The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-07-10


Times long article upon the Mount
Carmel disaster, which we regret that
we are not able to lay before our readers
entire. The part of IT relating to the
causes which produce these phenomena
will prove of general interest Alter
rldiculing the accepted theory among
scientists that tornadoes are "nnreplen-
ishable vacuums, he declares that they
are electrical, and gives the following
rea sons for his theory:
"O), That any insulated matter,
when charged, will by induction evoke
an equally potent charge OF the opposite
electricity upon the nearest point OF adj
iacent matter, instant communication
between these two opposite points taking
place, so that these two charges mutually
obliterate each other. The earth always
is negative AID the clouds positive.
Hence cloud In proportion to the in
tensity OF its positive charge, cvoiies
upon the earth beneath it an equally in-
tense negative charge, even though the
latter were devoid of negative electricity.
Hence communication between the
earth and the cloud is instantly eStab-
lished in order to obiitcrate the charge
on the cloud. The tornado is tie effect
of the act of communication established,
~. The other principal is that electric
ity cannot pass between two points cx-
cept by one OF two ways, ~ by con-
duction where the two points are con-
nectcd by continuous matter; and (2) by
convection, where the points arc insula-
ted or where matter is discOntinuOuS.
Those who have any doubt about this
may consult the works Of the late Pro-
fessor MasnuS. OF Berlin, or those OF
Professor Schelcn, OF Cologne, the
world-renOwncd SpectroScOpisI, The
latter says that "the electric current re.
quircs material convcyor OF its trans,
mission from one point to another. 1t
cannot pass where there is no trace OF
either gas or vapor. lie might have
stated that where there is neither trace
of gas or yapor IN contact with, or tree
matter upon the discharglng pole &c
give electricity convection, ii improv
from the pole, whether that pole be o
meta! or any other substance, aut
throws it across the Intervening Spac,
upon the other receiving pole,
lie gives The following interesting in.
cidents OF the Mount Carmel tornado in
proof of his theory "rhe hurting o.
matter into, and up through the vortcN
of the tornado, is bence only discharg,
of electrified matter conveying electricity
from the earth to the clouds; the gravity
as ii is called, OF the matter affected
being overcome by the attraction OF the
cloud above which gives it pull in front.
and the repulsion of the cAlh below
which gives ii shove in the rear. This
action can be simulated in the laLratory
Paste piece of paper upon any good
conducting substance and pass charged
conductor rapidly above it; as the con
ductor passes by, the more rapidly
the better, the paper instantly leap,
upon it, This principle explains til,
whole mystery OF electric action in
tornado,
Like all similar tornadOes this on,
passed through calm air. At the rail
road depot, even hundred feet in from
OF the track of the monster, the air wa,
perfectly calm and still. its passage
was too rapid for the surrounding air t
be put in motion. Had time been glvel
Tor the air to rush in, there would hav,
been no serious destruction of property
Theterrible action of the cyclone is thu
graphically depicted Trees shown!
scarcely any agitation were seized rs b.
herculean hand and instantly ierkc,
into the approaching storm center, Tn
bell on the court house was Instant,
thrown one hundred feet across Mair
street directly in the teeth OF the storm
A frame house near where the bell iel
leaped five feet back from the street al
also in the face of the storm. Roofs an,
the westw walls, OF houses jumped into tn
approaching vortex. On its south nan
the north walls on its north flank IN
south walls did the same. East wal!
and roofs and sections Of root thre,
themselves into the retreatlng vortex
West OF the town there stands a peca
tree about twenty inches in diameter
from Appearances it stood very neor !
not quite In the center OF the yorteN
The bark, except two small strips, on
Of which, however, is completely dc
tached from the trunk shot into tn
passing vortex. The evidence of elec,ri
action here Is unmistakablc. The wa,
that the bark was wrenched of show,
That the force came from the tree az
center. On the west side, the tree spill
into a thin Stat not one fourth of an incl
thick. A section Of thi. Stat abou
three quarters OF an inch long Is cut on
as though bullet cane from the cent.
oil the tree. Mr. Landors. who accomna
MED me, probed the depth of IN
oriillce.. A small twig could he ru
in without difficulty to
depth OF two aud a half inche