The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-09-28
TWO FALLACIES EXPLODED.
The Earthquake Subsiti ence and tho
Hurricane.

| CHARLESTON, ). o., Sept. 2O.-Judge
VIM. M. Thomas has sent to the News
and Courier the following correspond
ence and memoranda, which explain
themselves, and which will be read
with great interest both in Charleston
and elsewhere:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., September 16
1893. My dear Judge: Enclosed please
find reply received to your memoran-
dunn, which was forwarded to the by
geographic Office. Perhaps it would be
we'll to offer this to the News and Cou-
rier, as no doubt it would prove inter
estlng to many of our citizens, Yours
sincerely, VIM. II. BRAwLEY.
Hon. WIN. NJ. TnoMAs, Charleston,
S. &.
WASHINGTON, September Is, 1893.
Sir: The receipt OF your letter of
September 13, enclosing memoran-
dunn to this bureau, signed "W. NJ T."
ana relating to the recent cyclone on
the Southern coast, Is hereby Lcknowl-
edged
There was nothing peculiar about
the storm referred to, except that It
was very severe and took rather an un-
usual course. Cyclones coming from
the West Indies generally follow the
course OF the Gulf Stream. They move
IN general north westerly direction
from the West Indies, and on reaching
the Gulf Stream to the Southward Of
llatteras commonly curve to the
Northward, and then to the North
ward and Eastward up toward the
Grand Banks Of Newfoundland and on
across the Atlantic or disappear in
high latitudes.
The general shape of the curve taken
rVplOna n 4 l,,,,
ual one, except that it proceeded far
inland before recurvng. Since in d
cyclone the barOmetric pressure, or in
oIher words, the pressure of the at
moSphere. decreases toward the centre.
there Is an elevation of the sea toward
and Ill the centre. This difference of
elevation Oftentimes causes great dam
age on the coast. 1t is frequently mis-
named tidal wave. In India hundreds
OF thousands Of lives have been lost by
II similar elevation Of the water.
1t is doubted by this Office that there
has been any suhsidence of the land on
the coast of South Carolina, but of
course this Office is not in position to
state positively.
| Many storms of as great severity as
the recent one pass along our coast, al
though the centres of few actually
| reach or may be expected to reach the
coast of South Carolina.
All storms are cyclones. cyclone SIM
ply meaning blowing in circle. By
this 1t is meant that in all storms the
movement of the wind is rotary, and in
direction, in this hemisphere, the re-
verse of the movement of the hands of
clock. Typhoon is the name given
to storms in the China and Indian seas
and hurricane is a severe storm of
the West Indies. All are cyclones and
vary chiefly in intensity. In general
characteristics they are very much
alike.
have referred your letter to the
United States coast and geodetic sur.
Vey, which takes note of physical hy-
drogaphy relating to our own coast and
Is IN position to make any inve3tiga-
tions thought necessary by your cor
respondent. The hydrographic Office
takes cOgniZance of ali foreign SURVEYS
and charts pertaining to the same, and
OF marine meteorology everywhere.
Very respectfully,
&. ID. SIGSBEE,
Commander. United States Navy, lily
drographer.
The Hon. VIM. III. Brawley, NJ. c.,
House of representatives, Washington,
ID. &.