Evening star., 1896-08-06
HURRICANE WARNING.
Special Signal Now Adopted by tn,
Weather Bureau.

Special Signal Now Adopted by the
Weather Bureau.
For the purpose of giving warning of the
approach of tropical hurricanes (and also
of those extremely severe and dangerous
storms which sometimes pass across the
lake region and north Atlantic COAST, the
Neather bureau has adopted special sig
nal called the hurricane signal. consisting
of two red flags, with black centers, dis
played one above the other.
This signal will be displayed at all
weather bureau offices and wind signal
display stations On the Atlantic and gulf
coasts and the great lakes, and also at
numerous other points at sea and lake
ports and along the coasts mentioned. (No
d:stir ctive night signal will be used)
In number of Instances arrangements
have been made with steamship and steam
boat lines to display this signal on their
vessels. Special efforts have been put
forth to provide for the dissemination of
these warnings in sections beyond the
reach Of telegraphic communication, along
the south Atlantic and gulf coasts and the
adjacent Islands, and to this end arrange
ments have been made in many of the most
exposed and thickly settled Of these local
tiles whereby tugs, pilot boats, revenue
cutters or other steam vessels will pass
through the waters in the vicinity display
ing the hurricane signal by day and firing
to attract attention thereto. Among the
districts thus referred to may be mentioned
Galveston bay and vicinity. Mobile bay and
vicinity, the west Florida coast from
Tampa bay south. and the coasts, islands
ard bays of Virginia, North and South
Carolina and Georgia. The flag signals
will also be displayed from the Frying
Pan shoals lightship off the North Carolina
&C esst (Warnings being conveyed thither by
tug from Southport, N. c., the Cross
Rip lightship in Nantucket sound and the
lightships Sandy Hook and Scotland off
New York. Among the steamship lines dis.
playing the flag signal may be mentioned
the Southern Pacific, Pacific Mail, Cro,n-
Well, Munson. Mallory, Plant and Ward
lires.
This circular is published in order that
me information regarding the hurricane
signals may be widely distributed as
possible among the interests ana in the
regions concerned, and all persons to whom
IL may come are requested,to aid hn spread
ing the intelligence 1t contains as far as
may be In their power. All residents In the
localities referred to herein are, ,.enjoined
10 be especially alert during the Hurricane
season, and particularly whenever the
weather Is threatening, to note the signals
"hen given; and 1t Is hoped that, all who
are SO fortunate as to receive the warming
Dy this means will be willing 10 make
some sacrifice in order to give as many
as possible the benefit of it. 1t is recon-
mended that in the localities where these
storms are liable to cause the .ereatest
destruction some arrangement be made be-
Iorehand by the citizens themselves fer the
nlstribution of the warnings to points be-
yond the reach of telegraphicst communica-
tion or beyond sight and sound of the
signals before described. Ti:is I,SInay be
done by means Of couriers on horseback,
displaying signal from some high point.
hrins rockets or such other simple math-
DDS as may suggest themselves The
weather bureau will be glad to assist IN
any such arrangement by delivering the
warnings. whenever it can be done by
telegraph or other means at its command,
To some designated point for distribution
Owners and masters of vessels who are
willing to cooperate with the bureau in
this humane service by displaying the sig
nails on their vessels, or using them to
distribute warnings in given localities are
requested to communicate with the near
est weather bureau official or with this
office. ="
The rockets used by the bureau In this
connection will be red meteor rockets.
which ascend to the height OF three hum
dreo or four hundred feet, and emit bril-
liant red star which burns to the ground
or the waters edge = .;