Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-08-15
The paILADElpHIa Tosslapo.

The RhlLADEtfHlA T0HNkee.
4 Signal Service onicer on the Grodnd
Studying It Up.
I RmLApkEPHIA, August I4-Eieutenani
john P. Finley, Of the Tornado Division,
United States signai Corps, is in the city
taakiDg special study OF the destructive
storm which passed over Camden and Port
Richmond, August 3. "The storm which
struck Philadelphia August swas mott a cy-
clone ps many supposed, but q fully de.
yeloped and vigorous tornado" said
lieutenant Finley. Cyclones are ocean
storms brewed upon its Bosom and rushing
laLdWard. As such they have no relation
weateyer to tornadoes, which develop their
fearful energies upon land and often pass
out to sea before exhausting themselves.
The center of tornado is the focus Of its
terrific force and track Of death and de-
struction, while ships hoat safely in the
midst ofa cyclone. The two storms are di-
ametrieally opposed, though commonly
spoken Of as similar"
"Are the storms then which lay waste
our Western country tornadoes and not cy.
clones7" was asked.
Where Cyclones Come From.
saTornadoes, every one of them" was the
reply. "a Cyclone was never sean as far
-Meat a. the Mississippi" The cyclone Is q
production of the West Indies and Is IN
known during the summer months During
September and October the heated tropical
currents develop vast rotary storms from
$50 to 1900 miles in diameter, which sweep
in parabohc curve against the South
Atlantic coast. The cool trade winds blow,
ing down the coast defect their course and
send them sweeping inland Passing North,
ward they describe their curving hight as far
as Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and
then rush with bowling force across the
Newfoundland Banks. Same of them reach
England and Ireland. The same storm
raveges the coast OF Japan aud is Called q
typhoon The tremendous breath Of
cyclones seldom gives local evidence of their
circular sweep. Their calm centers are
much dreaded by navigators. The Signal
Service cautions mariners against sailing
into cyclone center. The atmosphere is
always striving to retain its equilibriu n
and so long as some parts Of the earth get
warmer than others, storms will rage"
Who're Tornadoes Come From.
us the tornado a tropical Production
"Not by any means, replied the Signal
Service officer. ION the contrary; that dan.
gerous visitor comes from comparatively
cool regions. Sweeping down from the
snowy, desolate wastes across British Amer
ca across Dakota Montana, Wyoming aud
Minnesota is cold wind which often send.
the mercury to 3O' and 40 as it crosses the
border. From the southern States aac
Gulf region, hot wind, sometimes 100
flows up the Mississippi valley to maet i.
TIE towering Rockies hem these currents
in TO the westward, and they come together
with mighty rush. The warm current
rises to escape, the cold air defects down
ward, and with whrl and roar tornado
cloud gathers. The resultant Of the two
forces is invariably northeast, sad the track
of death is cut through every obstacle. The
tornado itself is invisible It's fearful power
is simply atmospheric pressure concentrated
in trunk like form. Mathematical calcu-
lations will show that the air revolving
within tornado center develops
the terrific speed OF two hundred miles per
hour, exerting force alike in
conceivable and irresistible. The rotary
movement Of the whirl is upward, upon the
principle of chimney hue Once started
the tornado cloud becomes visible from the
amount of dust it raises and the moisture
gathered within it. The rotary motion is
invariably from right to left. A tornado
cloud can descend from clear sky, as its
development is among the higher currents
of air. II il was not for its gathering black
ness ss it reaches The surface, the wrial
messenger might strike death blow at any
moment.
Hailstorms as Tornadoes.
Every hailstorm would be tornado if it
reached the ground. The atmospheric con-
dltions producing hail are precisely similar
TO those generating tornado clouds. Pro
.essor King, the aeronsut, announced that
discovery after passing through hail cloud
AID noting the phenomenon. Tornadoes
have always been natural feature OF the
Mississippi and Missouri valleys and will
continue as long as the world lasts. Through
the vast forests Of Minnesota and Wis.
consin tracks are visible where the
tempest Of wind hewed its clear cut path q
century ago. Even the legends and ira.
ditions of Indians are full Of accounts Of
the mighty storms which struck terror 10
the heartI OF the aborigines and leveIec
their forests. The Signal Service At Wash.
iDgton is in constant receipt OF letters tron
Canadians and Eastern people desirous o.
going West inquiriug the portions Of country
uavisited by tornadoes In 1879 tornado
insurance was not thought Of. Last year
over SOS, 100000 was written
Hurricanes aud other storms.
Speaking of hurricanes, Lieutenant Fin
ley said that they were merely straight
winds moving at a velocity of between so
and $50 miles an hour. The Texas
'Norther' isa cold trade wind the Montana
chinook a warm current, and the biz
zard" hurricane with particles of ice and
snow in its teeth. Tornadoes are known
IS wind fall" in the West. Sergeant
Dey, stationed at the Philadelphia
Signal Service Office, is busi-
ly engaged in investigating
rke tornados track through Port Rch-
mopd and Camden, preparatory to MAXIM
his cficial report to Washington. Accord
ing TO Lieutenant Finleys statement, the
Philadelphia tornado was comparatively
mild. The study of tornsdos is most i'm
portuDt feature of the Signal Service De
partment, and the next publication Of Lieu
tenart Firleys, which will be issued next
spripz. will CUntsin the mos, minute ststis-
tics of all that have occurred this year.
BELLAIRE.