The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-07-06
HOW TO ACT IN A TORNADO.
From Popular Miscellany in Popr-
lar Sciencn Monthly for juno.

From Popular Miscellany in Popr-
lar Scienco Monthly for juno.
S,rgent John p. Finley, signal
service Office q. Kansas City, Mo-,
has published in all article on lorna
does some ureful directions corcsrh-
ing tho courro to DO taken to escape
the dangers OF these terrible forces.
TIE inhabitants OF tornado fire.
qnented district must DO wa'chful in
tho soaGon of visit ,t;oas, for he will
never know when destruction is CON-
ing upon him. On the frat sign Vi
tho approaching vortex lie must run
always to tie uorth, unlcs' by going
in that direction he has 10 cross H..
entire Path of the storm. Ii ho il
nearer 10 the southern olge than t.
tn, cen.ro Of the probable path he
may go south, bearing slightly to the
cast; int in no event must he run
directly east or northeast. Il is im-
possible 10 savs Ty property thn:
may lie in the path GA tornado, o,
any property TIA. capuo. 10 got on
of it's way. NJ material, no method
OF construction, con be competent TO
resist The rng'ng des ructiop. Moth
ing riuirg above the ground can ss.
capoit. The most prac,ica! meaturt
Of pracauion is to corstruc. dug
ont at some suitable distance from
the house to servo as n place st ref
uge or shelter. The retreat should
be entirely underground, and the
roof at least three feet thick, not
rising above the surfaco OF tic Garth
and onteriug from the northern or
eastern side. A 'ceilar.cav; ma y be
construc'od from the cellar il the
hou 0 has one, to serve M o suts'i.
tu.o for lilo 'dug-out.' lfshould' b.
t1csvated from the wet wall of the
celia toward. The west, md should
bs made ms crnp!ete md secure as
tho 'dus-ou'.' II, however, tho
storm :ol be escaped, il no ref
ugO is at hand, or ,hero 10 no way 10
get /, II. tho safest tiling to do is to
place ores self against the ives!
wall OF tue cellar, faceiorward, or
against the fouth wall as near the
southwest coraOr Gs possible. TIE
ncr;h enst quarter is in any case n
fatal position and should always be
avoided. II ono is actually overtak-
ell By the torn ado. Ills only resource
il 10 calt himself face downward
upon the ground, with his head tow
ard the east, and his arms thrown
over his face TO protect it. II a
stnmp or largo stone, or anything
heavy that tho wind will not blow
ovor is near, no may get triGc Ct
projection ty throwing himself to
tho eastward Of il.
H ia q house with no cellar. he
should got into tho west roou, on the
ground flor if possible, md away
from oil stoves or heavy furniture.
The people Of towns might find it t,
their advantage TO provide for having
a watch, TO 10 on duty on all days
when the Dir bears premoniIo.y
symptoms Of violent windstorm. TO
give signal TO tho whole population
on tho appearance Of the threatening
aigns. Tho signs OF the formation
and approach Of II tornado coud are
distinct and sufficiently suggestive 20
aflord opportunity for timely and
concerted action. Sergeant Finley is
continuing bis Investigation OF tn
phenomena OF torradoes, and he has
prepared three full schedules Of min
ute inquiries calling for tho facts st.
tendant upoa the appearance Of the
storms, which he sends TO persona
who wero within tho path Of one and
ON tho outer edge Of the path, and
who were from 10 to 100 miles from it.