THE TWIN ISLANDS. 187 



I quote from my notes concerning it, published in the 

 State Geologist's report for 1881: "Previously to 1.30 

 p.m. the day offered no peculiar meteorological features. 

 The temperature was 78° Fahr. at noon, wind south-east. 

 About 1.30 p.m. the wind shifted to the south-west, and 

 a heavy bank of blue-black clouds formed in the north- 

 west. The appearance at this time was that of an or- 

 dinary summer shower. I did not notice any lightning 

 or hear any distant thunder. While standing on the 

 brow of the hill, near where my house stands, and 

 facing the south-west, I noticed that a bank of cloud 

 somewhat similar to that in the north-west was also 

 rapidly forming, and the two appeared to be approach- 

 ing each other, although, of course, not from oppo- 

 site directions. In a few moments there was a sudden 

 change in the several conditions then existing. The 

 stiff north-west breeze suddenly ceased. A remarkable 

 stillness pervaded the atmosphere, and a feeling of op- 

 pression was very noticeable. Just at this time the two 

 masses of clouds came in contact, apparently (and really, 

 I think), directly over the extensive stretch of meadows 

 lying north of Bordentown, New Jersey, along the Del- 

 aware River. At the moment of contact of these cloud- 

 masses there was a loud, humming sound clearly audi- 

 ble, but not caused by a wind, as the leaves on all the 

 trees were motionless. The two cloud-masses formed 

 one, but each retained its peculiar coloring, and in less 

 than a minute, I should think, a huge water-spout formed 

 — or at least the clouds became a single conical mass, 

 with the apex downward. As suddenly as it formed it 

 broke, and in ten minutes at most thereafter the mead- 



