The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-07
PORTENDS OF STORM.
Sun Spots Said TO Be Sure HeraldS
Of Cyclones.
Shooting Stars aud Meteorites Also
Said To Eoreteli Disturbances.

A very interesting paper in regard to tn
possibility OF predicting cyclones, hurri-
canes, earthquakes and other atmospheric
disturb9pces was read at the last meeting
of the French Academy Of Sciences The
timeliness Of such discussion Is evident.
There have been cyclonessn several places
during the last year. but especially in
Paris, where they did much damage.
Since then many French savants have been
laboring hard to find some method hy
means of which such atmospheric dis
turbances can be accurately foretold. We
shuddcr when we hear OF whole towns
swept away, but as "a rule tho disaster oc-
ours far away from our own homes, and
we soon forget the miseries OF the hapless
aud homeless victims. Not until we are
face to face with the danger do we realize
Its power.
So the French hardly realized the force
of cyclone until they saw one playing
curious pranks In the streets Of Paris.
Now, TO accurately foretell the time and
places In which cyclones will manifest
themselves Is clearly not an easy matter.
;Somgtimes 1t Is possible to make predic-
tions, using for the purpose such data as
the variations OF pressure registered by the
barometer, the variations of temperature
shown by the thermometer, the indications
OF the hygrometer, the electrical condition
Of the atmosphere and the unqrestionable
fact that there are certain fixed periods at
which cyclones may be expected to appear
But even with such data IL Is practically
impossible to make predictions with un-
erring accuracy. AS French scientist
says:
"This branch Of meteorology is still in
its infancy, and the results obtained by
means Of meteorological instruments are
often either wrong, incomplete or contra
dictory."
Tho difficulty Of making predictions is
furthermore enhanced by the fact that cy-
clones arc the result of many different
causes, whereas their effects are invariably
the same. II tAere were only cause, the
prophets task wo.ld be much easier.
A novel propt& ic method is used by
Charles w. Eenger, director of the observa-
tory at Prague. According to him, no
other instrument except the telescope Is
necessary for such work, and he claims
that by a judcious observation of the stars
not only can cyclones be foretold, but also
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
His prophetic method is based on dis
tinct scientific principles. lie has noticed
ances coincide with periods OF solar activ-
ity-that Is to say, with the appearance of
circIlar concentric spots on the SUMS
surface.
Hitherto meteorologists have considered
these spots rs simply manifestation OF
some disturbance in the sun itself The
theory now is that when such solar dis
turbances are seen, atmospheric or seismic
disturbances may surely be expected on
our planet Shooting stars and meteorites,
which enter our atmosphere and are the
point Of departure of electric troubles, arc
also said 10 be forerunners of cyclones or
earthquakes
Examine the sun. then, Is M. Zenger's
advice, and bo assured that when you no
tice cyclonal spots on it's surfaces there is
good cause for terror. The phase of solar
activity recurs periodically every ten years,
and M. Zenger insists that our earth is in
consequence much troubled every ten years.
He Is said 10 have predicted the cyclone of
July %, 1896, basing his prediction on the
fact that July "a, 1856, was n very stormy
day and that on both those dates sun spots
were clearly seen.
This cminor .s'rague astronomer has a
rival in tho person OF well known bota-
mist Of Vienna. As the former looks 70 the
sky for inspiration, SO the other looks to
mother earth. The stalk and petals al the
shrub known TO botanists az Arbus preca-
torius l'nobiliS are his guide. faultless
barometer indeed this shrub appears to
be- Its sensitiyeness, we are told, is SO
great that merely by the movements of its
leaves, branches and stem storms, earth
quakes and nther atmospheric occurrences
can be foretold much more readily and nc
curately than they can by the use of the
most delicate meteorological instruments
After ALL as a French scientist points
out, "therc Is little real difference between
these two methods Of making predictions
NJ. Zengcr and the Austrian botanist work
in different ways, but they use the same
principle.
Triple Drowning Accilent