A WHIRLWIND AND WIND-RUSH AT GOSFIELD. 3
I am practically certain that no barograph exists anywhere
in the parish of Gosfield or sufficiently near the course of the
Wind-rush to be likely to be influenced by it.3 It is, therefore,
now impossible to ascertain the exact atmospheric conditions
which preceded, and largely induced, the storm. I am able,
however, to state from my own observations that the barometer
had been falling slightly all day; that, at the time of the
storm, it stood at 29.47 in. (uncorrected); that the wind was
from the west; that the outside temperature was 53o F.; that
there had been a good deal of rain during the day, especially
in the afternoon; and that the rain was accompanied by thunder-
storms, a specially-violent one passing within the half-hour
preceding the outbreak of the whirlwind.
So far as the evidence available goes, the whirlwind originated
in a meadow just on the south-west side of the lake in the park
here—that is, between the lake and the road from Gosfield to
Wethersfield. At all events, there are no visible indications
of its having crossed this road, which is no more than 100 yards
from the point at which the storm appears to have originated.
The meadow in question slopes gently, in most places, towards
the lake. It is in the occupation of Mr. P. Ardley, of Harmas
Farm, who, with his son, was at the water's edge at the time
the whirlwind began. He tells me that it appeared to start
at the spot indicated on the chart; from which point, the
meadow falls slightly towards the ditch (shown) at the northern
end. At once (he says) a quantity of dust and dirt appeared
to have been drawn into the vortex and carried upwards, whilst
a loud roaring noise became audible immediately. Mr. Ardley
describes the sound as like that of an express, train rushing through
a station, with the engine blowing off steam violently. This
tallies exactly with my own impression (for I also was within
earshot), and probably describes the sound as nearly as may
be done in words, though it might also be described as something
between a very loud hiss and a roar. At a later stage in the
progress of the storm, it emitted a sound which was such as to
lead many people to believe that a very fierce fire had broken
out somewhere. Mr. Ardley and his son, fearing that they might
be drawn into the lake, ran up the meadow; but the rush passed
them, of course, in an exceedingly short time.
3 Mr. G. Mayes, jeweller, etc., of High Street, Halstead (nearly two miles beyond the
furthest point reached by the storm), has one, but it was scarcely affected.