Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-31
WEST INDIA HURRICANES.
An International System of Warnings
Outlined by an Expert.

From TIE Nsao York Herdld.
KEY WEST, FLA, March l6.-YOur cor >
! respondent has had a great deal of con-
versation lately ON tie subject of hurri-
canes with the naval officers on this sta
ton, the facts of which are about as fol-
lows:
| 1t is a we'll established fact that the
North Atlantic hurricanes have their in
! ception about the vicinity OF Barbados.
| There is telegraphIc communication be-
! tween that island and the other West In
/ des. 1t is of the highest Importance and
necessity to receive the earliest warning
Of the beginning and prevalence of these
| destructive storms. AS these various is
! lands are the property of the English,
French, Spanish, Dutch and Danish gov
ernments, it would be OF the greatest BEN
| eft to them. as we'll as ourselves, if some
international legislation could be enact
| ed whereby each would bear a proper
/ tiOnate part of the expense OF transmit
! ting storm warnings through the West
Indies to the United States, and thence to
| all parts Of Europe.
| With this accomplished and these pow
ers interested, upon the first indications
of approaching hurricane we will sup
pose starting in the Barbados, by tele-
graphing from place to place hourly or
! OkbtutE. PGCtbbdTYa III the lOElHOIOlOE-
! ical changes, the force, direction, dist
! ance OF centre, it's course, with it's diane
/ ter or dimensions, could be accurately
known, and ample warning Of from "a
} hours TO "A week, according to distance,
hcould be displayed. This would give yes
sells passing storm signal stations along
/ the coast plenty Of time to seek harbor, or
( being in port, they would remain there.
( Up to the presentitime, as far as is known,
IT. IL
of International legislation, though the
( Importance of the question has been free
ly acknowledged.
In the summer and autumn of 1882 the
Chief Signal Officer, Gen. Hazen, took
steps TO carry out such signal service
| by means of Instructions issued TO va
riOus eOnsuls, shipmasters and agents as
| could be employed; but since then, for
Elack of funds, he has, been compelled to
TgiVeit up. During the period mentioned
the reports thus made were considered Of
| were the cause of keeping many vessels
bin port, thereby saving large amount of
property and lives. The amount of prop
! erty saved in the short period was esti-
mated at from $4,000, 900 to $1,000, 600.
This showed oOnoluslFely the paramount
| Importance of these early warnings. This
b subject should be brought before Con-
gress andaan appropriation made at once
! to enable the signal. officer to carry out
these plans as far as practicable at pres
emit, and with a view of endeaVoring TO
obtain an international convention.
COMMANDER lWTNN's PLANS.
The plan necessary to be adopted, as
! described to your correspondent by Lieut..
Commander VIM, United states Navy,
quartered at KeyWest, and the Origi-
EnatOr Of Gen. HazeH's Investigations, is
Fbriefly an organized system .ofnOurly OBJ
serVations by trained and interested Oh
servers, starting at Barbados as the initial
point. From thence or any Of the West
India islands, all connected by cable. a
/ hurricane could be- accurately traced
from point TO point, with the height and
changes of the barometer and theTmome-
bter, form Of clouds, hnmldttt, etc. With
this data the course, velocity, direction
and distance of centre could be accurate
ly obtained, so that vessels in the Gulf or
| further north could receive at least thirty
six hours notice or its approach and
ascertain from the general direction, as
indicated, whether it is likely TO pass near
them. e9t Del sfW
Lieutenant Commander Winn would
suggest that the caution AIRY signal should
net be hoisted at any time with less than
thirty miles velocity per hour; that dur
ing the hurricane season, from July TO
soct. 20, special hurricabe signal be
adopted (say white Gag, With black
centre, hoisted aboyeO, and this would
indicate a quite dfferent9 character Of
storm, as now indicated BY tie eautiOnary
or dangerous wind signal. %
Nine-tenths of the hurricanes reaching
the North Atlantic, Commander Winn
estimates, take their inception in the
Barbados or West Indian islands. He
has closely studied the question and
REGARDS the lack Of signal service from
Fsuch points as a wan ton sacrifice Of i'm
smense numbers of lives and vast amounts
of valuable property. @sfea4 Dis