Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-22
How 90 Tell . Tornado and Heu O.
get Away from Ia.

4
special characteristics Of Tornadoes- n the
title OF a pamphlet prepared by Lieutenant
John II. Finley, OF the United States signal
corps, Tor the benefit OF people who live IN ~
gions In which these destructive storms am
pear. Practical directions for the projection ~
life and property are added 90 the mass Of scf
entinc facts collected, and other general mete-
oroiosfcai information Is given Regarding
the approach OF one OF these storrna I.iou,ensni
Finley SAYS:
observations with a single isolated barorne-
ter viii not give warning. however near the M,
Storm. though such ohserxs " Sns path OF TIE
when number are displayed upop the daily
weather map. The one way OF learning OF fhe;f
opnent color as well as form, and the manper
and direction of cloud movements.
The tornado is an extremely local affair" he
went on, (which explains the fact that accom-.
panying barometric changes are OF small i'm.
portapce In fore>hsdowing &c, Notably, Al q
barometer were PLACED in the Immediate track
OF a tornado cloud. &c would not, with any Ger.
tainty, indicate the storm = presence, until the
crashing winds had fallen upon the instrument
"Sultriness gives some indication OF proxim.
fty. The clouds. however, tell more emphatI.
cally OF the storms coming. First I'm the south.
west or northeast thew resembie smase ,s.n,,,,,
from burning building or straw stack, rolling
upward I'm fantastic shapes 10 great heights.
sometimes they are like fine mist OF quite
white like steam In they are dark, with =
greenish hue. they fairly forebode very great
evil, while an tnky black wall advancing % the
zenith II o hightfui omen of approaching de-
struction. As the opposing forces corse together
in the heavens they are thrown into the great
est s, confusion d 6reakins up into sasn portions
direction, now darting toward the earth, now
rushing upward, rolling over and over In a we'll
developed whlrl Sometimes they come to-
gether with crash, II thrown frum the
mouths OF cannons Generally, following
closely upon this phonomenon, the nlnneE
western sky, moving bodily to the 'front.', nom
without this confused mass OF flying clouds
which continue 10 play about Its top and sides
rornadoes on the warpath develop singular
lorins, such as oalloon-shaped, trailing upon the
ground like the tail OF an enormous kite, bulb
Gus egg-shaped, like an elephants trunk funnel
shaped aud like an hourglass, the last two being
lions are at work. First, the whirline motion,
which is always from right 10 left. This draws
objects inward TO the center OF the cloud, and
carries them violently upward spirafly, with n
force that grtnds into pieces buildinss trees
and whatever else stands In the direct path
The confused mass of debris is thrown outward
at the top OF the whirl and falls TO the earth ian
such a manner as TO indicate the Character of
the force which acted upon IL. The second mo-
ent tornadoes.
The next is that of rising and falling. Some
times the tornado cloud may be seen AT a great
nelgnt, moving solitary and alone like n huge
balloon. In some cases IL skins over the tree
tops and roofs, removing limbs, chimneys and
cornices as cleanly as II cut by the keen edge ~
a gigantic sword. When the cloud touches the
earth the fourth or zigzag motion can tie seen
This Is caused by the irregular rushing OF air
currents TO feed the whirling funnel
''1f you wish safety" he went on, "when YOU
see tornado cloud approaching move Inn
mediately away from It's track, which mo
ment's calculation will show you plainly. Never
wait until IL Is almost upon you before you
start, and remember under no circumstances to
move toward the East, Northeast, or southeast.
Many fooihardy acts have been committed in
this moment, which requires presence of mind
and prompt action. In some Instances persons
hs,N n fad An from
Ing they could outstrip IL In the race, Others
have tried 10 cross ahead of the funnel-shaped
monster. In one OF the latest storms reported
To the Signal Service Bureau at Washington an
Illinois farmer tried such a trip, with two horses
ana a lumber wagon. He was instantly killed
his horses torn 10 pieces and his wagon smashed
into kindling wood"