Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-06-23
@isrfQarre0ns.
WARNINGS ABOUT THE WAY TO ACT
WHEN CAUGHT n A STORM

WARSING9 ABOUT THE WAY To AT
WHEN CAUGHT n STORM.
In view Of the TACT that the people Of
Mississippi, and Particularly those of Co
piah, Simpson aid Lawrence counties.
have suffered so severely for several years
from tornadoes. it might be well, says the
New Orleans Times Democrat, TO call
their attention to the report recently pre-
pared by John r. Finley, OF the Signal
Service, on the subject of tornadoes, their
special characteristics and dangers. with
practical directions tor the protection OF
lite and property, which, had it been gen.
orally read and understood in Beauregard.
Wesson and Georgetown, would haze
made the mortuary list Of those towns
much smaller than they were. There Is
no difficulty whatever in telling when
cyclone is coming. Its symptoms are
/. early recognized, and can never be mis-
taken These people at Beauregard and
Wesson, who had witnessed the cyclone
that lust year previous destroyed the
neighboring town of Monticello, knew
what they had to prepare for, but they
unfortunately did not know what TO do in
this emergency when prompt action was
so much needed.
cussion of cyclones, their cause and origin
it il sufficient to give the following pre-
monitory sings, easily perceptible TO and
comprehended by every one On the day
Of the storm, and for several hours pre-
vious to the appearance OF the tor
nado clouds, the atmosphere Is
sultry and oppressive. Clouds form
first in the southwest. and then almost
Immediately in the northwest, or vice
versa III they are light their appearance
resembles smoke Issuing from burning
building. or straw stack, rolling up in
fantastic shapes to great heights: again,
like fine mist, or quite white. like fog on
steam. These dark clouds at times present
a greeDish OF copperish hue. Again, they
appear jet black from centre to circnm
ference, and they sometimes present
purple or blush tinge. or, at times are
strangely lurid, but always with what
appears to be black smoke surrounding
them. The clouds form in the southwest
and northeast, and finally come together
with terrific crash. and then the funnel
shaped tornado cloud appears upon the
western sky moving boldly to the front
from within the confused mass. A heavy
roaring noise. like that of heavily load
ed freight train passing over u bridge or
through tunnel, Is heard, and then the
cyclone or tornado is upon you. Now, as
some OF these signs appear hours IN ad-
vance of any danger; as these storms
occur only in certain seasons of the year,
from April to September, and as they are
restricted 10 certain sections of the country
it would seem that there ought to be
means of foreseeing them and preventing
any very great loss of life. Aad there
are The far Western and Northwestern
States suffer far more severely from
tornadoes than Mississippi does. Kansas
has as many as a dozen every year, and
Iowa is annually visited by them; but
although these storms are just as bad on
the Western prairie rs in Mississippi. the
loss of life there is very light. because the
farmers and villagers know what pre-
cautions to take when tornado visits
them.
The Signal Service gives this warning
II caught in tornado always move with
all possible despatch to the north, unless
in so doing you are obliged to cross the
entire path Of the storm. A glance to-
ward the west will tell you whether You
are on the southern edge of the probable
path of the tornado cloud or more to the
north. II in the centre or hall way between
the centre and south, TN edge. your chances
are best in u direct course to the north.
II further to the south. move directly and
very rapidly to the south. bearing slightly
east. In no event should YOU ever run
directly east or northeast. There is al
ways sufficient time TO escape the tornado.
even If It be but few rods from you. for
its breadth Is only few hundred feet;
rs general thing the tornado cloud is
seen at from one to three miles distance.
giving you from one to three minutes
neutrality-suspicious. time to enable you to
get from quarter to half mile out OF
its course. As for houses. they are no
protection. and are to be summed in a
storm of this kind. No building has been
or Is likely to be devised that can with
stand the force of n tornado. A frame
house Is better than brick or stone one.
because it is more elastic and a one story
building more elastic than one or two
stories. But whatever the style or charac.
ter of the house, always leave it ii ii is in
the path of tornado. The Signal Service
recommends as the best place OF safety
cellar or dug out. and many farmers in
Kansas have constructed these dug outs
simple holes in the ground. coveredto pro-
tect the inmates from flying timbers.
does. Under no circumstances. whether
in building or cellar. ever take a posi-
ton in northeast corner, in an east room,
or against an east wall. even. Remem-
Der, also. that the tornado invariably
moves in northeasterly direction. This
simple rule will save Observation-Disclosures
Of the lives now sacrificed to the storm
fiend. If forced to remain in your house.
and where you have no cellar, always
take a position against the west or south
wall-the former is the better-either face
downward upon the floor or standing
with your back TO the wall. and always
take your final position on the first or
ground floor Never stand or lie in trent
of door or window. near the stove or
heavy piece Of furniture, and always close
your doors and windows. Ifyou are out
of the house avoid forests and groves.
make for the open field and throw your
self, face downward. toward the east, and
your arms over your head to protect it,
Such are precautions to be taken. well I'M
derstood in Kansas and Iowa, but little
known in Mississippi. 1t is due to a COM
prehension Of them that the same storm
which reckons up a mortality of over 200