Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-01
WEATHER PHENOMENA AED PRE-.
DICTIONS.

The APPEAL has two or three times re-
marked upon the very peculiar weather that
has caused 80 much loss and sorrow, and al
though spring is vergiug upon summer still the
weather exhibits the most remarkable phe-
nomsna. Tornadoes destroy buildings and
crops, and, unhappily, human life also, in
various localities, until an unusual appear
ance in the conformation of the clouds, or the
advance of those thick, inky masses of clouds
we have seen so much of of late, begin to
excite feelings that border upon terror.
Except under ground, there appears to be no
safety from the frequent tornado. that have
visited SO many parts Of our country. With
in doors there is danger of the walls falling,
or of the roof being driven in upon the heads
of the occupants; while out of doors the rent
of branches of trees and other objects,
including even pieces OF timber OF no
uncomfortable. weight, strike down those
who are urshellered, and too often the stroke
is fatal. We have all laughed at Virgins,
but whether by chance or by science he told
more truth than it was pleasant TO receive.
He warned his readers that the coming tenn
pests would be Of fatal violence, that prop
eriy would be destroyed by hecatombs and
human life along with it. There has not, so
far, been the wholesale loss on sea that he
predicted, but on land his predictions have
proved only too correct. The recent interval
Of cold has been another strange incident.
To wear overcoats in Memphis in the middle
OF May, and to have snow in Cincinnati at
the same time, are strange occurrences. I'M
aginative interpretations people are indulg-
ing in speculations about these visitations
that are groundless, and prominent divine,
even, has declared that they are a special
visitation of Providence for our sins, and
these shallow observers of the ways of Prov
idence are generally sure that such vista
tions were never known in the land before.
The tornadoes are more destructive to the
works Of man than they were half century
ago, because there are towns, and factories, and
farms where half century ago the bear and
the deer roAmed ever the unoocupied desola.
lions where those products of human indus
try are now found. The cold, unusual and
compared with what was endured through
the whole of the summer Of 1916. In that
year, after a mild January and February,
cold set in; the latter part of April had
snow and ice; in May there was ice an inch
thick; in June frost and ice we're common,
almost all green things and fruit persisted.
Vermont had ten inches, Maine seven inches,
Massachusetts, and interior New York three
inches Of snow; extra clothing and mittens
were worn, the wood piles disappeared as in
winter, he who was planting was shivering.
There were few warm days and little rain,
the season was a dry one with cold, fierce
north wind. June 18th New England had q
heavy snow with intense cold. A rapid rise
in the Mississippi did damage in New Or
leans. July had frost and ice, the Indian
corn. was generally killed and, the next
spring, seed corn sold at 81 and So
bushel. Half Of September was pleasant
then came ice an inch thick. October
WAS very cold, November snowy, but Deem.
Der WAS comfortable aud the winter wa:
nild. Europe suffered also. On the S0th
OF July snow fell al Barnet, forty milei
from London, and nearly all the green crops
in Europe persisted. OF course all this gave
the credulous full play, snd people who
could not write their name could tell very
distinctly how the hand of the Lord wa