The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-09-21
TORNADORS.
Their Progress and Appearance In
tho Southern Stntcs-RcmnrknbI
Phenomena.


In the August number Of the AmCri-
can Journal Of Science and Arts,
Professor Hampton S. Whitfield, of
the University Of Alabama, has a very
interesting article on tOrnadoes In the
Southern States, from which we take
the following extracts:
"The tornado Is q storm which has
two distinct movements, the one pro-
gressive along the surface Of the earth,
the other gyratory, like that Of top
spinning on Its axis. 1t whlrls rs 1t
goes, and it, force is 80 great that no
structure OF wood, brick or stone can
stand before it. Even the solid hills
4uakc and the ground trembles
lcneath its march. Fortunately, its
track In thi. country is worry narrow.
have not yet found traces Of any one
exceeding two hundred yards in
breadth.
"The progress OF Tornadoes is
always, In the Southern States, from
point south OF west to point north
Of east, and, although sometimes va
ricd by prevailing winds, this direction
is characteristic, and due, as l shall
show, to the rotation Of the earth on
its axis. The gyration Is always from
right to left, and this also, rs Is known,
is an effect of the earth's rotation.
"On the south side Of the tornado,
then, the greatest power is exhibited,
for here the gyratiOn IS forward or
coincldent with the translation, while
or the north side, the gyratory motion
being contrary to the progression, the
effect is le,lst. At the front and rear,
where tho gyratlon crosses the path,
the effect must be the same.
zone of the most remarkable 0C-
commandments OF the tornado Is the
black column or spout, extending from
the cloud down to the surface. Itpre-
cisely resembles a column OF black
smoke, such as pours from the pipes Of
u steamer burning pine wood; 1t is,
in fact, condensed vapOr or cloud, In
tcnsilied in blackness by the dust and
rubbish carried up from the ground.
The tornado is n shell or hollow CYL
Inder of air, and all Its energy lies In
ITS rotating rim, which Is powerfully
compressed by two antagonistic forces,
centrifugal and centripetal. The rapid
whirl draws the air from the center
toward the circumference, where 1t Is
met and opposed by the inrushing
winds. There is, consequently a rare
faction, great reduction of tempera.
lure by expansion and condensation OF
vapor within the shell.
"The spout does not hug the earth
continuously, but rebounds or rico
chefs along the uneven surface, often
skipping the valleys, but generally
desolating the hills. 1t Is disposed,
however, st every recurrence to strike
at the same points. 1t is not an es-
tablished fact, but is commonly be-
lieved, and with some reason, that
the tornado does, in tile course OF
years, return along its beaten path,
and that it Is unsafe to build where
one has ever passed.
"Such an opportunity rs fell to my
lot of witnessing the formation and
course Of a tornado Is rarely, enjoyed
and the phenomena observed on that
occasion are of great value in iilustra.
ting the origin of these whirlwinds.
On the 10Th OF April, 1867, at ten
o'clock A. NJ, l was approaching Tus-
caloosa, on the ElytOn road, the gen.
cral direction being east and west.
The weather was hot and oppressive,
while perfect came prevailed both at
the surface and In the upper regions,
for the leaves were not stirred upon
the trees, and the heavens were cover
cd with fragmentary clouds, perfect.
ly at rest. Occasional large drops OF
rain fell, and there was now and then
lightning. The atmosphere was evil
IDENTIFY surcharged with vapOr and In
condition OF great electrical excite.
ment At the distance OF three and
u half miles from town, an elevated
ridge, over which the road passed,
afforded an extended view, and l saw
anass of black cloud, detached and
hanging ever the western. horizon.
1T tnppeared nearly circular III shape,
with the exception of q slight angular
projection, like an inverted cone, ut Its
lower edge. :.
"The most remarkable fact disclos-
ed by the phenomena Of this storm is
the inherent power OF progression
which it unquestiOnably possessed:
After the gyration was established 1t
began at once to travel eastward, not
driven by any wind, but blowing its
own way through the tranquil atmos'
laIre with tremendous speeu. here
b, presented a problem, which, SO far
~ 1 know, has not heretofore been
TsopOulnled. Its solution Is important
10 the science of meteorology. The
fact that tofnadoes invariably move
from the southwest to the northeast
~ well established, as also the fact
that, by an impulse acquired from the
carth's rotation on its axis, they gy-
cate from north by west to south.
This backward gyration is thus eH-
plained: All narallels OF latitude