Yesterday’s maybe/maybe not tornado was hardly the first to rock the county of King’s. I’m not sure who first found these 19th century Brooklyn Eagle clips, but they were posted online from the Brooklyn Public Library:
BK Eagle June 22, 1858 full article BK Eagle, Jan 10, 1889 full article
Highlight from the 1889 story: “The varnish factory of George W. Bailey had one corner of the building blown down by the force of the gale.” George! Everything will be OK!!
And a meandering, meditative highlight from the 1858 incident:
“From the contemplation of the harrowing spectacle, the mind turns in horror mingled with the sorrowful sympathy which goes out to the stricken sufferers from every kind heart and generous mind. Nothing more appalling has taken place in this country in recent years. It makes a shocking contribution to the list of disasters with which the new year has unhappily opened, conveys a sharp and penetrating reminder of the helplessness of man when the gigantic forces of nature are arrayed against him, and emphasizes the fact that, after all, the climatic and atmospheric conditions amid which we live grant no immunity from the dangers monopolized [I think some text is missing here] longer much comfort for the inhabitants of this Temperate Zone in reflecting upon the horrors of the simoon, the earthquaake, volcanic eruptions at Krakatoa and elsewhere and the march of pestilence beneath Southern skies. Beside and earthquake, we have had one blizzard, and now follows the tornado, bringing to our doors not only the story of death and destruction but an intimation that the scope of its deadly work is becoming broader every year.”
They don’t write em like that any more.
Inverted Soapbox 