A WHIRLWIND AND WIND-RUSH AT GOSFIELD. 
3 
I am practically certain that no barograph exists anywhere 
in the parish of Gosfield or sufficiently near the course of the 
wind-rush to be likely to be influenced by it. 3 It is, therefore, 
now impossible to ascertain the exact atmospheric conditions 
which preceded, and largely induced, the storm. I am able, 
however, to state from my own observations that the barometer 
had been falling slightly all day ; that, at the time of the 
•storm, it stood at 29.47 in. (uncorrected) ; that the wind was 
from the West ; that the outside temperature was 53 0 F. ; that 
there had been a good deal of rain during the day, especially 
in the afternoon ; and that the rain was accompanied by thunder¬ 
storms, a specially-violent one passing within the half-hour 
preceding the outbreak of the whirlwind. 
So far as the evidence available goes, the Whirlwind originated 
in a meadow just on the south-west side of the lake in the park 
here—that is, between the lake and the road from Gosfield to 
Wethersfield. At all events, there are no visible indications 
of its having crossed this road, which is no more than 100 yards 
from the point at which the storm appears to have originated. 
The meadow in question slopes gently, in most places, towards 
the lake. It is in the occupation of Mr. P. Ardlev, of Harmas 
Farm, who, with his son, was at the water’s edge at the time 
the whirlwind began. He tells me that it appeared to start 
at the spot indicated on the chart ; from which point, the 
meadow falls slightly towards the ditch (shown) at the northern 
end. At once (he says) a quantity of dust and dirt appeared 
to have been drawn into the vortex and carried upwards, whilst 
a loud roaring noise became audible immediately. Mr. Ardley 
■describes the sound as like that of an express train rushing through 
a station, with the engine blowing off steam violently. This 
tallies exactly with my own impression (for I also was within 
earshot), and probably describes the sound as nearly as may 
be done in Words, though it. might also be described as something 
between a very loud hiss and a roar. At a later stage in the 
progress of the storm, it emitted a sound which Was such as to 
lead many people to believe that a very fierce fire had broken 
out somewhere. Mr. Ardley and his son, fearing that they might 
be drawn into the lake, ran up the meadow ; but the rush passed 
them, of course, in an exceedingly short time. 
3 Mr. G. Mayes, jeweller, etc., of High Street, Halstead (nearly two miles beyond the 
furthest point reached by the storm), has one, but it was scarcely affected. 
