The New Hampshire Gazette

To the Printer.

The following Account of the Whirlwind which happened at Leicester on Tuesday the 10th Instant, drawn up by a Gentleman in a neighbouring Town, from his own Observation, and by Accounts from some on the Spot; I desire you would publish in your Paper, tho' it is not pretended to be entirely full and compleat.

Yours, &c.

It is supposed to have begun in Spencer, about a Mile and half, or not exceeding two Miles near S. W. from Mr. David Lynde's, at the last House in Leicester next to Spencer. The main Force of the Wind seems to have been confined to about the Breadth of 40 Rods; but little Effects of it's Violence to be discovered without that Extent, during its whole Course, which continued with the utmost Violence from S. W. to N. E. near about six Miles from the best Accounts yet come to Hand. The greatest Damage known to be done by it, was, at David Lynde's House, which stood open to the S. W. directly in the Wind's Course. Immediately upon the Wind's striking the House with all it's Force, and before the People (12 in Number) had Time to shut the Doors; but endeavouring to do it, it was in an Instant taken up, and carried off, leaving nothing behind but the Cellar and part of the lower Floor, and the People in it, mostly hurled away. Two or three were found lying on that part of the lower Floor that were left behind, and in the Cellar Way: Those that were carried off with the Building were scattered and dropt at different Distances round where the House stood: A young Girl was found at the Distance of 20 or 40 Rods in the Woods, with her Collar Bone broke, and some grown Persons at 6 or 8 Rods distance. The strongest Timbers of the House are rent and split to pieces as though by Lightning. Some parts of the House, and some of the Cloathing were carried five Miles distance, and some Papers taken up at 8 Miles. For near half a Mile from where the House stood in the Course of the Wind, the Ground is strewed with the shivered pieces of the House; and Multitudes are sticking in the Ground, till you come to a Pond, that is covered with the Ruins of the House and Furniture (a few small Articles only of the latter, have as yet been found) full half a Mile distant from the place it stood on. So far as I followed the Ruins I could not find one Piece of Timber whole, or one Board but what was split to Pieces of the whole Building; besides 5000 of new Boards taken out of the Yard, all which were drove into Shivers unfit for any Use. The Pewter, Iron Pots and Kettles cannot be found at all, except one Plate, one Dish and one Iron Pot. Some of the Beds that were found, were hanging on high Trees at a Distance. Nails that were in a Cask in the House, were drove with such Force into distant Trees, as not easily to be drawn by the Strength of a Man's Fingers. Large Trees taken up by the Roots, Thousands of them. Apple-Trees in the Orchard adjoining taken up and brought nigh to the Place where the House stood. A heavy Log, more than 2 Feet Diameter, in which hung a large Grindstone, taken and carried over the Wall into the Garden. One of the Spars of the House carried into a Neighbour's House about 50 Rods and struck off the Cap of his Door, and beat a Hole into the House. The Timbers of the House were carried with such Force into the Air, that when they fell some were found sticking 2 Feet or 2 and a half in the Ground. Not only the House, but the Barn and all the Out Houses are entirely demolished: And tho' the Manner of their Demolition is singular and very extraordinary; yet it is very remarkable, that out of 12 Persons flying among the Wrecks of all these Buildings but one should be yet dead; a Negro, taken up after it was all over, his Thighs, Back and Arms broken, and who presently expired in extreme Misery: Tis thought he was in the Chamber when the Gale took the House, and was hurled in an almost contrary Direction from the Course of the Wind, near 8 Rods. The Man of the House dangerously hurt. A Child was taken out of the Ruins alive: and tis remarkable, that the Stones and Rubbish with which it was surrounded and covered, were situated in such a Manner as tho' done by Art. Diverse of the Persons in the House, escaped with little or no hurt, tho' it is hardly possible to conceive how they should escape an immediate Destruction, such was the sudden and amazing Ruin of the House where they were. Two Horses were killed; one standing at the Door, another in the Pasture at some Distance from the House: Old Logs of 2 or 3 Feet Diameter, lying in moist Land and considerably sunk in the Ground, were rolled out of their Beds, and carried Rods before the Wind: so large and heavy that 6 or 8 Men could hardly have rolled them over with Leavers. There was a most amazing Noise attending this Tempest, which lasted not more than 2 or 3 Minutes in all. The Neighbours say, the Earth seemed to tremble, and such a unusual Motion in the Clouds and Heavens, as tho' they were falling on the Earth; attended with Rain and an Egyptian Darkness. Limbs of Trees, Mud, Dirt and pieces of Fences were flying in the Air, and clashing together; which those at a little Distance and out of the Wind could perfectly observe. There is no other Building that fell so directly in the Centre of the Force of this Gale, that has been heard of; so that tis possible it began to abate soon after it passed this House. It is evident from the twisting of the Trees and the shattered pieces of the Building, which lay all round every Way, that it was a Whirlwind, or that it run in a Sort of Eddy, tho' keeping nigh a strait Course. A full Account cannot yet be given, as no body has followed it thro' it's whole Course. This may serve at present, in the room of a fuller Account, which it is to be hoped some person will take the pains to favour the public with.