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T H E HURRICANE.
VARIOUS portions of our country have at different periods suffered
severely from the influence of violent storms of wind, some of which have
been known to traverse nearly the whole extent of the United States, and
to leave such deep impressions in their wake as will not easily be forgotten.
Having witnessed one of these awful phenomena, in all its grandeur,
I shall attempt to describe it for your sake, kind reader, and for your
sake only, the recollection of that astonishing revolution of the etherial
element even now bringing with it so disagreeable a sensation, that I feel
as if about to be affected by a sudden stoppage of the circulation of my
blood.
I had left the village of Shawaney, situated on the banks of the Ohio,
on my return from Henderson, which is also situated on the banks of the
same beautiful stream. The weather was pleasant, and I thought not
warmer than usual at that season. My horse was jogging quietly along,
and my thoughts were, for once at least in the course of my life, entirely
engaged in commercial speculations. I had forded Highland Creek, and
was on the eve of entering a tract of bottom land or valley that lay between
it and Canoe Creek, when on a sudden I remarked a great difference
in the aspect of the heavens. A hazy thickness had overspread the
country, and I for some time expected an earthquake, but my horse exhibited
no propensity to stop and prepare for such an occurrence. I had
nearly arrived at the verge of the valley, when I thought fit to stop near
a brook, and dismounted to quench the thirst which had come upon me.
I was leaning on my knees, with my lips about to touch the water,
when, from my proximity to the earth, I heard a distant murmuring
sound of an extraordinary nature. I drank, however, and as I rose on
my feet, looked toward the south-west, where I observed a yellowish oval
spot, the appearance of which was quite new to me. Little time was left
me for consideration, as the next moment a smart breeze began to agitate
the taller trees. It increased to an unexpected height, and already the
smaller branches and twigs were seen falling in a slanting direction towards
the ground. Two minutes had scarcely elapsed, when the whole
forest before me was in fearful motion. Here and there, where one tree
pressed against another, a creaking noise was produced, similar to that
THE HURRICANE. 263
occasioned by the violent gusts which sometimes sweep over the country.
Turning instinctively toward the direction from which the wind blew, I
saw, to my great astonishment, that the noblest trees of the forest bent
their lofty heads for a while, and unable to stand against the blast, were
falling into pieces. First, the branches were broken off with a crackling
noise ; then went the upper part of the massy trunks ; and in many places
whole trees of gigantic size were falling entire to the ground. So rapid
was the progress of the storm, that before I could think of taking measures
to insure my safety, the hurricane was passing opposite the place
where I stood. Never can I forget the scene which at that moment presented
itself. The tops of the trees were seen moving in the strangest
manner, in the central current of the tempest, which carried along with it
a mingled mass of twigs and foliage, that completely obscured the view.
Some of the largest trees were seen bending and writhing under the gale;
others suddenly snapped across ; and many, after a momentary resistance,
fell uprooted to the earth. The mass of branches, twigs, foliage and dust
that moved through the air, was whirled onwards like a cloud of feathers,
and on passing, disclosed a wide space filled with fallen trees, naked
stumps, and heaps of shapeless nuns, which marked the path of the tempest.
This space was about a fourth of a mile in breadth, and to my
imagination resembled the dried-up bed of the Mississippi, with its
thousands of planters and sawyers, strewed in the sand, and inclined in
various degrees. The horrible noise resembled that of the great cataracts
of Niagara, and as it howled along in the track of the desolating tempest,
produced a feeling in my mind which it were impossible to describe.
The principal force of the hurricane was now over, although millions
of twigs and small branches, that had been brought from a great distance,
were seen following the blast, as if drawn onwards by some mysterious
power. They even floated in the air for some hours after, as if supported
by the thick mass of dust that rose high above the ground. The sky had
now a greenish lurid hue, and an extremely disagreeable sulphureous
odour was diffused in the atmosphere. I waited in amazement, having
sustained no material injury, until nature at length resumed her wonted
aspect. For some moments, I felt undetermined whether I should return
to Morgan town, or attempt to force my way through the wrecks of the
tempest. My business, however, being of an urgent nature, I ventured
into the path of the storm, and after encountering innumerable difficulties,
succeeded in crossing it. I was obliged to lead my horse by the