St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-10
THE TORNADO SEASON.

The reduction of the losses of the
Louisville tornado to about sew
enty lives is a very gratifying i'm
provement upon the early reports.
There have been many tornadoeS in the
history Of the country that exceeded it
in fatality, as well as loss of property.
About fifty years ago there were two
tOrnadoes in Mississippi, together kill
ing over 500 people. The one eight
years ago in June that swept over Grit
nell, To-, killed 80 and wounded double
that number. In the series of tornadoeS
in the spring of 1884, that touched more
or less eight or ten Southern states and
Indiana and Illinois, the loss OF life
was computed at 800, with $500
wounded, aud 10000 buildings destroyed.
1t is notable that tornadoes are in
clined to be intermittent. Some years
there are almost none, ard for num-
Der of seasons very little damage
is done, but they come back and
toss about the country with small
regard to known presidents. The in
'dications are that this is one of the
years when they are active. The dis
patches have frequent limitations of
rude activity in the atmospheric ele-
ments. There are reports of them in
earliest records of the country and evil
dences of their appearance long before.
The first recorded in a settled COM
munity was at New Haven. Conn.,, in
June, 1852. One is recorded at Charles
ton, S. c., in 1862. The descriptions
of them show that they have not re-
formed with the improvement of the
country and that no section is entirely
exempt, although their more frequent
ranges are within belt 500 miles or so
either side of the Ohio river. There is
no evidence that they are more frequent
than in the earlier time, but it was then
rare that they touched any consid-
cradle town or did much damage.
The country was not filled up as
now, and it was easy for them
to dodge the settled places. Un-
less science shall unravel their secrets
and discover some precursor or palli-
alive, they will probably appear to come
Oftener, and will do more mischief as
their opportunities are enlarged by the
settlement of the country. A full
fedged tornado that comes quite down
to the ground can disperse any struct-
ure found in this country above the
surface. The investigation of the one
at Louisville is said to show that it did
not get fairly down to the ground, but,
in the main, passed over the city. The
structures were wrenched about and
torn at the top, but not ploWed up at
the bottom. One was observed at a
Western city few years ago to twist
and tear off the upper half of all iron
electric tower 100 feet high, but not dis
turb the lower part. 1t is probable that
the larger number of them go above
buildings and trees, and leave no effects.
Perhaps the scientists will be able
yet to find some relations between these
unreshained rovers and the swiftness
of the upper air currents. The only
definite law determined in regard to
them seems to be that they always move
from the southwest to the northeast. If
the multiplication of lines for the trans
mission OF electrical energy have any
effect upon them, it has not been shown.
In district that has had touch of one
of these INSCRIPTIONS monsters good
deal of nervousness is apt to obtain in
the tornado season. But they are really
among the least perils to the individual.
1t has been figured that $4,000 people
die of other causes to one who is killed
by tornado. Probably in any season
in this country ten persons are killed
by lightning where one is knocked out
by tornado.