Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-12
TORNADOES.
HOW TO PROTECT LIFE AND
PROPERTY
Against the Ravases OF the summer Ter
ror-Signs Preceding the Storm.
The Safest Retreat.

TornadOeS occur in the afternoon. (Out
of nearly 100 observed toruadoes but ten Oc-
CURED III the fore part of the day. They
happen most frequently in the early portion
OF the summer. ana between the hours of 4
and p. m, though no absolute rule of
their appearance can, under our present
limited knowledge, be given They
generally come from the southwest and
pass toward the northeast; 4 very few are
recorded is coming from the northwest
The width of the stOrm-path varies from
fifty TO 10000 feet. averaging about 1900
feet, and the meteor progresses AT d speed
OF about thirty miles an hour
The motion Of the wind forming q tornado
is rotary. revolving from right 10 left or in
opposite direction to the movements of the
hands of a clock. The velocity of this TO
tatinS wind averages about 400 miles an
hour; III some cases this velocity has been
computed 70 have reached the enormous
speed Of 500 miles an hour
Tomatoes are usually preceded by OPP
preSSive sultFlneSS. Other noticeable signs
are the formation of light clouds. resem-
bling smoke. rolling up to a great height
IN the northwest and southwest: these ap-
proach each other, becoming OF a darker
hue. and are often of deep greenish color.
sometimes these clouds are of inliY black
ness ana of u livid appearance, lit up with
an occasional small fash of lighting. They
seem to be drawn together and meet with
an apparently tremendous force. breaking
into small portions, which dash and whirl
over each other From the midst of this
battle OF clouds the funnel-shaped tornado
cloud advances TO the front. Another sign
of the approach of L tornado is 4 deep,
heavy, roaring sound.
THE SHAPE OF THE TORNADO CLOUD
is Ike q long neclled balloon, OF sphere, the
small end down, and il whirls around like
a spinning top. As il moves forward il
leaps and jumps, sometimes taking d Leap
from one to twenty miles. Ii Sways from
side 10 side of its general path, to Il distance
OF from twenty to 200 feet: this zigzag
movement being generally d slow one.
Lightning is generally present, and is often
seen in the dark clouds which begin 10 rise
in the west before the tornado occurs.
1t must be understood that some OF the
signs here described may be absent. As
matter of fact. but very few tornadOes eX-
hibit all OF them The best rule of safety
Is, 10 familiarize your memory with what IS
here described, and when any of the signs
are noticed, keep close watch for others.
An ounce of prevention IS worth several
tons of cure in dealing with I healthy tor
nado.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THE TORNADO
CONES FROM TIE SOUTHWEST.
If the tornado is good distance from
you, say two or three miles off, move your
self directly North. If the tornado is close
upon you run TO the South.
The reason for going in one or the other
direction is that the tornado generally
moves from southwest 10 northeast. It
sometimes moves from west 10 east. and on
extremely rare occasions il has moved from
the northwest to the southeast Now if
the tornado is several miles away there is
time to reach point north of the limit of
is probab bic path, where safety is assured:
But If the terrible storm is close upon you,
the time is too short TO venture upon its