FALLING SECTION OF THE STEEPLE OF THE PEARL As previously noted a short sketch upon the Pearl Street Church in our August number, this year, the building of the church was begun in 1851 and finished in 1852. Thus for nearly half a century the spire has been a conspicuous landmark in the city. Upon the razing of the building last August, much interest manifested among the citizens, especially in the tearing down of the was witnessed by thousands of people who had been watching and waiting for the culmination of this event for the previous ten hours. The photograph best showing this fall was taken from the roof of the Phoenix Mutual building by Dr. were as large as a turkey's egg, in vast numbers, and many were larger. Terror now prevaded even the brute creation; every creature sought for shelter; but our houses were scarce able to afford us an asylum from this dreadful storm. The hail, urged on by the rapidity of the wind, soon demolished the glass, and the roar of this tempestuous storm silenced the loudest thunder so that it could not be heard. The rain still continued. The lightning was incessant and seemed to hail mingled with fire. All countenances turned pale, and every heart filled with sadness. The terrific sound of this war J. E. Root, who kindly gave us permission of elements; the air filled with solid subto use it here. ACCOUNT OF A HAIL STORM, WHICH FELL ON PART OF THE TOWNS OF LEBANON, BOzRAH, AND FRANKLIN, on the 15th of July, 1799; perhaps never equalled by any other ever known, not even in Egypt. By Sherman Dewey. An old pamphlet printed in 1799 with the above title has been brought us by Mr. P. A. Sears of Elinwood. It gives an interesting account of a most unusal storm of a hundred years ago. The author of the pamphlet vouches for its entire truthfulness warranting it free from exaggeration and partiality. He made most careful observations before, during and after the storm. He describes it as "perhaps never equalled since that in Egypt, according to the Mosaic account, 3,290 years since." After describing with detail the weather conditions for some time previous to the storm, he says; "A few minutes before. seven the cloud exhibited a brassy appearance in the west. This was immediately followed by the rain, which poured down as if fed by a water spout, and lasted three or four minutes, when hail began to fall, larger than any which I had ever seen. They stances, which cut the leaves, fruit and small limbs of the trees, whilst continued flashes of lightning tinged every thing of a livid appearance, added horror to the gloom, and filled every one with astonish ment. "The day following was calm and pleasant; but nothing appeared beautiful; no tuneful bird was left to welcome in the cheerless day. The inhabitants of the airy regions fell the first victims to the relentless hand of disordered elements, and were found in the fields and woods, some dead, others with their wings broken, and not one to be seen or heard unhurt. The small animals of all kinds, who had no fate; among In many in shelter, shared the same which were fowls, pigs, &c. stances sheep were killed. I saw one that was killed; it appeared as if struck on the top of the head by a hail stone, which beat off the skin two inches in length and one in breadth. No person was killed, for there was no one out but a few minutes. A Mr. Johnson was a few rods from his house, and before he could reach it he was knocked down three times; a number of others were knocked down and bruised very much. "The fields of grass and grain were not 648 only beaten down, but cut to pieces, and "The trees are cut and bruised very much. Young fruit trees are almost, if Peach and not entirely destroyed. cherry trees suffered most; many of them are dead already; others I think will die, a great part of the bark being bruised or beaten off on that side toward the south. Some orchards are almost stripped of leaves, as well as fruit. Many fruit and blown down. forest trees are shingles on the houses are split to pieces All the glass on that side very much. next the storm was broken; and in many instances, the sash was not proof against its violence. The Two barns in Bozrah were entirely demolished, and one unroofed. "The hail stones, as I have observed, were as large as a turkey's egg, and many I measured some, which were larger. were four inches and a quarter by five and a half in circumference, and were uncommonly hard." The remaining seventeen pages of the pamphlet are taken up with the author's the causes of the observations upon storm as he conceived them, scientifically considered, the probability of its being a judgment of heaven for the wickedness and thoughtlessness of men, and appeal to the fortunate ones who were in its track to extend aid to those It is a remarkable who had lost all. account of a remarkable storm. an The following item, relating to the witchcraft sensation in Connecticut, never before published, has been furnished us by Mr. C. W. Manwaring. "A Particular Courte in Hartford uppon the Tryall of John Carrington, and his wife, 20th February 1650-1. EDWARD HOPKINS, Gov. JOHN HAYNES, Dept. Gov. MAGISTRATES. "Mr. Wells, Mr. Woolcott, Mr. Webster, Mr. Cullick, Mr. Clarke. INDIGHTMENT. of "John Carrington, thou art Indited by the name of John Carrington Wethersfield, Carpenter that not having the fear of God before thines eyes thou hast Intertained familiarity with Sathan ; the great enemy of God and Mankind; and by his help has done works above the course of nature for wch : both according to the laws of God and the established thou of this laws common-wealth deservest to Dye. "The Jury finds this Inditemte against 6th of March John Carrington the 1650-1." The same Court, time and place found an Indictment also against Joanne Carrington wife of John Carrington with the same verdict. "March 1652-3. Court Record. There was presented to this Court an Inventory of John Carrington's estate which is ordered to be filed but not Recorded. "The estate presented being £23-11-00 and the debts Specified therein oweing by the estate is sumed up £13-01-06." HE early records of the colony show THE that a classical school was in existence in Hartford in 1638, and was continued under various conditions until 1664 when Gov. Edward Hopkins gave to the town of Hartford 400 for the support of the school, and later, with an endowment from the Connecticut Colony, and a donation of 50 from James Richards it was placed on a permanent foundation. In 1798 it was incorporated under the name of the "Hartford Grammar School." The story of the preliminary steps taken to establish a High School, has been told through the public press, and in the Catalogue (Semi-Centennial Number) of the High School issued in 1897. Suffice it to say that for eight years previous to 1847, the agitation was kept up and efforts were unrelaxed to establish a Public High School in Hartford. The appropriation ($12,000) made by the town not being sufficient to build and equip the new building, Messrs. Bunce, Robinson and Collins, contributed $2,000 of the $2,250 needed. Those of us who were pupils at the opening of the old school at the corner of Asylum and Ann streets, will recollect the strenuous efforts of many citizens to prevent the school being located so far west, it being near the western boundary of the city proper. When in 1868 the present location on Hopkins st. (so named in honor of the founder of the grammar school) was selected, violent opposition was again made to a location so far west. The semi-centennial celebration of the Hartford Public High School has been postponed from time to time until the new addition to the main building and the Manual Training Department could be finished, and the grounds be put in order. This was completed so that the Alumni of the School, who gathered on June 9th, had an opportunity to see one of the most complete school buildings in the United States. |