostrate. Some were broken clean over twenty 

 feet from the ground. Large Ash trees were torn up, with tons of soil 

 attached to their roots. Beeches and Elms of great age, and size, by the 

 roadsides, fell obstructing all passage till the afternoon of the following 

 day. Several houses were wrecked by the falling trees, the inmates hav- 

 ing had to seek shelter elsewhere. Horses in fields were greatly alarmed, 

 galloping wildly to some men repairing the fence, stopping and evidently 

 wishing to be removed to shelter. A spaniel accompaning me was so 

 alarmed, that on reaching home, she buried herself under a pile of straw 

 in one of the stalls in the stable, and was not again visible until the 



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