The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-14

inch; on July IL, the fall was "a; July r.
days. In June. Of 1874 when there was no tax Of
the comet. there was a rainfall IN Minnesota OF
ana Mr. IN ccss Ssrea"
IN tn, the Equitable Building, on Broadway.
msncins at $40 p. n and tpno ecstinuns until
night, .95 July s. commencing at S so =. M. and
continune until 1:so ?: NJ, rs; July IS, beginning
on same day beginning at 40 P. NJ and stopping
At 10 r. M 80; July q, beginning at 1910 A. M.
beginning 1t A. M. and continuing TO 0 80 A. NJ,
100 "a ana afterwards, during the same day, the
without the comet, the rain fell more heavily In
rev hours on the 2eth OF July, 1872 tnan It did this
9n S9t - d ss JSly TO- Il and r. Las; Ses on
nearly as much as during the recent few days past
SO that, whatever NAV be In store for the poor
not responsible for the cooling showers we have
had since the thunder and lightning began to
scare us.
The Law OF storms-A Lecture by DIR.
william r. Thoms.
DE-. William F. Thoms delivered last evening
lecture on the Law OF Storms" at the Nautical
Institute. The following is the substance OF his
remarks:-
Storms are caused by portion OF the atmos.
phere becoming violently heated. The most i'm
portant variety OF storms the navigator has to en-
counter are known as hurricanes and cyclones
and typhoons. these acquire a circular motion
round a focus or centre lat which the air is sta
tionary), and round this focus the wind rushes
with the greatest violence. These storms have
also progressive motion to the westward at q
rate varying from twelve to thirty miles an hour.
Their diameter varies from $50 to 100 miles. The
wind blows with the greatest fury near the centre
OF the locus, and there also the shifts OF wind are
most rapid. Towards the circumference the wind
has less force and the shifts OF wind are longer.
The Indications oil coming storm are as fol-
lows The barometer 1alls rapidly from 5000
inches, and when It reaches 1920 we are on the
verge Of storm circle. At the same time the
weather becomes threatening. with heavy blush
looking clouds In the SKY. sometimes the storm
commences with small rain and the wind gradu.
ally increases. One Of the signs OF the storm Is a
heavy swell of the sea, far heavier than could be
accounted for by the existing wind. Let us now
consider how the navigator Is to ascertain where
the centre OF the storm is. In the northern latl-
tudes these circular storms commence In the
northern limits OF the northeast trade winds In
August and September, and travelling westward,
visit the West India Islands and then the coast OF
can he easily ascertaIned Turn your bacx to the
wind and your left hand will point to tue locus.
Having ascertained the centre OF the storm 1T Is
very easy to keep out Of ITS path by watching the
change OF the wind. II the wind Is north and
east, veering to the north, then run the vessel
to the north and west. II a north and
east wind veer to the east put the vessel on the
starbOard tack. Following this rule all round the
danger from these circular storms. The navigator
must never cross the track OF these storms or
even sail in company with them. On the southern
latitude these circular storms commence near the
southern limits of the southeastern trade winds,
and pursue course to the westward They are
generally expected in the Onths OF February or
March. Turn your back to the wind and your
right hand will point to the centre. The direction
of the wind must be closely watched. II q north
and east wind veer to the east, then run south
and west. II the north and east wind veer to the
north put the ship on the port tack Tne barom-
eter should be always closely watched. When
the barometer falls to $3.50 the vessel will be so
miles from the centre OF the storm. AS the focus
approaches the barometer will iall to 1920 at 100
miles and to 2s.40 at fifty miles, to $500 at about
thirty miles At or near the focus Itself 1t falls as
low as q. 90 inches.
The lecture was amply illustrated BY diagrams