As this is one of the large cities in the Union, I thought if no
one else would sustain its credit I would. On the 5th of May we had
a big hail-storm. In 1872 we had a hall-storm when the hail was
about the size of a hazel-nut; but in this one the smallest stones
I saw were that size. Most of them, however, were about the size of
walnuts. I saw quite a number as large as a section of an egg, and
one or two almost as large as my fist. Now I am afraid you will
think that I have exaggerated, but it is true. I have heard a
number of persons, including a very old lady, say that they have
seen a number of stones frozen together, but never before such
large single ones. The storm lasted for a full half-hour, hailing
constantly. A great deal of damage was done to churches and public
buildings especially. Branches of trees, bushes, and vines were cut
off as smoothly as if done with a knife. One man went out to the
gutter to pick up an extra large hail-stone, when another one hit
him so forcibly on the back of the neck that he fell down on his
hands and knees. I would have sent you one of the stones, but as
such things can not be telegraphed, I could not do so.