Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-28
PROFESSOR BREWER ON TaRNADOES.

The PROBABLE SHAPE AND PArn OF THE WAL.
LINGFoRD CYCLONE.
Professor Brewer of Yale College has spent
number of days in Walingford, studying
the features of the tornado. lie was recently
interviewed by a New Haven Palladium re.
porter, who asked him for some information
concerning the disaster. The Professor will
ingly gave this to him, substantially as fol-
lows
"No one can tell what makes tornado.
There are many theories concerning the cause
l know OF 500 persons, each Of whom has a
different theory. Lightning always plays a
leading part IN the disturbance. In some
tornaooes the exhibition of electricity IL
grand. There is no particular hour at which
they are formed, but they usually take place
In the afternoon, Tor it is then that hot day
becomes most sultry. In northern ATTITUDES
the rotary motion Is always from the right to
the left. The column is funnel-shaped, the
small part being on the earth. 1t sways
from side to side frequently, and sometimes
bounds like ball The movement is either
to the east or northeast. 1t Is agreed that
this tornado had all the characteristics of
other tornadoes.
the tornado was formed, and ionnd it 10 be
ABOUT thirty-hve feet IN height. The cone
rose up on this, and the damage it inflicted
shows 1t to have been from 400 to 450 feet
wide. 1t was not powerful enough to uproot
trees outside of thus. IL crossed the railroad
track nearly at right angles and about 600
feet wide. At Colony street it was 700 Or
100 feet In wldth-that is, it was strong
enough TO tear down houses within this limit
From the lake to this point was the space IN
which 1t displayed lts greatest energy. The
cone was solid there, or nearly 50, at Its bot
tom, 80 that its center Was as destructive as
its outside lines. AS it approached the hill
1t broadened to about 200 feet, and over
this space unreofed houses. IL twisted off
trees over still wider area, and further on,
at Elm street, broadened still more. It,
enects Could be seen as far ar the eye could
reach Trough a field glass The trees on
PORTIONS OF tue south line Of the whlrl were
iald 10 the east, while on the nsrth they were
iaid In many directions. The tombstOnes in
the cemetery were land towards the ,st, but
the tall monuments were thrown t. the north
The actual direction of the tornado was east
south east
"In tornadoes the funnel-shaped column Is
always visible. have witnessed and studied
many sand-whirls on the plains. These are
harmless, and lose themselves after gong
short distances. They appear there IN many
shapes OF the funnel, some of them being
larger at the base than Others and some hav-
ing wide bulk for short distance and at
height OF several feet from the ground. The
tornado In Wallngford undoubtedly tsok mud
ana water from the lake. The roots OF up
rooted trees were washed bare Some of the
mud' however, came from the street. The
oofnado was not Of unusual strength"
Inc professor, upon being asked if lorna.
does We're not Of uncommon occurrence in thin
part oil the country, said
we have many such in New England.
suppose We have them every year They teal
up trees, throw down fences. but AZ no live,
are lost no attention il paid to them. If il
were not for the fact that there was such ,
loss OF life in Wallingford, the tornado woul,
not have obtained the celebrity it has