New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-22
TaK~CAUTloNARY- STORM, SIGMA
How the Flags and Lanterns arc to be
Worked-When the Signals are to be
keSorfph IN

How the Flags and Lanterns arc to be
Worked-When the Signals are to be
kessrted to.
The signal service Of tile United States, to
whom, a year ago. was entrusted the organ
lzatlon OF weather tele graphic and storm
signal system. has completed its arran ge-
ments for making known, by telegram and
signal. both to the mariner and all inter
ested. the approach and force Of storms and
violent gales OK wind, The chief signal
officer Of the army has issued from his
office. IN Nashin gton, a small pamphlet en-
titled "Cautionary Signals" which fully
describes the signals to he employed bv his
corps OF observer sergeants at the various
stations and ports through the country.
1t is the design Of this publication to
afford to the seaman. the merchant. and
every weather student. tie meteoric in
formation Necessary to enable him rightly
to improve the weather reports and bulle-
TINS with which in few months, the eye
of every American who reads the news.
papers has become familiar. ard conse-
quently. to make an intelligent use OF the
cautionary signal that he may see disp!a yed
at any point threatened by dan .erous
winds. lie science of meteorology. or ME
teorias.. has always struggled under the
great disadvantage OF having the whole
WA AA ~ CAPiDIc. 1Asl UciuS ODI!ytti con-
tent Itself with detached and fra yinenta-y
observations of the boundless aelia. ocean,
and it is Yet in its infancy. Il can not.
therefore, be expected that the precision Of
the more ia TOred sciences shall be at once
attained, and tie public should be disposed
to make allowance for the DISCREPANCIES
that may possibly occur between all weather
prOgnostics and the weather following.
The Chief signal officer. aware OF the
immense d;Hcuiry of obtaining uuerr;uy
and uniform accuracy in the display o.
signals. and anxious 10 aid the citizens as
much as possible in forming IL correct est;-
mate OF coming changes, takes grea. pains
to state clearly that Whenever sigma. is
hoisted It is strictly and solely cautionary.
and Is only designed to forewarn OF proba-
Die danger. Ii calls .or the exercise Of the
local knowledge aHd Giisent study OF the
experienced seaman. that he may guard
against such danger il time. In country
so vast as ours. with so many ports to
watch, when in the beginning OF the under
taking anu in the infancy OF me.eor;c
science, the prudence ami propriety OF
speaking guardedlv and limiting tle an.
nouncement to a mere probability of peril
must be manifest to al. Disastrous and
extensive storms rarely fail to give p-emo-
milton to every one who carefully observes
Tie daily rise and fall Of the quicksilver in
The barometer. The cautinnary signal. com.
)ined with the weather reports. from which
t Is deduced. can not fail 70 convey to all
who are really concerned to know the fu.
.ure weather necessary warning Of the
LANCER that is probably approaching.
lhe signal is suiare red flag with q
quare centre of black for denotin- danger
~ day. and a red lantern to denote danger
y night. 1t is highly i.nportan: for the
'ublc fully and a. once to know. that the
ignal office will display only one signal, and
hat one sigma, will be elevated only in case
t probable danger. There will be no safety
:gnal.
We give below. however. the official text,
-hlch. II carefully weighed aud pouderej, |
an leave no uncertainty in the mind Of any |
ne, as to the meaning and use Of the sig. |
al
THE CACTIONARY SIGNAL.
The cautioHary signal of the sigma, ser. |
ice. United States army-a red flag with
lack square in the Center By day. and red
sht by night-,lisplayed at the office Of
&c observer. AID other prominent places
lrouShou: the city. signifies
/. That from the information had at the
cntra! Office il Washington. probability
stormy q dang rous weather has been
educed for tie pot or place d. which the
.utionary sigma! Is displayed. CT in that
cin;tv.
=. That the danger appears 10 be so great
. 70 demand precaution on the part %: nav
ators and others interes,e,i-such as an
OF vessels or other structures
be endangered by stOrm-the inspcc-
on OF crews. rigging. etc. and general
reparation for rough weather.
d IL calls .or frequent examination Of |
cal barolneteTs. and other instruments. by
up captains. or Others interested. and the
udy OF local signs of the weather. as
ouds, etc. By this means those who are
lpert may often lie confirmed as to the
ed OF the precaution 20 which the caution
y signal calls attention. or may determine
al the danger is overestimated or past
This red dag or red light. known as tie
utionarv signal. is displayed when the IN
rma;lon in possession OF the Office induces
e belief that danger winds are APP
Coaching.
This term, dangerous winds. has a mean
: varying somewhat with the locality in
lich tie winGs occur. Thus. the severe
lies OF the Atlantic ocean. which some
mes attain the hurricane velocity OF fifty.
Sty and seventy miles an hour. are seldom
uaied ON the lakes. But on the lakes.
here the sea room is limited, winds that q;
e reported from the lake coast as brisk
e.. from fifteen 70 twenty-five miles an
ur. IN which a ship on the ocean would ,,
Try all her canvas, frequently become ,
n9erous to navigation. Moreover. it is
portant to remember, also. that the direc J
N o. the wind often determines whether ,
is 10 be dreaded. Experience demon. ,,
'ates that most danger is to he appre- ,
nued when tie wind is blowing on TO a
shore. HE cautionary signal hi ght. !;
eretore. be properly expected only for
rts thus threatened For inland and we'll =
pi.arpI Ra1ti,nnr. anl pn:1a |
lphia. this distinction can not be easily !,
lde. 1t has, therefore. been decided that !
: cautionary signal shall be hoisted when. .
er the winds are expected to be as high
twenty-five miles an hour. and to con- :,
he a. that velocity fer several hours, :,
thin a radius OF lO9 miles of the station. !,
t Is hoped that eventually it will be !,
'cticable to add second signal. giving 9
rning OF severe gales, and others are 8
ltemplated as experience shall justify. !:
addition to the cautionary signal above :,
'cribed, it is proposed to furnish daily TO :,
press list of the ports at which eau n
nary signals have been ordered to be dis :,
yed, or at which they are ordered a.
W. o.
Zach signal. as now used. is expected to 80
d good :or the spoce Of eight hours from
time at which it was hoistei. When
sigma! is displayed, it indicates that the
&c has no knowledge OF any approaching Z,
lgcr sufficient to justify the issue of /. Z
rnl warning. But as this is not only the =
e when really no danger exists. but, also. Ju
many cases. may be the consequence Of d.
failure of the telegraph;c connection OF u!
central office at Washington, with out ~ ~
Il stations, the absence OF the caution "
signal should not lead the mariner to W.
TX his watchiulness OF the weather. nor "
neglect to obtain the latest and fullest 3
,rmation from the station observers at .,
port In which he may be. and else cn
ere To obtain the most exact informal d.