Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-10-05
THE TYPHOON.
The Frightful Storm That Blows In the
China Sea.

China Sea.
"The worst storms" said the captain
of a tramp steamship the other day, ''are
the typhoons of the Chinese seas They
cover a large area, are uncertain in
their movements and follow each other
quickly. The typhoon season is on
just now. And l see that one reason
the Chinese and Japanese war fleets
are anxious to stay at home is because
they are afraid of the big storms.
"The first signs of the storm are
light cirrus clouds coming from the
east, with hot, dry weather, very light
winds and slight rise in the barom-
eter. This fine weather lasts for sew
eral days.
There are usually halos to be seen
round the sun by day and round the
moon by night, while the phosphor-
escence of the sea becomes suddenly
increased the sunsets and sunrises be-
come gloriously colored with crimson,
gold and amber, and the twilight rays
are beautiful beyond description.
Then at distance of about five
hundred miles from the center activity
of the typhoon, heavy swells begin to
heave the surface of the ocean. A
heavy swell in.the China sea is certain
indication of a distant typhoon.
Then the cirrus clouds begiu to be
replaced gradually by heavy ma sses of
cumulus, and where blue sky is visible
between it is seen to be streaked by
faint dashes of pale cirrus clouds.
Next the temperature begins to fall
and the air becomes very oppressive
from increasing dampness. During the
early hours of the morning slight
haze is noticed, and the sky presents
n threatening and vaporous appear
ance.
AT this stage of typhoon's growth
the animal world, including human be-
ings, is seen to be strangely affected.
Numerous writer's have graphically
described the ominous terror of some
animals and the nervous excitement Of
others, while the overpowering sense
in the human mind of foreboding,' pre-
sentiment and coming danger is in
many cases little short of abject ter
ror.
The weather is depressing and many
people find it impossible to sleep. All
sorts of vermin. including snakes, spi-
ders, beetles, frogs and typhoon flies,
become unusually active.
The larger animals, such as horses,
cattle and dogs, show all the signs of
nervous terror that may be noticed in
very heavy thunderstorm in western
lands There is no thunder with ty-
phoon. though the sound of the wind
may often be mistaken for it. The air
becomes very dry, and the wind blows
in sudden, short and terrific squalls,
lasting perhaps six to ten minutes.
The sky is black and threatening, and
has peculiar, ominous appearance.
Among the rigging of ship caught
in typhoon, the seabirds as well as
butterflies, birds and insects from the
sea presents the appearance of boiling
water, due to the air which, is caught
and imprisoned by the seething foam
and the crests of the huge waves dashed
into fury by the force of the wind.
I'm the exact center of IL typhoon
the sea is calm and the winds are
hushed. while overhead the clouds arc
thin and high. often allowing the stars
to peep cheerfully through.
But woe betide the shipi that are
deceived by the hull of this central
calm.
For around it on all sides the winds
are bowling and shrieking, snd appar-
emily blowing in dozen directions at
once. and the moment ship passed
out of the calm it will be i'm possible to
tell from which quarter the dangerous
squall will swoop down and strike her.
The central calm is often twenty
square miles in size. 1t is caused by
the rotary motion of the WINS and the
sky is usually clear directly over it.
During the typhoon ssason the
storms follow each other qa,ckly. ano
there are often several at once raging il
different parts of tie far east. During
August and September, in fact, just a.
this time, the season is at its height.
N. Y. Sun.
"-.My little boy" said gentleman
You ought not to eat those green ap
pies. They are not good ft. little
boys" They hain't. eh?" the boy re
Piled. with his mouth full. Cues
yor don't know much about EN-. Mis-
ter Three of these apples II keep m'
out of school for week. Exchange
81 was not aware that you Sney
him, said Tom Snack to an Irish flTcn'
the other day. knew him. no sS
claimed. Il knew him IN his &.ae
was boy-'-Tit-Bits.
The Hungarian OF thru cenCurie
ago was entitled to wear cue feathe
n his cap for every Turk ne killed
hence the phrase in con mon Us
among US.
-Rousard was the poet OF the f.
ture, from the fact that he appeaie
TO pastsrity N behalf of his sereeA