" No Leaf of Tree or Bush, or Blade or Grass, or Growing Crop, Is Left" - 1871

 Terrible Tornado and Hailstorm. Great Destruction of Growing Crops _ and Other Property.

 

 One of the most terrific and destructive hail-storms which ever any portion of the Commonwealth passed through the entire length of New Kent county on Wednesday afternoon. So far as we have been able to learn it was confined to a strip of country about one mile in width, but in its path no leaf of tree or bush, or blade or grass, or growing crop, is left. Whole fields of wheat were cut down as if a reaper had been passed through them. Oats, too, and corn suffered in the same way. Trees were wrenched off and blown about as though they were mere reeds, while their leaves cut off by the hail cover the ground as in autumn.

 Nor did houses escape injury. The dwelling of Mr. A. P. Richardson had both chimneys blown down, and was otherwise injured, and all others in the track of the storm were more or less damaged. All persons and stock so unfortunate as to be caught in the storm and unable to find shelter received a severe pelting from the hailstones.

 A young lady, whose name we were unable to learn, was passing along the road when the storm came up, and being missed search was made for her, and she was found lying senseless in the road. She was immediately taken home and medical aid summoned. When our informant left she was still suffering severely, and there was doubt as to her recovery.

 Yard and fruit trees, the result of years of labor and care, were entirely demolished. The storm went through the comity in a southerly course and passed away on down through the lower counties in that direction, leaving Williamsburg to the right. The depth of the hail on the ground after the' storm had passed was measured In several places and found to be nine inches deep. Our informant, who is entirely reliable, says that he saw it lying in the corner of fences the next morning at least four inches deep. The hail was not to remarkable for the size of the stones as for the quantity falling.

 To illustrate the destruction wrought by the storm, one planter, who had highly fertilized his wheat, and expected to raise 1,000 bushels, offered, after the storm had passed, to sell his entire crop for fifty cents.

 It is noted as a remarkable coincidence that just four years since exactly the same belt of country was visited by a similar hail-storm and tornado. The destruction of property was not so extensive by that visitation, but a negro was killed and other persons were injured. 

-Daily Dispatch,  20 May 1871