The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-27

powder, and adding greatly to the splendor Of the
scene. The light red fame of these trees afforded
a fine contrast with the deep red flame of the
canes, and the nearly white smoke Of the burning
trunks was also in lively contrast with the heavy
rolling masses of black smoke which surrounded
the fire.
aud light, were driven of in considerable quanti-
ties They were carried up, frequently, without
being burned, and were sometimes found at dis
tanoe from the place of the tire. But, considering
the extent of the fire, few cnders were carried up
The combustion was very complete, which
ascribed to two causes First, The extremely
light and combustible matter of the cane, which
would be, for the most part, consumed in the in
tense heat of the fire, before rising TO a great
height Secondly, The air imprisoned in the cells
of The cane probably added TO the intensity of the
combustion. Three cendiiODs-the air confined
being in considerable quantity, its position being in
the centre of the canes and the centre OF the fire.
and its high ten perature-would contribute TO rem
der il more efficient in supporting combustion.
From the great number and variety of whirl-
winds which this burning afforded us the oppor-
tunily Of observing-from the splendor Of the flame,
and from the beauty of the smoke, rolled in mas SEES
above the fire, or in whirlwinds, this scene was
one of equal interest to the painter and the student
of science. The vast whiflwnds formed in the
atmosphere by storms, or by the burnngs of forests
and dry timber, are either too large and too rapid
in their progress TO be carefully observed, they
are collected in one column of fame, which has
always nearly the same form, and is attended by
the same phero mena. But in the burnings of the
cane, whirlwinds Of great variety of form and
size extend over wide tract, and all their pheno-
mena are perfectly distinct.
The next was an oral communication by w. G.
REpFIEIp, ESQ.,, of New York, on the apparent ne
cessity for revising the received systems of dy
namical meteorology,
Mr.. REpFIELD said that in consequences of the
pressure of matter before the association, he would
not now attempt to submit his views on this great
IIa xxnul1 nuIv "a that his vie WI of the
theory OF Winds had been those which are COM
monty entertained. But in pursuing his storm
inquiries, he had constantly met with facts and
difficulties which appeared irreconcieable with the
theory that solar heat is the great principal cause
OF the general winds of our globe. To state these
objections in manner TO do justice to his views of
the case, and to explain the principal phenomena of
atmospheric motion by the cosmica laws which
pertain to the planetary system, would require more
time than could now be allotted lie would, there
fore, pass from this topic, and make few remarks
on some recent Developments of the law of storms,
TO which subject his attention had been more i'm
mediately directed.
He would first make reference to the Atlantic
hurricane of the middle of July, which appeared at
Barbados and the Windward Islands or the llth
Of that month, and, passing thence to the coast OF
Calolinas, swept over large PORTION OF the Atlantic
States in its progress towards the high ATTITUDES.
Being preceded by strong southerly Winds which
bore large supplies of aqueous vapoT, and carrying
its axis path over the interior OF the country, 1t was
productive Of rain in unusual quantities It's path
was more inland in these States, than most of the
storms heretofore traced, which had their course
over the same islands.
At the meeting of 1913, in Philadelphia, he had
the honor to lay before the association the valuable
work of Mr.. PddiDgton, of Calcutta, whose labors
in illustrating the character and courses of whrl
wind storms, had in numerous cases been the
means of saving lives and property from destruc-
ton. He would now present to the association
second work of Col Reid's, son the Progress of
the Development of the Law of Storms" pub
hshed during the past year in London, work well
calculated for diffusiDg correct and useful knew
ledge Of this subject.
Mr.. Redfeld also stated that he had at no time
attempted to offer an explanatory theory of the
dynamcal action in whirlwInd storms. He had
concerned himself mainly with the facts by which
the great law Of rotation and progression, ia deter
inmate directions, was made manifest; but he
would not withhold his views Of the dynamical
theory, could the association devote time TO this
object He would also allude to another important
fact, which should never be overlooked by those
who enter on these inquiries He had found the
axis Of the vertical rotation the stormwind to he
always coincdent with the point or area OF least
pressure, indicated by the barometer, during the
entire observed progress OF the storm. In mus
tracing collectively these three essential character r
stics Of the Storm we can best solve the main IN
quiIy, and are better prepared to give due consid-
Grafton TO the aqueous DISPOSITIONS and other DIVER
siied phenomena which are contingent to the
storm, portions thereof, in different attitudes
and at different seasons Of the year, as the storm
advances from tropical ATTITUDES to the colder
regions OF the temperate or frigd zones.
Mr.. X. then handed in the. following document,
copied from the Bermuda Royal Gazette, OF Sep
tember 20, l6f6:-
RULE IN sEA,ANsHIp.
Every ruls applicable to ships which have become
involved in storms, 10 invaluable Captain Andrews
ccDmasder Of the royal mail steamer Midway, on
leaving Bermuda for England, ON the 22d septem Der,
BY keeping the vind on the starboard quarter when
In revolving storm In the Northern hemisphere,
ships gradually sail from the storms centre aud BY
keeping the wind on the port quarter. when In the
Southern hemisphere ships sail gradually from the
centre offs revolving storm
This rule applies to three quarters Of the storms
circle But there IL always one quadrant In progress
sve whirwind storm, more dangerous than the other
three being that which the storms centre passes
in its progress and there would be danger In apply
the rule with ship In this quadrant.
Within the tropics while the coarse ofserns tends
be on the west sides Hat these auadrsnts viii gra.
duslly change their position as the storms recurye
ssd In high atudss as the course OF the storms be.
comes easterly, so VIII there qnadrants OF greatest
danger TO be the east side Of the storm or.
der TO know which this quadrant Of greatest danger
the theory must be stu died until IL Is understood.
ern hemisphere, was practised by Captain MORRISON,
Royal Nay, when commanding the Andromso he
bic because II was executed by captain MORRISON be-
tore the theory Of storms was understood Leaving
her sommsndar cap,sn M.or.on o., to sea ia the be
Andromaehe With the wind at T., veering TO 3. b r.
predetermined to steer without regard 20 the compass
ssd TO keep the visd, 1t veered always upon the
sbosrd port quarter He had come TO this decision
from stentvely studying the logbooks Of ships which
had sneouEtsred hurricanes in the neishborhood OF
Msurius and observed that the wind yscred there In
upiiogm manner. BY steering a. described Captain
Moorsom gradually carried bis frigate a-sy rom the
centre oftbe storm. until he had gained as opposite
side ana moderate weather Then having the wind at
N. D., vesEipg to ". y. T., he brought hts ship upon
the stsrboard tack In order to return to Msurius,
which port sfe r,sshed unipjured
BY comparing extracts from the two log books, II
appears that the Ariadne In Port Louis arbor, vas
In the centre Of the hurricane and had the storm
very severely; whilst the Andronache, sy putting TO
and being steered as to keep the "od on the
port quarter, had comparatively moderate westhsr
Professor HENRY remarked that the whole sub.
ject Of storms was one, both in theoretical and
practical sense, which could well engage the aiten-
ton of the association. II was one which had been
studied in this country more than IN any other part
Of the world, and II was due TO those engaged IN
this research, namely, Mr.. Redheld, Mr.. Espy,
and DR.. Dana, that II should be thoroughly ex-
ahmed by those interested in ply sizes among us.
The subject was one Of the most involved, per-