The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-08-11
TORNADOES.
WHAT THEY ARE, AND HOW
THEY ORIGINATE.
Difference between n Tornado aud a
Cyclone-Formation OF
Typical Western
Tornado.
IEW disasters in recent years
X. have resulted in tho loss OF as
many human lives and as much

% property rs the storm that
struck st. Louif. When tho loss OF
life IN the other Storm OF the previous
ton days is considered in connection
with the one at st. Louis, tornadoes,
declares the New York World, seem
moro terrible than war.
There have been moro people killed
by the recent storms in the West than
have met death while battling for
Cuban freedom. IL takes the Spanish
army, the Cuban insurgents, and tho
latter's ally. Yellow Jack, about n
month to kill rs many people as were
hurried to their death within n few
minutes during the awful storm We'd
nesday night.
The average man has misconcep-
ton of tho difference between n cy-
clone and tornado. A cyclone is n
windstorm which covers vast area of
territory. The wind at such times Mt
tains velocity of from thirty nine to
eighty miles an hour. The storms
frequently cover several States, and
while they arc often dangerous and
destructive of property, they lack the
tremendous force and concentration
which makes tornado dreaded.
Unlike the cyclone, tho tornado
covers very little territory, 1t is the
monster whirlwind, funnel shaped and
with twisting motion, which sweeps
along narrow path few rods in
width, utterly w7ecking everything it
encounters. A tornado lasts but n
minute at any one place, and what
damage it does liz done in less time
than is required to tell It,
Tornadoes sometimes travel thirty
or forty miles before spending their
force, often leaving n track but n mile
or so in length and only few rods
wide.
Winds are caused by what weather
experts call unequal distribution of
barometic pressure. The air from tho
places of high pressure rushes into the
localities where pressure is low. In
some way the cold currents from tho
north meet tho warm mir from the
south, and n tornado is born. lorna
does are almost invariably preceded
by cyclonic storms, but cyclone is
not necessarily accompanied by tor
nado.
Recent observations have DESTROYED
some pet theori regarding tornadoos.
The late General ii. A. Hazen, chief
OF tho Weather Bureau, believed that
1T is necessary for the warm air to flow
underneath the cold air In order to
produce the conditions requisite for
the funnel shaped cloud. He attacked
the popular idea that tho circular
motion is necessary feature OF the
tornado.
General Hazen gave the following
description of the formation of typi-
cnl Western tornado:
con n quiet but very hot afternoon
there suddenly appears in tho south.
west horizon an ominous. greenish-
black cloud the sky is almost cloud
less overhead and there is gentle
south wind blowing toward the general
storm, which almost invariably will be
found to the northwest and about four
hundred miles away. Occasionally
, light, fleecy cirrus clouds, also goner.
ally from the south, pass far above
ones head.
Suddenly the black cloud draws
/ near, preceded by tremendous mass
of dust and terrible roar likened to
the believing OF n million mad bulls
or to the passage of ten thousand
trains OF cars through n tunnel is
heard. This characteristic roar is usu-
ally heard at least fifteen minutes be.
fore the arrival of the tornado, and in
conjunction with other signs, gives
ample warning of it's approach.
THE cnuse of this roar is not easy
to determine. II is like continuous
roar of thunder. 1t is without doubt
some manifestation of electricity, and
1T has been heard In a violent thunder
storm. The wind now blows violently
from western point, but it is hordly
proper to say that it shifts TO the
west, as the cause of the west wind has
no connection with that of the Fro
vious current from tho south Almost
Immediately the tornado, often ush-
cred in by fearful peltinC OF hail, is
upon us. On the south side the de.
struction extends oftentimes TO 1000
feet or even q quarter of mile, while
on the north side one may stand with
impuuity within 400 or 500 feet of
the greatest destruction"
Where there are so many conflicting
notions regarding cyclones some of
them must Of necessity be wrong.
They are difficult things to study be.
cause they cannot always be found,
aud tho unfortuaates who have been
compelled TO examine them Mt close
range have not always been able after.
wards to accurately describe what they
saw.
General Hazen formed his concIu.
sions from studying the d chris made
by storm and noticing the direction
in which trees had been thrown. The
West has recently supplied much ma.
terial for this sort of study, and il is
possible that something scientifically
definite will he known about tornadoes
before long. Aud tn en- perhaps some
way will be discovered to prevent
them
Iornadoes have long been a feature
OF level countries, whether prairie or
timbered. Throughout Indiana, Ohio.
Wisconsin and MICHIGAN arc what were
known to the early settlers as "wind-
falls In the midst of an unbroken
forest would be found n narrow swath
where the trees had been blown down.
This marked the course OF a tornado
that may hive goarad a foo Trd,o,,,