Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-25
WHY WE ALL SHELTERED.
Remarkable Conditions That Made
the Mercury Climb.

(New York Sun, 2ith)
The story Of the heated term-the four
weary days during which the greater part
OF the nation has sweltered and groaned-
is a tale Of the marvellous evolutions OF
the giant powers Of the air. 1t is story
of mystery, as well as Of fact, and in
proportion as the results noted far sur
passed any OF which a record has been
made, so Is the tale.
A week or more ago the observers or
the Weather Bureau noted that high-pres-
sure area had appeared just on the coast
of Georgia Whence IL came or how II
was formed none can tell, but there IL
was found. To one who can eaten
glimpse of such aerial phenomena II was
as II Il monstrous stream of heated air
was pouring down, whlrling with the sun
as II came. and flying away In tangents
over land and sea. And there It remained
day after day, unceasing and exhaustiess.
Some of It's streaming currents flowed
out to sea some passed over the Florida
peninsula until they struck the trade
winds In the Gulf, and, rebounding turn
ed up toward the north once more, and
some. following along the coast, crossed
the Carolinas and Virginia and the other
States until they came as warm breaths
to the region Of the metropolis. IL was
warm weather here, as II was all along
the Atlantic cOast-in fact, IT was 50
warm that something more than the GUS
tomary report OF the Weather Bureau
was printed in the newspapers about 1t.
with nothing else to influence the tenn
perature than this whirling downpour
from the mysterious region above the
sea, We should have remembered the
season as one OF unusual though not OF
hitherto unknown heat.
But while this coming of the heated
air was still young, there appeared In
the great Northwest another and wholly
different atmospheric area. over the sea
was the pressure OF downpourlhs'
heated food. In the Northwest-away
up to the northwest Of Bismarck. Da.-
was formed an opening in the ara va
cuum of the shape of a huge inverted
funnel Instantly there were formed cur
rents Of air on every side that flowed into
the vacuum funnel. Meeting there, they
rose whring against the sun, ana, pass
ing out OF the top they went streaming
away. marked by feathery plumes OF con-
densed moisture that could ten tale OF
their origin to an experienced eye. though
seen JcD miles from where they came.
Sometimes these vacuum tunnels are
quickly filled and vanish away; sometimes
he space above them Is insauable-the
vacuum is widened. and the power 10
draw in the surrounding currents OF air
Is strengthened so that territories Tar
away feel the effect. SO 1t happened In
this case.
IL was on the nth that this vacuum
space came drifting down from across
the Canada border over the Dakotas.
And then a curious thing happened. III Is
usual when vacuum space comes
along for the temperature TO fall; but In
this case il rose instead. 1t was. as
said. a powerful vacuum. and II reached
out and sucked in the air, until us innu-
ence was felt hundreds OF miles away.
From the San Augustin plains OF New
Mexico, from the gray-green prairies
Of the Texas Panhandle. and from the
swamps of the mouth Of the MISSISSIPPI
came the winds at the call OF the myste-
rious power that lowered above the ia
kotas Perhaps no more interesting por-
travail OF the wide influence of this power
was ever made than the weather map OF
he nation, printed on the morning OF
September 18th, for from Santa re TO
Vicksburg the cloud OF arrows that snow
how the wind was blowing are all point
"a toward the heart OF the irregular
oval that marked the mouth OF the In
yerted funnel. In this vast region to
the south Of the funnel the plains and
the prairies were dry and hot,
md the air that went driving
lcross was as dry and hot as they
were. 1t reached and overlooked the low
pre- ssure. the vacuum area; II IL did not
All II, the thermometer rose rapidly under
the heating influence. A vast red space
on the map shows where the hot air made
It's influence felt.
And II Is Q curious fact that on the 18th
he other red spaces on the Atlantic coast
portray for that day sudden rise OF ten
degrees or more. and II one seeks for the
cause OF this. II appears as II another
vacuum that had already passed away on
toward the Labrador region had. for some
Unknown reason. suddenly increased its
power, and was drawing in increased
quantities the hot air Of the cotton States
up the trough to the east OF the Allegha-
lles, to the discomfort OF the people OF
the Atlantic coast. Just why the powerful
suction OF the vacuum space OF the North
west should have been followed by an in
crease of power In the one that was
aiding away In the Northeast. and
whether there was any connection be-
tween the two or not. are matters Of
which no one can tell.
p,,t fha srnrat uaa VAT IN coyna II q a