Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-08-22
THE TORNADO SEASON.
Lieutenant Finley Gives the Result OF
His observations to the People.


Lieutenant Finley Gives the Result of
His observations to the People.
During the last 10 years the Weather
Bureau at Washington has paid particu-
lar attention to cyclones and tornadoes,
with view to ascertaining their nature,
force. direction, and the best means of es-
Gaping from them.
Lieutenant Finley, of the United States
Army has been for many years in charge
of this subject, and has elected several
facts important for all people to know
and remember, among them the follow
ing:
/. Tomatoes occur in the United States
during every month of the year, but are
most frequent in April, May, June, and
July, when the air nearest the earth may
be exceedingly hot while the upper air Is
cold. They may and do occur in every
part of the country, but are more com
mon in the great central plain than else
where: and are least frequent-indeed
they are extremely uncommon-in the
mountainous regions.
2. Tornadoes almost always occur in
the afternoon, between half past and s
o'clock.
3. The average number y. these storms
in the United States is 146 year.
4. The signs of an approaching tor
nado are similar to those which indicate
a coming thunder storm, namely, low
and falling barometer, an intense, OPP
pressive heat, an absence of wind, and an
accumulation of threatening clouds.
5. The clouds which indicate tornado
gather in the west or southwest, and
move toward the east or northeast Ii
there is danger in them, there is soon OBJ
served violent commotion in the mass
of black clouds, rushing toward the
center, while at the point where the OBJ
server stands the air is hot and almost
motionless Soon there is heard great
roaring noise, and then is seen the on
ward rush of the funnel shaped cloud.
6. The line of safety at such a moment
is toward the northwest. If the observer
faces the storm, let him turn directly
to the right, and make the best time he
can. The strength of the tornado is near
its southern edge. The thing to do is to
get out of its path, or to seek some ref
uge below the surface of the ground.
7. Lieutenant Finley remarks that suf-
ficient time is usually afforded for escape
if people will keep cool and make no false
steps.
If they run to the east they must soon
be overtaken by tornado moving from
so to 100 miles an hour. If they run into
the woods they greatly increase their
danger. If within a house or cellar, they
should avoid the easterly side, because if
the building is destroyed it is that side
which receives the mass of crushing ma
terial.
8. In wooden house the cellar is the
safest place: in house of brick or stone
the cellar is the most dangerous. The
best preparation in country much de-
vastated by tornadoes is to make an eX-
cavation in the west side of the cellar,
and make it sufficiently large to provide
room for every member of the family.
But even this is not safe unless the over
hanging earth is supported by heavy tim
bers and we'll constructed masonry.
g. 1t is well to bear in mind that no
building whatever can be made strong
enough to resist the tornado at the point
where its force is greatest; nor is it pos
sble to change the course of tornado by
discharging cannon balls into it, nor by
exploding dynamite in any quantity
Still less can the fatal cloud be dispersed
by the use of any electrical contrivance.
Lieutenant Finley's advice to families
living in the Southwest, where these dis
turbances oftenest occur, is to make
tornado cave for themselves, and effect a
special tornado insurance upon their
buildings