Richmond Enquirer

[From the New Brunswick Times.]

Notes on the Tornado—By Professor Lewis C. Beck.

At about half past five o'clock, while on board the steamboat Napoleon, which was then six or seven miles from New Brunswick, my attention was called to a singular appearance in north-westerly direction very dense and low cloud stretched itself along some distance like dark curtain which near the centre was dipping toward the earth in the form of a funnel or inverted cone, and was gradually uniting with another cone, whose basis rested exactly on the surface. At one extremity of this dark cloud was a small one, having a fleeculent appearance, which soon also became conical in its shape, but which did not descend to the earth. These cones seemed to have been formed by gyratory or whirling movements, produced by currents of wind passing in opposite directions, viz: from the north-west and south. In a few minutes the well-defined character of these united cones was changed, and there arose a column, spreading at the top, and which had every appearance of the eruption of a volcano. A vast body of smoke, as it seemed, rose up and again descended, producing a sort of rolling, upward and downward movement. The opinion now became general that it proceeded from the burning of some large building, which it was thought had been caused by lightning, a vivid flash or two of which had preceded the formation of the cones. This idea, however, was soon abandoned; for, in a few minutes the dense column was dissipated, and we could distinctly observe the gyratory motion of wind, as was proved by the dust and fragments of timber which were carried upwards in its course. Onward it swept, with incalculable velocity, until another black and well-defined cone was again formed, which remained stationary for a short time, and then, as before, gave place to the eruptory and gyratory movement before mentioned. These alternations continued, although much less distinctly characterized, until the whole vanished from our view.

On approaching New Brunswick, we witnessed the devastation which the tornado had occasioned; but it was in this city alone that its mighty power was fully exhibited.

From the facts which I have collected, there can be no doubt that the cone above described about three miles nearly West of New Brunswick; that it remained stationary, that is, revolved on its axis, for some minutes. But when the second movement occurred, a dense cloud overshadowed the city. Slight, but distinct explosions, as of the puffing of sails, were heard from the column. The heat of the air became oppressive, volumes of smoke and even flame were thought to be issuing forth and rolling over in various directions. Under these circumstances the idea of an extensive and rapid conflagration would naturally be suggested. Immediately the alarm bells were rung, the firemen repaired to their engines; but while all eyes were directed to the black and terrible column which was approaching, apparently toward the head of Albany-street, no one could fix upon the exact spot to which effort should be directed. This state of uncertainty, however, did not long continue, for soon a tremendous rush of wind passed through the city, and in a moment the dense column, which had been an object of so much wonder and dread, stood on the opposite bank of the river, as it were, rallying for another desolating march.

The force of the wind, in its passage through the city, it would be idle to calculate. Men were thrown down, buildings of wood and brick were unroofed and even completely demolished, large trees were torn up by the root and scattered promiscuously in all directions. The air was filled with dust and missiles of various kinds. The crash of the timber was scarcely audible in consequence of the roaring of the tornado. Many of the inhabitants who had watched the appearance of the column, were apprized of the coming danger, and fled to the cellars of their dwellings for safety; and in several cases where the doors of the buildings were firmly closed, they suffered little or no injury, though in the midst of destruction. The tornado had been a little North of East, a direction which it pursued to the village of Piscataway, about three miles distant, and which it almost totally destroyed; then inclining somewhat to the south, it held an easterly course, passing over Amboy and thence to the ocean. It terminated, as I have seen it stated, by a fall of ice or hail, and by a great commotion of the water. The fall of ice is said also to have characterized its commencement; but on this subject I have not yet obtained authentic information.

I will at present add only a few words concerning the cause of this, at least in our latitude, very remarkable occurrence. The formation of the inverted cone or funnel, so often mentioned, was undoubtedly produced by the currents of air from opposite directions. But, whether these currents were caused by a vacuum arising from the electrical discharges from the cloud, or whether the supposed vacuum was the result of these currents, it is, perhaps, impossible to determine. But if this funnel may be compared to that of the tube which forms the water-spout, and it certainly bore a great resemblance to that phenomenon, we may suppose that there was a current established from the earth to the cloud. This upward movement is indeed indicated by the occurrences which succeeded, and by many facts which have since been ascertained. Among these may be mentioned the unroofing of those houses into which the air rushed through the doors and windows, and the lodgment of these roofs nearly in front of the houses to which they belonged. This upward movement was distinctly visible at a distance, and it was this which gave the phenomenon the appearance of a volcanic eruption. At the same time, also, there was a gyratory motion to which the destruction produced by the tornado is to be chiefly ascribed. This motion appeared to us on board the Napoleon, to succeed the upward movement just mentioned and characterized the progress of the tornado until it passed from our view. This gyratory motion is also evident from the appearances which are presented every where in New Brunswick and its vicinity. According to my measurement, the track of the tornado through the city did not exceed 300 yards, although the circle seems to have been much larger where the cone was first formed, and, also, on the opposite of the river, where the column is supposed again to have rested. Near the circumference of the supposed circles, was the line of the most destructive force of the wind. Several buildings in their centres, remain altogether uninjured.

I cannot subscribe to the opinion which has been advanced, that the violence of the wind was produced by two currents making towards each other, and having at the same time an onward motion. If there was not a gyratory, as well as an upward motion, I must discredit my eyesight, and be blind to the appearances which are every where presented, both in this city and its vicinity. Having had a fine opportunity of witnessing the phenomenon in its most interesting stages, and of studying its effects, it is perhaps more difficult for me to form a satisfactory theory on the subject, than it is for those who were less favorably situated. I shall, therefore, still continue the humble and frequently too much neglected business of collecting facts, in the hope that they may hereafter lead to views more worthy of notice.