The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-23
"CROSSING THE LINE. y
THE CYCLONE.
fErnm the New York Herald.

ysH FoUINoX AND THE WEATHER. PROGRESS
OF TIE GnEAv CYCLONE HoRTHwARD FROM
GALVESTON.
To-day (20th September) we have the au-
tumnal cquiu1x that is the second time 10
the wear when the day and the night are OF
equal length. According to the exact time
the sun rises at 6 O'Clock a. Nj. and sets at 6
O'Clock 2. NJ. This momentary truce be-
tween dar and night occurs when the suns
centre crosses the celestial Equator. 1t oc
ours in spring about the goth Of March, and
in autumn about the Goth Of September.
The tGuinoctial points are those points IN The
celestial Equator at which the suns path
crosses the Equator or line. The equiuoxes
move on the eclip'ic (the great circle in the
heavens in the circumference OF which the
sun appears to move during the annual
revolution of the eartb) at the rate Of about
80 22 degrees q year. which is called the pre-
ce,son of the tquinoxes. The obliquity Of
the ecliptic suffers Il monthly variation, but
50 slight that it has not materially altered
since creation. This is proved by the fact
that the chief coast lines and mountain
ranges either coiIcide with or are perpen-
drcular to the line separating light and dark
ness when the sun is at the sols:lces.
The season OF equinoctial storms is at
hand. and from now until the middle of Oc-
tobcr we may look for fearful gales on land
and sea. A cyclone has already started on
its travels over the usual path so accurately
lald down by the Meteorological Department
OF the Weather Signal Service. The science
OF meteOrology has within the past twenty
years been brought 10 high pitch Of perfcc-
ton. and it's study, as illustrating the Won
dertu and unallerable laws that govern the
phySical system of the universe, possesses as
great IN interest as any within the range Of
human knowledge. At this moment hum
dred stations of the Weather Signal Service
are watching the yagaries and progress of the
formidable cyclone that, starting from the
southern coast Of Cuba nine or ten days
ago, struck and almost overwhelmed the city
OF Galveston. in Texas, last w edpesday morn.
ing. The tirst knowledge that this danger
Gus visitor was on its pereSrnatlonS came in
a di> patch from Santiago de Cuba relating its
mlschievous pranks in that quarter of the
West Indies. The meteorological eye was at
once directed TO It's course, and the score OF
maps that have since been issued illustrating
It's journey und locating its daily where
ahou,S make an intensely interesting study.
When properly explained it is as simple as
marvellous. AT this moment in the Gulf OF
vi
urc. Wh,n that is the case there is a move
ment of the wind south from north to till the
vacuum. BY the admirable assistance Of the
telegraph it can be found instantly where the
norlhcrly wind Is in contact with the
OUTER RIM OF THE CYCLONE.
yhe latter pushed northeast. The other
day low thermometer was found at Mobile,
but the warm breath Of the cyclone was adj.
yaucing. and the cold breath OF the north
east wind was forced to withdraw. Until
Yesterday it had retraced its steps as far back
us a point in Southeastern Pennsyirania,
showing the speedy encroachment OF The
precursor Of the cyclone. Friday last the
UerdM published dispatch from Houston,
Texas, saying: "a fearful gale has been
blowing at Galveston since yesterday morn.
ing. The city is partially under water. The
gale is increasing and the barometer IS fall
ing. Tnc bay is so full of water that il the
wind changes to the north the Whole Island
will 5e LOST"
TIE STORMS DIRECTION.
This was the identical cyclone reported a
few days before as prevailing on the south.
eTn coast Of Cuba.
WHAT Is A CYCLONE!
To learn something for September reading
of these singular bodies of air called cyclones
and euuinoclla gales Herald reporter call.
ed yesterday at
THE WEATHER SIGNAL STATION
on top of The Equitable building, Broadway,
and through the courtesy Of the gentleman
in charge, DR.. Hiram }. Penrod, who was
four Years in charge Of the station at Bilti-
more, learned mauy things that were new
and of interest. The bulletin for the after
noon had just been printed, and indicated
that the cy clone was moving in northeast
direction, the words being "b brisk and high
winGs aud stormy weather have prevailed
on the Middle Atlantic coast, and an aiea OF
unu>uIny low barometer is central near
Ea>tport. Heavy rains baye prcyIlled in the
Gulf States and heavy gales have prevailed in
the Gult." On the wall hung weather
map, just printed, showing the barometrlcal
eoudltlons all over tie Union. This was
worth full hours study.
THE COMING CYCLONE
has originated in the southern region Of the
zone of easierlg tradc-~indS east Of the
Wlndward islands, possibly in the meteoro-
logical toIrid zone or equatorial belt OF
IA m> and r,ins-a low pressure ana large
humidity in itsceutral region. Toward this
the Wnd blows from all points, and, defltc,-
ing 10 the right, pusues Its spiral course
lid ward and iu ward. The moisture brought
by this wind cOndenses as the pressure Is re-
ducud and clouds are formed, with heavy
rain. In the centre of the cyclone an up
ward current is supposed TO exist, aud high
above are formed the cirrus clouds wbicn
stseAm iaraway in advance on the upper cur
rea:s OF air. This cyclone is carried to The
Il t,tfi mo-.
teofoiogical temperate zone, where be pre-
yaii,tlg >outk and West.Hlnds control lis mo.
tlon. The cyGone is nov supposed TO pursue
4 course n0rlhwafd, psalel to the Guli
stream. With lis at,eUdklL band of wsrm.
moist air. 1t Nlll prodGce heavy eastefy
,airs oH our East Atlaut,c &C ast, aud will
iuaIIy get lost 10 the Northern Atlantic:
ocean. or IL uay ceach the COAST Of Great
Britain and cause damage aRlong the ship
,,ug. A dispatch from New Ur!ea Us Yester-
Law stated that The ship Marcia Creenleat,
rom Keyai. reported euc0uDt9ing u 'es riffs
hurricane IN latitude Is degrees 2S minutes,
,ugllude 81 degrees Nv minutes.
CHARACTER OF CYCLONES.
CYCLONES ex,eud over u circle from one
undred 10 five hundred miles IN Giameter,
nd sometimes a thousand miles. lie an. |
roach OF cyclone is generally annoncc~d |
Y swell Of the ocean, resulting from the /
.lion OF The wind upon neigh boring sen,
bile the waves thus agiiated advance more
pidIy than the storm. Tue character of
" weather Ut any iiue is aft cted Dy so
ANY circumstances that it is Of course lm.
~sible 10 predict wnat weather may be ex.
,pted at O given time and place. To some
stent, however, such predictions are posi-.