The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-08-25
E0RETELLING A. TORNADO.
HOW THE WEATHER BUREAU
WARNS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.


Government Weather Bureau
in predicting the recent dis
9 astrous tornadoes in Iowa
twenty-four hours in advance of their
awful visitations has brought into new
prominence the remarkable accuracy
with which in those days of advanced
science weather forecast can be made.
The prediction OF the Iowa tornado
offers noteworthy example of the
value OF the Government Bureau, and
illustrates the perfection of the system
1T employs, but the forecast in point Of
accuracy is duplicated daily. 1t isn't
every day that n tornado starts on n
wild stampede, but the weather sharps
are expected to keep the cities and
towns OF the country posted in advance
III regard to the weather. Tho daily
forecast has become an all-important
element III all calculations, whether OF
pleasure or of business, and could no
more be dispensed with than tho tele.
graph or any of the other agencies
which have revotutionized affairs. AS
g. much depends upon these predic-
tions 1t ls not surprising that the
bureau has reached high grade of
efficiency
If an English or II French weather
sharp were assigned to our bureau he
would probably be as confused as the
average man on seeing n three ring
circus for the first time. 1T is not an
uncommon circumstances for the
Weather Bureau to chase half dozen
different varieties OF storms over the
country in n day. 1t NAV be hailing
In North Dakota, n tornado may be
making sad havoc in the Western
farming belt, windstorm may be
bowling along the Atlantic coast, i'm
perilling shipping, and four or five
thundcr-Storms may be creating alarm
Ill as many different sections.
With all these complications, n
short, thick-sot man, with gray eve
brows and gray mustnchc, calmly looks
over the maps which are made on the
reports OF one OF til" Government OBJ
servers thro"@hCut the country, and
figures out just the kind of weather
that may he expected in every State
and section. This short, thick-sct
man, with gray eyebrows and gray
mustachc, i the official who, on cX-
aminirg the maps on the night OF July
D, paused for 4 momcnt, aud then, to
the surprise o. his assistants, muir
ihaLc.'' Ills iooN" Ike I" t"rhaIo.
""J"r C''""o""I "aH tho oincer
WHO r''l'' tn1 signs Hti%n'. Inc Gov
~ 'i.'i'A' "''''i HSI' ~ o-p'N CitE, Des
Nio1i'cS' -, '"'' h'oNuN "N' oihaha, hau
"' ltP"i'c' 'ILt"'oH'"% atmospheric
Ion''t'i'nH' "n'' ''i''r LePoitS' "neh re-
'N',t " 'i''''''5n Oh VIC ilap4' showed
.n''V 'he eeii'i' Oh 'Iie atmospheric ois'
'ul |'-'c1' was "U NI,J Shhe' WIN 'ho
mii'''' r"c'hS rom az lonr points oi
'"o I"iIIHI ''",i" 'ic wyoming
'"Pi'".' -h"Jor buhWoodF mas had
sh in''i''''' nc,iu"'H'"heo WIN storms
him NV nrntnn.I;no, a. rn,, 1,,.,,.',,,.. -
ChcvoHna Tbn N,inr :, o., iii o,.,,,,,
officer who u,InrStorIs oil ,La,;,
flank mcvomcu+s and hn Lno,,n 70
fiourc ont where thn ,poi, ,tt,gi? n,i,.b+
he oxnoct,I
He wos SITTING ON - biyh stool !, tho
forecastin~ room at the Weuther Bu.
reau. calculating ON the tornodo's nrnb.
able evolu1i,n V,o M,i,,. rooj Tho
report of tbn storm sputinol. ,t Stony
Citv and Dos Nnipcs o>.r or,ir onI
then drew II circle. with the ccntr, ,t
Cheyennc and tho circur,fcrnuc. to.
wards the East, ,,urhipo Dov,nnort
The Majors r'scxperirrc tu,pht him that
the most trouhle MIGHT br eynccted in
the southeast SEGMENT of the circle
and before 9 o'clock that niuht ulJ fine
observers who furnished Tho ALARMING
reports were Instructed bv wira +o snnI
out waruinrs TO cities and towns on
the rcspcrtiye sections. ouI nrdars
were also given to employ every means
to inform thn country districts of tbo
impendin~ peril
Hours before the storr, hrol,, with
it's terrible fury cyorcss trains rnnr;ro
.buo, a. :..,.., ...-:.:.,.,
"a Ii'o '9"'"'V.' coi'',m''h ''itS i"t,
thnan ' tno 1;l n"i 't' .I "nI,
'io?o nv ti'''' '"' rom ''', i"ii, ca,'
were blown according TO an established
and weli-undoratood code.
How quickly all this WAS accom-
plshed Illustrates the eliicIcncy OF the
government system, as directed by
Chlef HARRINGTON. At 5 o'clock on the