Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-05

I the apex Of the tornado, is proved by the
| den lded trees. the bark OF which is burst
Outwards by the air within duo TO the sud
| d IN removal of the ordinary pressurel :;
the outward fall of the boards Of barns and
| houses. showing the explosion from within.
! and the tremendous velocity OF the par
ticles of air from the outside of
| the meteor, rushing upwards 10
| its center. In WalIingford, Mass. monu-
| mont block two by two by four feet, weighing
| 25SS pounds, was lifted from its base and
! carried some feet This action required Il
pressure of $50 pounds to the square foot,
/ equivalent To wind velocity of 359 miles
| per hour. The production of hail is prOba-
! bly, one of the best understood phenomena
| of nature S laboratory. 1t accompanies the
| tornado, and it cannot be produced without
the aid of electricity. Now, while lorna
| does have occurred close TO the central de-
preston of the storm. it Is true that the
greater number have occurred in regions of
country distant from Il low barometer, :"
and where unusual barOmetric disturbance
prevailed.
From these facts I cannot evade the con-
cluSion that the tornado is an electrical
phenomenon due to influence eXtra-terres-
trial.
What is this extra-terrestrial influence?
If we take u glass tube from which the
air has been nearly exhausted, and by
means of metallic connections fixed in the
ends of the tube, cause current of cleo
tricity to pass through the tube, wa shall
perceive its interior to be lit up with
luminous glow, and this glow or light may
be made to assume various forms and STRAIT
ificationS by the presence of a magnet at
the side of the tube. The light SO produced
in the tube is the same in appearance as the
aurora borealiS, and the keen analysis OF
the spectroscope declares it to De Identical
with the northern lights" 1t is IN fact
miniture display of that well known phe
nomenon, and is produced under precisely
similar conditions as is the magnificent eX-
hibition which awes the northern inhabi-
tantS with its grand and mysterious splen-
dor.
Magnetism is only apparent at the poles
of the magnet. The strongest magnet has
no attractive power at its equator, or point
equi-distant from its ends. Now the earth
is, IN fact, vast electromagnetic, of which,
in obedience to an memorable law, its poles
are the regions of its greatest magnetic in
tensity. The greatest effect of the sun Is
upon the equatorial regions Of the earth,
and as in its revolution upon its axis the
earth is literally winding upon itself the
golden thread of sunlight. il is at the same
time receiving from the same source an in
visible out none the less powerful current
of electrical energy, and this is manifested
by the presence of the earth's magnetic
poles. Electricity produces magnetism.
Now. when by reason OF some change in
the sun, either of his surrounding envelope
Of burning hydrogen, or the development OF
some vast energy, not yet explained,
greater quantity Of electrical energy leaps
the millions Of miles to our earth, 1t may
happen that in its superabundance por-
ton will pass into space at the poles, and
as it reaches the attenuated alr-the outer
limits of the mosphere-becomes visible
as the auroral light, in precisely the same
manner as was produced the display in the
exhausted tube.
The observation of storms points to GER
tain electrical disturbances which are al
ways present. They accompany the rain
fall, the wind, and are very marked in con-
necuion with the tornado, the hurricane and
the cyclone. What causes these disturb
ancesl The condensation of tie vapor and
its precipitation as rain or snow will pro-
vide for some of the electricity; but with
only this producing cause, we must stand
confused and dumb if we are asked to ac-
count for the vast electrical displays that
accompany the tornado. We may better
assume that the storm is the product of the
electricity, rather than that the electricity
is the product of the storm. Accepting
this theory, and it has not been disproved,
lit is true, it has been lightly treated by
some who were unable to demolish it,, and
also knowing the electrical character of the
Northern lights; knowing the close and