Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-05-30
HOW TO ACT in A TORNADO.

Sergeant John ?. Finley, signal service
officer at Kansas City, Mo-, has published
in a pamphlet on tornadoes some useful
directions concerning the course to be
taken to escape the dangers of those ter
tible forces. The inhabitants of lorna
do-frequented district must be watchful
in the season of visitations, for he can
never know when the destruction will
come upon him. On the first sign of the
approaching vortex, he must run-al-
ways to the north, unless by going in
that direction he will have to cross the
entire path of the storm. If he Is nearer
to the uthern edge than to the center
of the probable path, he may go south,
bearing slightly east; but in no event
should he ever run directly to the east or
northeast 1t is impossible to save any
building that may lie in the path of the
tornado or any property that cannot be
got ont OF its way. No material, no
method of construction, can be competent
to resist the raging destruction. Moth
ing rising above the ground can escape
it. The most practicable measure Of
preCautiOn is to construct "dug-Out'
at some suitable point, within easy dis
tance from the house, to serve as a place
of refuge or shelter. The retreat should
be entirely underground, with roof at
least three feet thick, not rising above
the surface Of the earth, and entered from
the northern or eastere side. A "cellar-
cave" may be constructed from the Gel
lar, if the house has one, to serve as a
l.. q L =
be excavated from the west wall of the
cellar, toward the west, and should be
made as complete aud secure as the "dug-
out" If, however, the storm cannot be
escaped, if no refuge is at hand, or there
is no time to get TO it, the safest thing to
do is to place ones sell against the west
wall of the cellar, face forward, or agcInst
the south wall, as near the southwest
corner as possible. The northeast quar-
ter is in any case fatal position, and
should always be avoided If one Is
actually overtaken by the tornado, his
only resource is to cast himself face
downward upon the ground, with his
head to the east and his arms thrown
over his head to protect it. If a stump
or large stone, or anything heavy that
the wind will not blow over is near,
he may get a trihe of protection by
throwing himself to the eastward of it. II
in house with no cellar, he should get
into the west room, on the ground floor il
possible, and away from all stoves and
heavy furniture. The people of towns
might find it to their advantage to pro
vide for having a watch, to be on duty
on all days when the air bears premoni
tory symptoms%%Of a violent wind storm
to give signal to the whole population
on the appearance of the first real threat
ening signs. The signs Of the formation
and approach of tornado cloud are dis
tinct and sufficiently suggo stve t. afford
opportunity for timely and concerted ac-
ton. Sergeant Finlay is continuing hi;
investigations of the phenomena of lorna
does, and he has prepared three full
schedules of minute inquiries calling fol
the facts attendant upon the appearance
of the storms, which he sends to persons
who were within the path of one, who
were on the outer edge of the path, and
who were from 10 to 100 miles from it.
Popular Science Monthly.