The second important point that we must consider is the increased destruction of property and great violence exhibited on the right side of the centre of the revolving axis of the storm-cloud, and a corresponding diminution of destructive power on the left side. The movement of the whirl was undoubtedly from right to left; the fallen trees indicate it. The forward motion of the hurricane would create a greater inrushing of wind on the right side, and greater damage would result than upon the other side where the wind was returning to complete the rotary movement. While it is true the trees were overthrown to some extent in all directions, yet they mostly fell in the direction in which the wind struck them as it moved around in its whirling motion. The southern side of the track of desolation, however, presents evidence of the greatest power. The maple and other forest trees were frequently twisted entirely off, showing conclusively, that while they were first struck by the progressive motion, the rotary motion was sufficiently quick to locate the failing trunk.

The great power of the storm-cloud was due to its revolution. In fact, this marks the difference between the high wind and the hurricane or tornado. The phenomena observed in connection with the storm of July first, are almost identical with those of similar character in the Southern States and West Indies.

The third subject presented for our consideration is the upward and downward currents which seemed to exist within the cloud. Objects were thrown upward to an immense distance, and the distance to which some objects were driven into the earth must convince us that there was a force downward of great power. It is true that a falling body, when influenced by gravity alone, will descend with great force, especially if started from a high point, but the deep excavations found in the track of the storm can only be accounted for by a downward current. The funnel-shaped cloud enlarging its circumference towards the top, would, with its centrifugal force resulting from its revolution, hurl bodies to a great distance, and we find the debris of this tornado hundreds of yards outside of its track, proving that when an object was carried up in the whirl, it was often thrown off, laterally for a great distance. A remarkable feature in connection with the tornado is the preservation of buildings in the track of the storm. Property on both sides of a house was sometimes destroyed, and yet the building itself was scarcely injured. This gap in the storm must have occurred from local causes, and from the gradual elevation and descent of the progressive movement of the cloud, thus carrying it over and beyond some of the objects in its track. Some cases of this character will be mentioned in the subsequent pages of this book.

The color and appearance of the storm-cloud is worthy of consideration. By some who viewed it as it passed along, it is represented as being an immense balloon, extending to the height of several hundred feet, spreading out at the top, forming a funnel. It moved along at times with great rapidity, and at other times it seemed to halt, as if gathering strength for another effort. The color was variegated, the whole presenting rather a luminous appearance. Missiles of every kind could be distinctly seen in and through the body of the cloud. At first sight it seemed to be a barn on fire—the burning embers flying in every direction; but a closer inspection proved it not to be fire, but dirt and hay and timbers, intermingled with leaves and other light substances, giving it the appearance of an immense wind storm, which was the correct conclusion. Those who had a side view of the cloud state that it was quite light in appearance as it passed over grass fields and timber tracts, but when it reached a plowed field or a potato patch, it gathered up the dirt and loose material and became a very dark mass of matter, and presented a frightful appearance as it traveled forward with a velocity of a mile in four or five minutes. Such was its character as it approached the village of Ercildoun.

Jos. Brinton, who resides at Newlin’s station, on the Penn’a and Delaware Rail Road, states that he observed the storm carefully as it came from the west. He was standing on his barn bridge at the time, and on looking over the high hill at the west of his residence his eyes were directed to a point just above the funnel of the cloud. He saw the clouds rise up at the circumference to a great height, and then pour over into the central cavity from all sides; this continued for some time. The funnel next appeared in full view, after the space of ten minutes. Then the body of a tree appeared above; it appeared motionless, and grew larger and larger as the cloud approached—the tree being carried with the storm; finally it disappeared. The body of the storm-cloud was now full of missiles, having the appearance of millions of birds sailing through the air, the whole moving mass being of a very dark color. As it moved forward these missiles were discharged in every direction. The conical column now became very tail, and was of a white color, in appearance not unlike the under cloud of a great rain storm. As clouds of smoke and dirt rolled up through the mass and were carried around by the rotary motion, the appearance was that of an immense building on fire. He pronounces the sight to have been awfully grand, and terrible beyond description.

With a view of having correct data of the tornado, and placing the same upon record, in company with my friend and schoolmate Edwin Walton, of Highland township, I passed along the route of the storm-cloud. The first point of observation was near the residence of Jos. D. Pownell, Lancaster, Co., Pa. He gave us a short account of the cloud, and of the movement of the currents of air which formed it. As he sat upon the front porch of his residence, he saw a strong current of air, blowing from the south-west. To the north a storm had just passed, and a powerful current set in from that direction and blew directly across, coming in conflict with the current from the south-west. The whirl commenced on their coming together, and was set in motion about half-a-mile from his house and one mile south-east of the Gap station. This rotary motion or “whirl” probably resulted from the resistance encountered by these opposing currents of air, in their attempt to ascend vertically, there being less resistance in a lateral than in a vertical direction. The first movements of the cloud thus formed were of a decided character. Some children that were playing in a field near by, saw the danger ahead and fled to a lime-kiln, thus saving their lives. The cloud now reached a stream of water, and Mr. Pownell says the water was taken up and carried into the funnel of the cloud, leaving the bed of the stream dry.

A full description of the great tornado in Chester County, Pa, 1877

Continued in part 3, below