The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-06-27


The 6rst is produced at sea. taking the form
of water spouts; the second along the shore.
and the third in the interior, manly on the
Western prairies. The last are more uni
form in their characteristics than either Of
the others.
End. They are experienced further to the
NDrthward. az the sun travels IN that drec-
tion during the Spring or early Summer
months. always showing themselves earlier
in the season on the plains Of Texas and along
the lover Mississippi than on the prairles OF
Iowa and Wisconsin. With the suns re.
turn Southward, they have been known to
follow in like manner, and even 10 break out
in mid.winter; but such occurrences are
quite rare. In general. these phenomena
present themselves in the Gulf states early
in May. and in our latitude nearly month
later. They are seldom experienced further
North than the Indian corn region.
Ord. The interior totnajos travel from
West to East, varying their course, i may
be. few points towards the North or South.
We have no recollection of any describing
a path in the opposite direction. Those on
the coast proceed in yarious courses, but
most frequently at right angles TO the ge0er-
al shore line.
4th. They are preceded by peculiarly
sultry and electric state Of the atmosphere,
when thunder is apt to be expected.
5th. A black cloud is generally formed
some distance above ground and travels with
the tornado, its shade in many cases resem-
bling an inverted cone. The storm is found
to rage beneath this cloud. Occasionally il
appears TO reyoye on an axis.
9th. There is a rushing toward il Of the
air from North and South. both currents gra-
dually bending to the East as they approach
the track of the tornado. This has been a.
bundantly shown by the manner in which
trees, grain. grass. buildings. &C., have been
thrown down.
7th. The breadth of the track usually va.
ries IRON so to $50 rods, seldom exceeding
100. The speed of the tornado often ex
ceeds 100 miles per hour.
Slh. In many cases, especially IN one
which took place at Natchez in 1910, such
vacuum is created in the centre Of the lorna
do that the strongest walls Of buildings have
been knuwn to fall outwGrd. sometimes in
the face Of blast travelling one hundred
IteL per SfEHuus bItChr HhAC utNh
in every direction. and portions Of tin roof
ing, hundreds Of Yards, Even men and wn-
men have been lifted from the ground in the
sudden rushing upward cf the current, and
safely dropped down al distance oil sever
al rods The locks uf chests and desks have
been brnken open BY the sudden expansion
nf air within. In other cases buildings have
been saved BY having trap doors on their
roofs opening upward.
9th. Plants growing on the line Of the tor.
nado. if not destroyed, are so scared and
crisped that they never finally recover. Some
have been damaged on one side only.
10th. Little or no wind is felt outside Of
the track so persons assert whd have stood
close by, and common observation confirms
this.
These visitors are also found 70 indulge
in some strange freaks. as stripping fowls Of
their feathers; CARRYING articles OF clothing
W chimneys; dragging ploaghs, carts, and
/ lie ike Tor considerable distance; empty
ing ponlls Of water and fish, and even scoop.
ing nut the mad taking frames of looking
glasses, without further injury to either
drawing nails out Of roufs. without disturb.
ing the roof; stripping horses Of their har.
ness, aud burying objects thus carried OF
deenly in the earth. Unfortunately these
tricks are ton costly TO make repetition Of
them desirable. But they show that. like
the elephsnt wi;e his trunk. the monster can
pick up pin from the ground as well as
fend an oak.
4 The West to East course &c those in the
/ inicrior is no doubt owing TO the general di.
#. A - ss.s.fa 20 hat
&c the country. II would seem that. in order
10 generate tornado. nothing IS necessary
but powerful current of heated and moist
air lrnn the Gull to come IL contract with
the dry and cold winds Of the Rocky Noun.
tains. The first collision in the season
would oi course take place in the extreme
Southern States, but as the warm gales made
further headway to the Norlhward. series
u storms would follow. especially when the
difference 10 the temperature was marked
aud the shock violent. North Of the tempe.
rate zone none would take place, for very
obvious reason.
The same principle would account for the
existence 0f tornadus on the coasts, the COLI
lision in this case occurring between the cool
sea breczes and the heated atmosphere abnye
the land. The only necessity would be that
the difference in temperature should be con.
siderable. and the contact take place in large
masses nearly insiantaneously.
There will always be another difference.
however, between tornados experienced in
the interior and on the sca-coast. In the
former case. those immense stretches oi ior.
est and prairie. unbrOken BY mountains. will
generate them on larger scale than in 10.
caliiies contiguous to the sea or to lofty
mountains. Indeed, the tornado seems TO
have 4 fiscd anlipathy towards the latter.
Franklin tanned the lightning. aud this
same agent has since been set 70 perinrm
household Irndgcry. but no conductor has
yet been found able 10 arrest the tornado IN
4 its course. nor has even rule been laid down
Cor keeping out cf the great destrnyer's path.
still. metcorology Is only in its infancy. and