The Virginia Gazette

BOSTON, August 16.

We have this moment (ten o'clock) received the following account from Almsbury, near Newbury Port, by a Gentleman just come to town from thence. That on Saturday last, about nine o'clock in the morning, a most violent gale of wind, or rather hurricane, happened at that place, the particulars of which, so far as our information could collect, are as follow: The wind being at that time at S. E. soon shifted to almost every point of the compass, blowing with the greatest violence about ten minutes. In its course, which it is imagined reached about half a mile in circumference, it took a large new warehouse and barn entirely off their sills, carrying the boards, &c. near the distance of a mile. Capt. Smith, belonging to Beverly, being in the warehouse at the time, was carried a considerable distance, and found among the rubbish, bruised in such a terrible manner, that it was thought he would not recover. It moved from their stocks two large vessels, which were building at that place, near 20 feet. Another vessel coming up Almsbury river was dismantled, blown ashore, and otherwise much damaged, and, the men belonging to her with the greatest difficulty escaped being drowned. It likewise blew down several blacksmiths shops, and carried off the roofs of a great number of chimneys; by the falling of which, and by the boards, shingles, &c. many persons were much hurt, but do not learn that any lives were lost. Great numbers of apple trees, &c. were blown up by the roots, and carried to an amazing distance, and the fences in its way were all levelled to the ground.