Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-12-25
To PREDICT CYCLONES.
sun spots. says a Famous Astrono-
mer. Are sun signs.

Of the French Academy CT Sciences,
says the New York Herald The time
illness OF such discussion IS evident
There have been cyclones in several
places during the last year, but espec-
tally in Paris, where they did much
damage Since then many French
savants have been laboring hard to find
some method BY means of which such
atmospheric disturbances can be zccu-
rately foretold We shuddcr when We
hear of whole towns being swept away
but as a rule the disaster occurs far
away from our own homes, and We
soon forget the miseries Of the haPless
and homeless victims Not until we are
face TO face with the danger do we real
ize its power.
So the French hardly realize the force
Of cyclone until they saw one playing
curious Dranks in the streets OF Paris
Now, 10 accurately forrell the time
and places in which cyclones will man
ifest themselves IS clearly not an easy
matter. Sometimes Il is possible 70
make predictions, using for the Pur-
pose such data a The variations OF pres
sure 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 unquestiona5le
fact thai there are certain fixed periods
Al which cvcloaes NAV be expected 10
appear.
But even with such data it is practi-
cally impossible to make predictions
with unerring accuracy. As French
scientist says;
This branch Of metorolgy is still in
( its Infancy, and the results obtained by
means Of meteorological instruments
are often either wrong, incomplete or
contradictory"
The difficulty of making predictions
is furthermore enhanced by the fact
that cyclones are ne result of many
different causes, whereas their effects
are invariably the same. If there were
only cause, the prophets task would be
much easier.
A novel prophetic method Is used by
! Oh. w. Zenger, director OF the ohserva-
tory at Prague According to him, ne
other instrument except the telesc ope
is necessary for such work, and he
claim that by judicious observation Of
the stars not only can cyclones be fore
told, but also earthquakes and Volcanic
eru2tions.
His prophetic method is based on dis
tinct scientific principles. He mas nOliced
that atmospheric and terrestrial dis
turbances coincide with periods OF solar
actiyity-that is to say, with the appear
ance of circular concentric spots on the
suns surface.
Hitherto meteorologists have co4sid-
I these spots as simply a manifestation of
some disturbance in the sun itself The
theory now is that, when such solar dis
.surbances are seen. atmospheric or seis-
mic disturbances NAV surely De expect
ed on Csgr planet Shooting stars ard
meteoriteA- which enter our atmosphere
and are the lsooint of departure of cleo
trio troubles, areN also said TO be forerun-
ners of cyclones o. thquakes.
Examine the sun, then, Is {. Zenger's
advice. and be assured that VI, n Won
notice cycIonial spots on its surface them
is good cause for terror. The phase OF
solar activity recurs periodically every
10 years. and NJ. Zenger insists that our
earth Is in consequence much troubled
every ten years. He is said to have
predicted the cyclone of July p, 1896,
basing his prediction on the fact that
July y, 1896. was a very stormy day
and that on both those dates sun spots
were clearly seen.
This eminent Prague astronomer has
a rival in the person of a well-known
botanist OF Vienna As the former
looks to the SKY for inspiration. so the
ther looks to Mother Earth. The stalk
and petals of the shrub known to 6otan-
lists as Arbus precatorious rnobilis are
mis- guide. faultless barometer. in
deed this shrub appears TO be. Its sen
sitiveness, we are told. Is so great that
merely by the movements OF IFS leaves
branches and stem storms, earthquakes.
and other atmospheric occurrences can
De foretold much more readily and ac,u-
rately than they can by the use Of the
most delicate meteorological instru-
ments.
.s..rr 81, - . r--,--A --s,--:-. -.-,...--