Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-11

THIS LOCALITY, EITHER SUDDEN Oh OTHERWISE
DE woes FORMER FORECASTS.
Prof. De Woes prediction Of a cyclone to
form over Washington between Saturday and
Monday has caused some alarm among nervous
people who have really placed their faith in the
Jerseyman's prophecy. But those who have
stopped to think the matter over have come to
the conclusion that the very fact Of cyclone
forming suddenly over any place precludes all
possibility Of prediction. As some have said,
a man must be either an inspired prophet or a
very lucky guesser to dare set up such claim
unless he is blinded by foolish belief in his
own powers. At the signal Office the general
sentiment is expressed by
LAUGH AT THE PROFESSORS" PREDICTION
One of the officers there said this morning
that if a person with any wit at all would con-
slider for moment how De Voc reaches his
conclusions, and the theory on which he works
the conclusion will be one of pity for him. De
Voc, the officer explained, goes on the cycle
theory, that is, ii there is a storm to-day there
will be another in the same place Just six
months from this time. That is to say, he be-
heyes that weather travels in half years.
GEN. aREELY's STATEMENT.
Gen. Greedy laughed when STAR reporter
mentioned De Woes name, and authorized the
following statement:
1.-The officials of the signal corps have had in
qulries from large number of people as to
what faith should be placed in the prediction
OF Prof. De Voc, that q dangerous and destruc-
tive cyclone will form in the vicinity of Wash
lngton between the 18th and 18th of this month
There need be no alarm concerning this pre-
diction, for cyclones form in low ATTITUDES, in
the regions of the West India Islands, or occa-
sionally IN the Gulf OF Mexico. No cyclone
has ever formed over any part of the land sur
face OF the United States, and no cyclone has
ever passed immediately over Washington
| such hurricanes are very rare during the month
| OF June, and even when they do occur later in
| the season, Washington is so situated that they
very rarely pass near this city, the course of
| these storms carry them somewhat TO the
! southeast OF Washington, when they enter the
coast to the eastward of the Blue Ridge and
| Allegheny ranges, and considerably to the
northward when they pass to the west of these
mountains.
DE Voc FALSE PROPHET.
''Mr. De Voc has previously made startling
weather forecasts, which have been critically
examined at this Office, with the following re-
suit: He predicted heavy SHOWS in the middle
| Atlantic states as far south as Washington on
/ March 5, lSS6; also heavy northeast gales on
/ the New England coast, and heavy southeast
/ gales off the Hatteras coast, together with
Hoods in the south Atlantic states On the same
date, and trosts were predicted for Florida the
sd. The signal ofice reports for the dates above
| referred to show that all these forecasts were
| complete failures. Floods and northeast gales
were also predicted for Nova Scotia on the 18th
and 18th of the same month. These predic-
tons we're also complete failures, as shown by
| the signal Office charts.
THE United States includes such a vast area
that severe storms, either local OF general, oc.
cur almost any day of the year in some por.
tons of the country, so that predictions Of
storms IA fal adj thafr l,s,,t
not defined. In not one case out of hundred
| has any definite forecast for weeks in advance
been verified, even i'll a general way"
Weather Changes.
Prof. Hazen, the prediction officer at the sig
nal office, says that there is warm wave deyel
oping in the northwest