Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-06

The lecture hall of the National museum
was unnaturally dark Saturday afternoon. in
contrast to the bright sunlight without trying
with little success to peep in at odd corners and
cracks to see what folks could want to shut
them out for. The few sun-rays that did get
in heard a voice in the darkness, the full-round
tones of a man, who was telling the crowd of
people seated before him about Tropical cy-
Clones" q subject that should have been
vastly interesting to the sun-beams' children
they are of the cause of all storm and calm
The man talking away In the dark, occasionally
pointing to a screen on which some diagram or
picture flashed out. was Mr.. Everett HAYDEN. a
retired officer of the navy, now in charge of
the division Of marine meteorology of the
photographic Office, and his lecture was one of
the course of popular scientific talks that are
given on Saturdays at the museum.
His remarks, he promised would be confined
to the facts that are known regarding the ter
riic storms called tropical cyclones. their gen.
ersl character, the regions where they occur,
the paths they follow. their danger to COM
merce and how navigators endeavor to avoid
them altogether. or if overtaken how they
maneuver so as 10 suffer as little damage as
possible.
THE HURRICANE REGIONS
he gave in the order of relative importance as
follows: the West Indies, South Indian ocean
(esst Of Madagascar, China seas, Bay of Ben
gal, south Pacific (east of Australia), Arabian
sea. and the west coast of Mexico He de-
scribed tropical cyclone to be "a great spirally
ascending whirl in the atmosphere. not unlike
the spirally desce nding whirl in water that we
call an eddy. 1t forms in the tropics rarely
nearer the equator than the 10th paralleD. most
frequently during the summer months: rotates
in direction against the hands of watch in
the northern hemisphere. and with them in the
southern; moves westward in the tropics pole
ward into the temperate zone. and eastward
again IN higher ATTITUDES. Around it on every
side are broken patches of light fying scud
with occasional squalls OF fine misty rain gales
Of hurricane strength. and squalls so terrific
that they defy description. At the center
dead calm. with clear sky, hot. scorching sun.
and piled-up mountains of snowy clouds on
every side" A chart showed the extreme uni
formity of the tracks of these storms ON the
ocean, and their irregularity near the CONT
nents.
WORD FOR THE WEATHER BUREAU
The lecturer had occasion to mention the
United States signal service and said: Il fear
that occasional disappointment at some little
Zip in predictions of local showers sometimes
blinds us to the magnificent work our weather
bureau has carried on for the past twenty-five
years. The bay of North America (the gulf
OF Mexico and outward and northwardD lie said
was me greatest hurricane region of the world
classic ground to the student of meteorology
for II was here that the first discoveries were
made OF the laws of storms and the foundations
OF the science were laid by Redfeld a quiet
New England student, early 1921. Illus
trating the law of the relative frequency of
hurricanes. by months. he quoted the old say
ing of the sailors: June too soon; July stand
by; August, look out You must; September
remember; October. all over" Yet, he added. |
hurricanes occur every month OF the year. |
reaching decided maximum in August. and
IN fact Thanksgiving services are held in many
churches in the West Indies-notably at st |
Thomas. October 25-at the close of the hurri- |
cane season.
Padre Vines, the eminent meteorologist Of
Havana. who. he said. probably knows more
about the habits OF these storms than any
other living man. said to him last fall that
there are very few exceptions. so far as true
hurricanes are concerned. TO the laws Of their
paths across the islands.
THE PASSING OF THE STORM.
Mr.. Hayden gave this vivid description of
the passing of a storm in the distance: shortly
after noon, November 26, / was walking
through Lafayette square. and looked up at the
clouds overhead Something / saw there
caught NV attention. Only recently I had
been studying cloud movements indicative Of
hurricanes III Cuba, and ! recognized the symp-
toms III an instant. Upon looking toward
southeast. down the Potomac. toward the dis
tant horizon. | saw a uniform, gray veil of
clouds, deepening In intensity toward a GER
tam definite point in the horizon where il
quite dark. Little cumulus clouds were
Tying across from left to right. The wind
was about northeast. while these low clouds
were moving from east northeast, and the fine
cirrus clouds overhead were moving with
great velocity from southeast. / actually felt
startled feeling, half astonishment. half alarm
tor II this were Cuba almost the entire popu-
lation would be watching the clouds and dis
cusslnS the chances of safety of life and limb
during the next twenty-four hours. instead of
strolling around with the blissful ignorance and
nonchslance saw about me. For weeks after
ward..the papers were filed with accounts Of the
fearful experiences Of vessels off our coasts in
this furious hurricane that advanced from the
tropics, and moved up the gulf stream toward
the Grand Banks. Perhaps at that very time
the steamer SANTANA, and dozen other vessels
that went down with all on board were fighting
for life some 200 miles to the southeast of Us
mere IN Washington. j mention this to impress
upon you the fact that there are certain symp-
toms by means Of which the presence and yio-
lenee OF hurricane can be recognized at a
distance
SIGNS OF THE COMING CYCLONE
Mr.. Hayden quoted as follows from an article
he has prepared on this subject: .'Great nc-
tvlty OF movement of the upper clouds. while
the storm is still distant indicates that the hur
ricane is Of great violence, just as the rushing
currents in the rapids below Niagara mark the
=.
their source. man like Vines can diagnose
IN approaching cyclone, recognize its syrnp-
toms, judge of Its character. INTENSIVE and
path, a skilled doctor in the tropics can dis
tinguish a case of We low fever from = mild at
tack of typhoid Sometimes there are several
many-dsys warning. First, barometer above
the normal, with cool, dry, fresh winds and
very transparent atmosphere: these mark the
passage of the attendant anti-cyclone In day
Or two the pressure falls slowly but steadily
Soon the beautiful feathery cirrus clouds APP
pear; II somewhat faint and opalescent in tint
fading gradually behind a slowly thickening
haze or veil the approaching storm is an Old
one OF large area. and has crossed the entire
ocean, perchance. on Its westward Journey IL
the cirrus piuInes are of snowy whiteness pro-
jGcted against a clear blue sky. it is a Young
cyclone just growing into its full strength and
Jury.
An oyERGkowS TORNADO.
Every one is uneasy. There is an oppressive
sense Of danger. The very air loses its pun
gent freshness and becomes heavy hot and
moist News is eagerly waited from Barlo-
.ente CWindwarG Isiani s). Cautious and pru-
dent people begin to take precautions. pack up
Their household treasures, watch the barome-
Ter, and recall old experiences in great hurri-
.Anes OF bygone DAYS. News Is suddenly
UaSneG over the wires from 81 Tbo,naa 4