Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-06-10
The Circular Storms of the Atlantic
Ocean. e.

From the Springfield ;Massl Republican,
Europe encountered one of those peculiar
phenomena of great circular storms which
were first explained by our countryGan Mr.
Redfed. Rev. Mr.. Seeley, late of this
city, was a passenger. ard in letter to
the Editor of The Republican gives this in
teresting account OF their character and the
experience of the Fulton in this one. On
The sixth day out, and after leaving New
foundland, the weather and wind became
very tickle, the latter blowing strong and
rapidly veering back and forth through all
the points between Northwest and South.
west, and the sky changing from black thick
clouds to bright sunshine. These pecular-
tiles continuing, the captain soon decided
that he was in the center of one of these
circular storms.
"As you are aware (says Mr.. Seeley
these storms commence near the equator,
Southerly direction. and some North of L
which muve in Northerly direction. Each
Storm has also a circular (more correctly a
spiraD motion, as if on an axis; this circular
m otiun of storms on the SoHth of the
equator being in the same direction as the
hands of watch, and Of those on the
North of it in the contrary direction. The
latter at first sweep westward toward the
West Indies, and then northward along the
coast of North America as far as 46-s 10
49 North latitude, when they tend east
ward across the ocean. | believe their
force is usua lily exhausted before reaching
the continent, but occasionally they afford
the people here slight experience of their
disagreea bleness.
"ln the center of such storm there is
frequently space of twenty miles, or more
in diameter, which is comparatively calm
are changeable and tickle. As this center
is ordinarily off at sea, while the whole
diameter o! the storm is several hundred
miles, it happens that the wind on shore
in the United States-is from the north
east, and at sea, on the eastern side of the
the southeast. Hence they are known by
us landsmen as 'Northeasters,' and BY sail
ors as 'Southwasters.'
"The track of our steamer, after leayin @
'the banks Law between the parallels OF
40 and SO . North latitude, aud her rate OF
progress, till the force of the gale prevent
ed, was about 26o miles per day. The storm
travelled eastward at nearly the same rate,
and in such lititude as 10 keep US in that
portion OF it, North of the center, where
the wind was from the East. Consequent
ly we steamed from Cape Race to South
amptun (EnglanG) against a strong gale
directly ahead most OF the time. 1hile ues-
sels tro days ahead Of US, and others tUo or
three days Lehind us, entlrety escaped the
storm and contrary a0inds.
"For the use OF navigators storm cards
ere prepared (one for North and another tor
South latitude representing The motion oi
the storm round its center. AS the ma
terial is of thin, transparent horn. the card
is aced on the sailing chart so as TO bring
that portion OF it which represents the
actual direction of the wind on the exact
point of the vessels latitude and longitude
BY this means her true relations to the
storm are ascertained, and the way of escape
from It if the attempt seem desirable"