The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-16
AN UNwELcoME VISITOR.
rAs Varying Power of Tornadoes aad
Their FREQUENCY.


Perhaps the most important distine-
lion 70 emphasize is that between the
appearance OF thunderstorm and O
tornado, since, if this can be defined,
much needless fear at the approach OF
black, but harmless, thundsrstorms
ean be avoided. When not combined
with tornado manifestations the thun-
5erstorm sends aloft narrow line OF
black clouds in advance, which TeInains
high in the air. At the right aid left
the black clouds seem TO reach the
earth, but this is caused, not by de-
scent to the earth, as in a tornado, but
by distant edges Of The high, black
clouds reced.ng below the horizon line.
It is one storm, which spreads TO the
left and right. There is no splitting
up of clouds with the formation of q
different storm at another part of the
horizon.
The tornado Is easily distinguished
from this perfectly plain edge of black.
with it's lighter rain-mist extending 20
the earth. Whether the funnel is yelled
by rain or not, il is ordinarily SO black
lhat, as 1t approaches. it appears as .
column of dense darkness, narrowest
ut the earth, with light breaking on
either side of il. The most marked
trait of all is that other clouds seem
to be approaching, others moving at
right angles, and q distinct storm or
light hue is coming up from the south
west. This Is ell caused by the tor
nado, which Is drawing clouds and air
currents towards itself from great dis
tances. AS the tornado funnel comes
nearer, with its dark mass Of rubbish
reaching to the earth. the roar Is fright
full. giving the observer Is or 20 min
etes' warning. The southwest corner
Of the cellar. il the tornado u approach
ing from the south or west, is the safest
place of refuge The tornado carries
the wreclzage 10 ~ rorth ara east.
and II THE funnel Il seen ~ lie lCTth
or east it aeed not be feared. because
II will almost certainly move sway.
Of 600 tornadoes specially classified, all
but IS moved from southwest to north
east, and nearly all the IS mcsed east
wardly.
The tunnels have rotary motion
from right TO left. and this motion in
not due 20 electrical action. but 20 ac-
ce}eration OF conflicting air curSents-
Lieut. Finley shows that the lightning
supposed to be IN the funnel ~ really
In adjacent thunder clouds. The broken
and withered buds, bruised By the ac-
ton Of The air, are evaporated by the
sun after the tornado, causing the
foliage 10 look scared. giving rise 80
the error that the tornado nanfests
burning electrical power. IL has been
demonstrated by study OF vreckzgs
that as the funnel leaves the earth and
rises into the air its force slightly dl-
sainishes, and that this bounding no
ton causes the funnel 20 spare one
building and dc-nol:sh another. The
funnel. with It's snail end 20 the earth,
spins Ike a top, moving along a. az
average rate Of about 20 miles an hour.
but the velocity Of the spin is iEezlc1-
liable. IL - like the motion Of air i'm
PEELED by al explosion
Tornsdoes generally occur between
.hree p. II and five ?. IN. aud rot more
than one ia I.O90 taxes place between
ten p. N and noon of the following
DAY. have beard % only txo In
stances II which the tornado occurred
between midnight and rnornisg-o5s
a, Hohokux- y. J. and another IN south
err Michigan. which caused slight los.
oflife- Since these are only two a zboui
1000 eases. the danger frcn ;crnSdo~s
g: night u 50 snail that Il need not Ia
cozsidered--Ha;per's Weekly.