The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-31
OUR TORNADOES,
THEIR FORMATlON ANo P EdoN
rTcRY SIGNS OF APPROACH
An Oppressive Sultriness-Peculiar APP
pearance of the Clouds-A Strange
Lividness - Heavy Roaring
Fatal Balloon-ShapedD Destroyer.


Compiled from Gen. Hayes Report
Omittng consideration of the tornadoes,
po-called by Portuguese and Spanish navi-
gators on the African coast and combining
our attention to the United States, it 10 be-
lieved that these storms are possessed Of the
following prominent characteristics: The
general direction of movement of the tor
nado is invariably from point in the south
west quadrant to point in the northeast
quadrant The tornado cloud assumes the
form of a funnel, the small end drawing
near to. or resting upon, .he earth This
cloud and the air beneath il revolve about
central vertical axis with insonceivable
rapidity, and always in direction contrary
to the movement of the hands of a watch.
The destructive violence of the storm is
sometimes confined to a path a few yards in
width, as when the small OF tail end just
touches the earth; while, on the other hand,
rs the body Of the cloud lowers, more of it
rests upon the earth, the violpnce increases,
and the path widens to the 81 IRENE limit of
eighty rods.
On the day of the storm, and for several
hours previous to the appearance of the
tornado cloud, what indications Of its prob
able formation and approach are within the
comprehension of an ordinary observer, and
can readily be detected by him9 A ultry,
oppressive condition Of the atmosphere,
described by various observers as follows:
II really experienced a sickly sensation
under the influence OF the suns rays" q"
was compelled to stop work on account of the
peculiar exhaustion ex erienced from physi
cal exertion" at seemed as if the lightest
garments that could put On were burden
to me-" "There was not a breath of air
stirring" "Ths air. at timss, came in puffs,
as from heated furnace" u felt want
Of breath, the air frequently appearing too
rarefied to breathe freely" II was startled at
the sudden and continued rise ia the Their.
mometer, especially at this season Of the
year, at was terribly oppre sive; it
seemed as If the atmosphere was unusually
heavy AMI pressing down on me with
great weight"
Enough examples have been cited to indi-
cate the effects and signs of this oppressive
sultriness. Other signs may be found in the
development and peculiar formation of the
clouds in the western horizon. Sometimes
these peculiar clouds extend from tn south
west through the west by the north to the
northwest More frequently, however, they
form in the northwest and southwest, some-
times com mencing first in the former
quarter and then again in the latter, but in
either case they are equally significant
The marked popularity OF the clouds is
found to occur not only in the form but In
the color and character of development
The sudden appearance of ominous clouds,
first in the southwest and then almost i'm
mediately in the northwest and northeast
Tor perhaps reversed In the order of their
appearance), generally attracts the attention
of the most casual observer. In almost all
cases these premonitory clouds are unlike
any ordinary formation. If they are light,
their appearance resembles smoke issuing
from burning building straw stack,
rolling upward in fantastic shapes to great
heights; sometimes they are like fine mist,
or quite white like fog or steam. Some
persons describe these light clouds
as at times apparently iridescent or
glowing, as if pale whitish light
II the prsmonitory clouds are dark and
present deep greenish hue, this fairly for
bodies very great evil. So also, if they APP
pear jet black from the center to clrcum-
ference, or If this deep set color appears
only at the center, gradua lily diminishing in
intensity as the outer edges of the cloud or
bank of clouds are approached. Sometimes
these dark clouds, instead of appearing in
solid and heavy masses, roll up lightly out
till intensely black, like the smoke from an
engine or locomotive burning soft coal.
They have been described as of purple or
blush tinge, or at times possessed OF
strange Hy.ileS5. o. frequently dark green,
and again of an inky blacknes, that fairly
startles one with it intensity.
Anothes -aS iLv r'abln sigh OF the tor
nados approach Is heavy roaring, which
augmelts in intensity the tornado cloud
advances. This roaring Is compared to the
passage of a heavily loaded freight train
moving over a bridge or through a deep
pass or tunnel, or as heard on damp MORN
ings when the sound is very clear and loud.
AT TIMES the roaring has been so violent
that persons have compared it to the stimuli
taneous rush Of 10000 trains of cars"
Again, the roaring is likened to the low
intensity OF tbs roar, as here represented, is
apparently due I'd Tire lack Of uniformity in
the positions 81 lie S1s:oIs oOserSTers with
respect 70 tne advancing tornado cloud.
Those situated nearest the cloui other
things being equal, experience the lou lest
roar, while to those at greater distances the
noise is proportionally weaker. In any
culiar aad distinct to create alarm. and
as a means of warning should not be over
looked under any pretext.
The tornado cloud is. generally speaking, at
It's firSt formation funnel-shaped-that is 70
say, it taperS from the top downward, not
always IN the same degree WIFI every ap-
pearance of the cloud, but the lower end Of
1t (the part nearest the earth) is invariably
the smallest, and this, too, whatever may
be the inclination of the central axis of the
cloud to the vertical or plumb line. AS seen
In different positions and stages OF deve1op-
ment by various observers, located differ
entity. the tornado Cloud has been called
sbailoon-shaped,a ~basket<shaped," "egg
shaped,' trailing on the ground like the
tail of an enormous kite;' "of dubious
FORM "liks an elephants trunk" etc. In
the piaiofisy of instances however, observ-
erSde<fribe the cloud as appearing like an
Upright funnel When the small end of the
cloud just reaches o the earth, the violence
of its whirl causes q peculiarly formed cloud
Of dust and finely divided debris, around
which play small gatherings of condensed
vapor.
To appearances. now, the tornado cloud
has two heads, one on the surface of the
earth and the other in the sky, the bodies OF
each joining in mid-air and tapering both
ways with the smallest diameter at their
INN In 7o fta