Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1885-06-28
THE TORNADO.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO BE
ADOPTED FOR SAFETY.
Every Man should Construct n "Dug-out."
~ Place OF safe Retreat-How
toDodSe the Funuel-shaped
Aerial Monster.



What precautionary measures Can he
taken! That which remains 10 be done
can be accomplished in an INVESTIGATIONS
and quiet, but secure manner livery
man can and should construct dug
out" at some suitable point, within con
venient distance of his house Ii a per.
son is situated within town or city, let
him select some portion Of his ward for
the purpose; but If residing in the coun'
try he will not be confined 10 narrow
limits IN the selection of a desirable lOca'
ton. Where person living in a village
has no yard, he must. IL he hps q cellar,
construct cellarcave as means
of protection. With respect 10 the
dug. out. in no event should the root
be other than level with the surface OF the
earth; In fact il is highly desirable that
the retreat should be so constructed that
the ordinary surface Of the earth would
form the roof or covering, aud that all
preparation Of the domicile proceeded by
way of excavation and supports from be.
meath. AS TO location. there is not much
10 be said, the most important points be-
! ing: convenient distance, Il high dry
place, and possible opportunities 10 eN'
cavate into the northern or eastern slope
] Va n hhOll VI NH. III luC luAANl lAoAAANN
the entrance way would suffer less from
the violence Of the storm. providing, per.
haps, that IL did not entirely envelop your
retreat, for. in that event, in the whrl OF
the flying debris all sides alike would he
at the mercy of the winds
Having decided upon the loCation. rs
regards your house or other buildings,
prepare TO sink shaft, say four to Six
feet square, the entire depth of your dug
out from either the northern or east.
ern DIETER the former wall of this shaft
cut out a stairway leading upward to tho
surface OF the earth for the purpose of in.
gress and egress. On the side of the
shaft opp site the stairway, commence
the excavation for the inclosed retreat
The size Of the rom will. OF course, de
pend upon how much you may at any
time wish TO secure from injury. Better
have the excavation too large than not
large enough. The slight difference in
the expense Of time and labor may, per.
haps be the means of saving you great
deal when you least expect IT, The entire
room should be below the surface of the
ground distance Of at least three feet,
and the oyerhangiDg roof Of earth should
be supported from beneath by heavy
timbers. TO provide against any emergency
like the dashing Of heavy debris or the
tramping of horses and cattle upon It.
In the event Of "A tornado. your retreat
(@dugout"J may he entirely buried be
meath huge piles Of debris; therefore ey
erything must be made as secure as posi-
BILE The entrance door should be made
Of the heaviest timbers and supported be
tween castings of similar strength of con
struction Arrangements should be made
10 secure the door by heavy fastenings.
| In order that ventilation may be provided
| for, two box spouts. squaring eight
inches, should be let through the roof.
! The top Of these spouts must be level
with the surface Of the ground and pro-
tected by iron gratings Nentilation may
also be provided for by Openings through
the upper portion Of the door. and these
also should lie protected by iron gratings
The -dugout" should be large enough TO
contain your family and such personal eff.
fects as are considered most valuable
In case you are possessed of building
that has no "dug.out or cellarcave. your
best plan is TO move from Your house, or
from the location where YOU are If not
able to benefit by these directions retreat
instantly 10 your cellar, and place yourself
face forward against the west wall This
is the best position in any cellar. II for
any reason you can not get TO the west
wall, take your position (the next best,
face forward against the south wall. but
as near The southwest corner as possible
In case the building is removed from the
foundation, IL will always be carried above
and over YOU. or If torn to ieces, the
debris will be instantly removed 10 the
eastward. uder no circumstances,
whether in building or cellar take a
! position In a northeast corner, in an east
room, or against an east wa femem.
Der that the tornado cloud invariably
moves in a northeasterly direction
The rule regarding the movement to the
northeast must he obeyed The northeast
quarter is fatal position, whatever may
| he said about destruction TO life OF prop
erty in any other. II, unfortunately, you
are close pressed by the advancing cloud.
never remain standing and attempt to
weather the storm, but throw yourself
prone face downward upon the ground.
/ head 10 the east. and arms over the head
10 protect IT, IL you should cnance 10 bt
] near a large stone or stump. or somt
heavy. low object firmly imbedded In the
ground, take pos ton directly TO the
east Of II. lying prone upon the ground
head toward the object, protecting the
former with your folded arms Thii
advice Is given In the case ofextreme neces
sity, where other and better opportunitie:
are unavailable or have become, forfeited
II is better, II possible, never 10 trus
yourself behind OF about any moyabl,
object located in the center Of the storms
! path; by all means not a tree or anything
that rises some distance from the surfac'
Of the ground, lfyou can get out neyel
remain In house, or any other building
that Is at all likely 70 be torn down OF re
moved from It's foundation. II forced tc
remain In building without cellar. al
ways take a position against the west Of
south wall better the former, either prom
face downward upon the iioor or stand
ing with your bank 10 the wall
In any building always take your fina
position on the first or ground hoor or II
the cellar. Never stand or lie In front o.
door or window. or near a stove o
heavy piece Of furniture Make ever,
effort 10 get into the west room and,
possible. before the onslaught, remove al
furniture from the western PORTION. |
you have the necessary time, shut tight,
every window and door In the building
within which you may be located nj III
time Of the storm. Never take refuge i
forest. 10 a small grove OF trees. In a
orchard. In building. or near fence O
any kind. unless such obstruction is er