The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-18

20 NANNA
weather bureau in predicting the re-
cent disastrous tornadoes in Iowa
t~wenty-iour hours in advance OF their
awful yisltstions has brought into now
prominence the remarkable accuracy
with which in these days Of advanced
science u weather forecast can DO made
The prediction OF the Iowa tornado
offers n noteworthy example OF the
value OF tho government bureau, aud
illustrates the perfection oil the system
it employs, but tho forecast In point oil
accuracy is duplicated daily, 1t lent
every day that u tornado starts on u
wild stampede, but the weather staFps
are expected to keep the cities and
towns OF tho country posted in advance
in regards to the weather. The daily
forecast has become an all-important
element in ul cali ulati0na, whether OF
pleusure or OF business, u could no
more be dispensed with than the tele-
graph or any OF the other agencies
which have revolutionized affairs. AS
go much depends upon these predic-
lions it is not surprising that the bu'
e has reached q high grade oil GILL
cheney.
Several years ago o couple OF young
army %iieutonants, who saw Tomatoes IN
every cloud.clap, kept the western farm.
ers lodging in aud out OF low,.ground
cellars until they became round'shoul
dered and neglected their crops, but the
Young lieuionNnts' experience 10 now
one Of tho amusing traditions OF the Of
tice. 1t Is told, too, possibly rs II joke,
that the colored ~janitor who had rheu-
matism aud looked upon his left leg as
a reliable gauge, did the prophesying
business wien the iieuteuauts we're th-
yited 10 some swell function. 1t was
about this tlmetIiat the weather prophet
occupied IL conspicuous place in the
comic weeilies along with the Light
ning.Eod man and the plumber.
Things are run differently now, as
the reliability OF the predictions and
the able administration OF tho bureau
attest. 1t IL doubtful, moreover, II any
country on tho globe has o better
equipped service. This is duo in some
measure to the opportunities OF study
offered by the diverse climatic peculiar
tiles OF the United States. These pecu-
liarities make the work Of weather pro-
phesving here a most difficult task, re-
curing the employment OF men OF wide
experiences and learning.
IL an English or n French weather
sharp were assigned to our bureau he
would probably be as confused as tho
average nun on seeing q three-Ting cir
Gus for the first time. 1t is not an TN
common circumstance for tho weather
bureau to chaSO half u dozen different
varieties of storms over the country in
a day. 1t may be mailing in North
Dakota, a tornado may be making sad
havoc in the western farming belt, q
windstorm may be bowling along the
Atlantic coast, imperilltng shipping,
and four or five thunder storms may be
creating alarm in as many different
sections.
With all those complications, u short,
thick-set man, with gray eyebrows and
gray mustache, calmly looks W the
maps which are mado on the reports of
one of the government observers
throughout the country, and figures out
inst the kind of weather that may be
expected In every state and section,
This short, thiCk.set man, with gray
eyebrows and gray mustache, Is the
official who, on examining the maps on
the night OF July s, paused for a mo.
ment, and then, to the surprise Of his
assistants, murmured: "This looks like
tornado"
Major Dunwoody was tho officer who
read the signs right. The government
observers at Sioux City, Des Moines,
Iowa, Keokuk and Omaha, had all re-
ported threatening atmospheric coRdi.
tions, and their reports, when reduced
to tracings on the maps, showed that
the centre Of tho atmospheric disturb.
was at Cheyenne, with the winds racing
from all four points Of tho compass
towards the Wyoming capital. Major
Dunwoody has had an intimate nc.
ouaintanCe with storms for years, and
this tornado didn't fool him by pre-.
tending to rendezvous at Cheyenne,
The major ta an old army officer, who
understands all about flank move.
ments, and he began to figure out
where tho main attack might be OK.
pected.
He was sitting on q high stool in tho
forecasting room at the weather blu.
reau, calculating on tho t%ornado's
probable evolution. Tho major read
the report Of the storm sentinels at
Sioux City and Des Moines over again,
and then drew u circle, with tho centre
at Cheyenne and the circumference
toward the cast, touching Davenport
The majors experience taught him
that the most trouble might DO OK.
pected In the southeast segment Of tho
circle, and before 8 o'clock that night
nil tho observers who furnished the
alarming reports were instructed by
wire to send out warnings to cities and
towns on tho respective sections, and
orders were also given TO employ overy
means to inform the country districts
Of tho impending peril.
Hours before tho storm broke with
It's terrible fury express trims running
carried tho buroau's intelligence, aud
those who lived fur from the railroad
station were warned by whistles, which
were blown aCCordlngtO an established
and wcll.undorstood code.
How quickly all this was accom-.
plishcd illustrates tho efficiency OF tho
government system as directed by Chiet
Harrington, At 8 o'clock on tho night
Of the 6th tho observations wOrO madU,
and It'll hour later Major DHnwoody,
with quick Judgment basOd on long OK,
p%Orlcncc, had located tho storm and
had sent out u forecast 10 tho throat.
Onad community, telling Of the dangers
10 bo iOared. How much greater might
have been tho damage 10 property und