Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-05-14
TORNADOEs AND CYCLONES.

now arrived, some OF the practical hints
thrown out by the eminent scientist,
John D. Parker, concerning these terri
Die visitors may be the means of saving
many lives.
IOrnadoes occur in the afternoon, gen
orally between 2 o'clock and evening, 4
o'clock being called the tornado hour.
Tornadoes move from southwest to
northeast; generally east and about
twenty degrees north, and their linear
movements is ordinarily from thirty to
forty miles an hour. -
Tornadoes occur on sultry days, or
when the temperature is very high, and
the air is thoroughly saturated with
moisture.
Tornadoes occur when the electrical
conditions are high, or when the air is
highly charged with electricity.
The approach of a tornado may be
known by ominous clouds appearing in
the southwest and northwest. The
clouds sometimes resemble the smoke of
hay stack; at other times they appear
like irridecent fog. Sometimes they pre-
sent deep greenish hue, or an intensely
black; or have a purplish, yellowish, or
blueish tinge. When these two masses
OF banks or clouds, under the impulse of
opposing currents, approach each other,
they are thrown into great confusion;
there is a roaring likened to the rum
bling Of distant thunder, and an upward
expulsion OF air and vapor. Soon the
funnel Of the tornado is let down to the
earth, and moves to the front, while
scuds OF clouds play around it. The tor
nado now formed has four characteris-
tic movements-a linear movement
toward the northeast, a gyratory move
ment (north of the equator) contrary to
the hands of the watch; azigzag or sway
ing movement, which leaves dentage
edges in the path of the tornado, and
rising and falling movement, the poise
OF the upper current, by which the tor
nado leaps over portions of its path.
1fone is familiar with these premenitory
signs he is put on his guard, and when the
tornado appears he is prepared to act in
telligently and promptly. Under the pre-
ceeding principles he can easily determine
the projected path Of the tornado, from
the location of the funnel, and whether it
will be necessary to run north or south to
escape from it. He must, of course, not
run east or west.
When tornado is iminent, certain pre-
cautions should be observed. Doors and
windows should be closed, animals in har-
ness unhitched, and animals in stables let
out. The safest place in house is the
southwest corner on the first floor, or bet
ter perhaps, the southwest corner in the
cellar. If a tornado overtakes one on the
prairie, lie face downward, head toward
the east, and place hands over the head
for protection. If near a low, solid OBJ
Ject, like a large stone or stump, lie face
downward, east of il, head towards the OBJ
ject, with hands over the head for pro-
lection.
Every house should have a dug-out st
convenient distance from the house, or
what is better, a tornado room built into
the west or south wall of the cellar, large
enough for the family and for things of
great value, like deeds or money.
The destructive effects of tornadoes re-
suit from the gyratory movement, which
is estimated at from one hundred to five
hundred miles an hour. Tornadoes with
the hour-glass form of cloud are the most
intense, and seem to be irresistible, but
the greater number of tornadoes are of
lower intensity, and we can build against
them. Frame houses are more tenacious,
elastic than brick or stone, and when over
thrown are not destructive to life. They
should have strong frames. Brick houses
should have an extra layer of brick laid
in cement in the west and south walls.
Some houses with very thick walls laid
in cement are comparatively safe against
most tornadoes.