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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
presently seen falling from the heavens ; one in particuloT, of a 
globular form and a deep red hue, was observed by the writer to 
descend perpendicularly from a vast height. On approaching 
the earth it assumed a dazzling whiteness and an elongated 
form, and on reaching the ground splashed around in the same 
manner as melted metal would have done, and was instantly 
extinct.* A few minutes afterwards the deafening noise of the 
wind sank to a solemn murmur, or rather a distant roar ; and 
the lightning, which from midnight had flashed and darted 
forkedly with few but momentary intermissions, now for nearly 
half a. minute played frightfully between the clouds and the 
earth with novel and surprising action. The vast body of 
vapour appeared to touch the houses, and issued downward 
flaming blazes, which were nimbly returned from the earth 
upward. 
“ The moment after this singular alternation of lightning the 
hurricane again burst from the western points with violence 
prodigious beyond description, hurling before it thousands of 
missiles, the fragments of every unsheltered structure of human 
art. The strongest houses were caused to vibrate from their 
foundations ; and the surface of the very earth trembled as the 
destroyer raged over it. No thunder was any time distinctly 
heard. The horrible roar and yelling of the wind ; the noise 
of the ocean, whose frightful waves threatened the town with 
the destruction of all that the other elements might spare ; the 
clattering of tiles, the falling of roofs and walls, and the com- 
bination of a thousand other sounds, formed a hideous and 
appalling din. 
After 5 A.M. the storm abated ; at 6 the wind was at south ; 
at 7 south-east ; at 8 east-south-east ; and at 9 the weather was 
clear. 
“ The view from the summit of the cathedral tower, a few 
hours later, was frightfully grand. The whole face of the 
country was laid waste ; no sign of vegetation was apparent, 
except here and there small patches of sickly green. The 
surface of the ground appeared as if Are had run through the 
land, scorching and burning up the productions of the earth. 
The few remaining trees, stripped of their boughs and foliage, 
wore a cold and wintry aspect ; and the numerous seats in tke 
environs of Bridgetown, formerly concealed among thick groves, 
were now exposed and in ruins.” f 
It was reported that earthquake shocks were felt during this 
♦ It is evident that the coincidence of the storm on this occasion with 
the day on which the earth is known to pass through the August belt of 
meteors, rendered the effect of this great storm at Barbadoes more striking. 
It is not safe to assert that there was no relation between the phenomena. 
t Reid’s Law of Storms, p. 28, et seq. 
