12 SEPTEMBER 1896, Page 2

Soon after 3 o'clock on Thursday a small section of

Paris was visited by a most terrific cyclone, which blew over many cabs and one omnibus, uprooted about forty trees, blowing some of them into the Seine, maiming many people and killing some. The path of the cyclone was extremely narrow, and curiously enough, at a very short distance on either side of it there was no serious agitation in the air at all, though the rain descended in torrents. The spot where the greatest ravages took place was near the Quai des Orfebres, the Palais de Justice, and the Place du Cbiltelet, passing thence north- wards over the Place de la Republique. The whirlwind rose like thick smoke, so that many of the spectators thought that a fire had broken out. One boat was sunk by the whirlwind, and another hurled on to the quay. Numerous barges and boats were flooded and sunk, and several persons were blown into the river. Probably no such cyclone in the temperate regions has been before experienced within a city, and apparently its track was as narrow as its force was violent. The whole mischief was done in about a single minute, and yet where it penetrated, it cut like a knife.