News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-10-30
HAZEN ON TORNADOES.
Special Police, Pocket Compasses and Dul
outs Essential in Times of Danger.

Now that the tornado has closed its
engagements for the summer after 8
brilliant and busy season, says a Wash.
ington letter, those who have not read
Chief Signal Officer Hazen's "Charac-
teristics of Tornadoes, with Practical
Directions for the Protection of Life and
Property" should do so, for it is unique
work. 1t shows that the tornado, al
though wild and untamed, is regular in
its habits, and that it invariably travels
from the southwest to the northeast. 1t
most frequently leaves its lair between
the hours of o'clock and o'clock p.
N. and never later than 6 o'clock o. m,
although it may take until after the
latter hour to finish its awful work.
Statistics in the work embracing q
period of six years show that Illinois,
with seven tornadoes and two-tenths of o
tornado year, and Kansas, with six and
nine-tenths tornadoes per annum, were
the favorite haunts of the storm, while
Connecticut, with only -tenths of a
tornado a year, is at the foot of the
twenty-five tornado-producing States in
the list.
With respect to protection from tor.
nadoes in towns and cities the following
suggestions are made: son any day
when the weather conditions presage the
probable approach of a violent wind
storm it should be the duty of those in
authority to deputizs certain persons
one or more in each ward-the number
depending upon the size of the town, &c
watch the character of the sky
and give timely warning of the tornado's
advance to the various families in then
respective wards, and take charge of the
removal of persons and property tc
places of safety. In the matter of warn.
nnGpld probably be to advantage
of the church and school
beis, by ringing them in some peculiar
manner. 1t should be well known that
the persons above referred to are pos
sessed Of special authority.
They should be brave, active, intelli-
gent and judicious men," The book
further advises that every one should
obey these tornado guards, and the au-
thor earnestly suggests that no one
''should smile at the novelty or minute
ness of this arrangement. He says:
"It will not be necessary for these per-
sons to be adopts in the science of me-
teorology or devote their time from the
LIST of April to the 1st of September ex-
clusively to observations of the sky"
The instructions as to how one should
conduct himself on the approach of
tornado are:
"If in the centre or half way between
the centre and southern edge [of the
storm always run to the north. If
further to the south, move directly to
the south, bearing slightly east. Never
run east or northeast"
A dugout is highly recommended as
retreat, but in case one is not convenient
"Retreat instantly to your cellar and
place yourself face forward against the
west wall. A south wall at a point as
near the southwest corner as possible is
the next best place, but under no cir
take position in a north
east room or northeast corner"
If out of doors ''throw yourself prone
(face downward) upon the ground, head
to the east, and arms over the head. If
near large stone or stump take posi-.
ton directly to the east of it, head toward
the object"