To the Advocate: a hail storm passed over us [in Benezette] today, September 6th, [1867] about 2 o’clock this afternoon, it lasted about twenty minutes, and the largest and most I ever saw at once. I was working for Esquire Wainwright on the hill and it knocked a considerable of his corn down and what amount of damage it has done in the town I have not yet learned. E. A. (Elk County Advocate, 12 September 1867)