Foul Weather

           Atthemomentwhenthatpyramidoffirerosetoaprodigiousheightintotheair,theglareofflamelitupthewholeofFlorida;andforamomentdaysupersedednightoveraconsiderableextentofthecountry.Thisimmensecanopyoffirewasperceivedatadistanceofonehundredmilesoutatsea,andmorethanoneship’scaptainenteredinhislogtheappearanceofthisgiganticmeteor.

           ThedischargeoftheColumbiadwasaccompaniedbyaperfectearthquake.Floridawasshakentoitsverydepths.Thegasesofthepowder,expandedbyheat,forcedbacktheatmosphericstratawithtremendousviolence,andthisartificialhurricanerushedlikeawater-spoutthroughtheair.

           Notasinglespectatorremainedonhisfeet!Men,womenchildren,alllayprostratelikeearsofcornunderatempest.Thereensuedaterribletumult;alargenumberofpersonswereseriouslyinjured.J.T.Maston,who,despitealldictatesofprudence,hadkeptinadvanceofthemass,waspitchedback120feet,shootinglikeaprojectileovertheheadsofhisfellow-citizens.Threehundredthousandpersonsremaineddeafforatime,andasthoughstruckstupefied.

           Assoonasthefirsteffectswereover,theinjured,thedeaf,andlastly,thecrowdingeneral,wokeupwithfrenziedcries."HurrahforArdan!HurrahforBarbicane!HurrahforNicholl!"rosetotheskies.Thousandsofpersons,nosesinair,armedwithtelescopesandrace-glasses,werequestioningspace,forgettingallcontusionsandemotionsintheoneideaofwatchingfortheprojectile.