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Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A severe tornado or hurricane struck Woodstock on August 23, causing widespread destruction including blown-down barns, uprooted trees, orchards destroyed, one woman killed, a child injured, cattle killed, and over 100 buildings damaged. Similar damage occurred in Sturbridge; lightning fires in Canaan and Windham.
Merged-components note: Direct textual continuation of the tornado report from page 2 to page 3, with sequential reading order.
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By a gentleman from Woodstock we are informed, that on Wednesday the 23d inst. a part of that town was much injured by a tornado, or hurricane, more extraordinary than has been seen in that place at any time before. About five o'clock, P. M. a very dark cloud appeared in the western hemisphere, which whirled and moved with unusual velocity to the eastward. The whole horizon was soon obscured, and the darkness equalled, if not exceeded, that of the dark day in 1780, The tempest was sudden and excessive, and the devastation truly distressing. Among other accidents that took place, divers barns were blown down, and many had their roofs taken off ; trees were prostrated in every direction, and whole orchards swept away. We hear of only one human life that was lost, which happened by the storm's lifting two large elm trees out of the ground, and placing them on the roof of a house, where a woman was, thereby crushing the fabric upon her. A child was taken up and carried to a great distance, and much bruised. Many cattle were killed. One singular accident deserves notice, a waggon was lifted from the ground and lodged on an apple tree.
There is no description that can equal the appearance of this very extraordinary tempest. A house was burned by lightning at Canaan, and a stack of hay burnt at Windham. The darkness was nearly as great at Windham as at Woodstock.
We further learn from Woodstock, that thousands of acres of orcharding, fields of corn, with some hundred stacks of hay, were raised from the ground and drove in great confusion. More than one hundred buildings were either unroofed, shattered, or wholly destroyed.
We hear from Sturbridge that the above mentioned hurricane did considerable damage in that town, having destroyed a house and barn, with an orchard, and demolished a number of fences; even heavy stone walls did not withstand its fury. One of the plates of the barn was removed fifteen rods, and falling in a perpendicular direction fixed so fast in the earth as to be almost immoveable. Much damage was also done in many of the adjacent towns.
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Woodstock
Event Date
Wednesday The 23d Inst.
Outcome
one woman killed by falling trees crushing her house; a child carried away and bruised; many cattle killed; extensive property damage including over 100 buildings unroofed, shattered, or destroyed; thousands of acres of orchards, corn fields, and hay stacks ruined; barns blown down; trees and fences demolished; house and barn destroyed in sturbridge; house burned by lightning in canaan; hay stack burned in windham.
Event Details
A tornado or hurricane struck Woodstock around 5 PM, preceded by a dark cloud and extreme darkness. It caused barns to be blown down or unroofed, trees prostrated, orchards swept away, a wagon lifted onto an apple tree. Lightning caused fires in Canaan and Windham. Damage extended to Sturbridge and adjacent towns.