The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-24
rhe PARIS yoltalre recentIy publIshe

present time our country Is passing
through a period which from the point
of view Of meteorological phenomena Is
profoundly disturbed. For the last two
years this part OF the world has suffer-
ed from extreme electrical saturatlon
of the atmosphere, which has been the
direct cause OF frequent storms and TO
which may be traced the disastrous ey-
clones that devastated Paris and Its
suburbs last year and again only few
weeks ago. II would appear at FIRST
sight that formerly the terrestrial tor
nado was unknown, but such an idea
doubtless is due to the fact that until
within a comparatively short space OF
time means Of communication and re-
latlon were difficult 70 obtain. People
knew little that was going on about
them even ut the distance OF ten lea
CUES, and apart from its variable move
ment OF progression the cyclone Is a
distinctly local catastrophe, which
may strike its fatal blow upon the de-
voted and predestined spot while COM
munlties, at only the distance of few
miles may be entirely ignorant of its
fatal effects.
Traditions and memories OF the dead
" work of the rotary or circular storm,
have been preserved for more than a
hundred years. The most momentous
phenomenon of this character both on
account of the disasters 1t occasloned
and the extended space over which its
effects were felt, was the tempest of
October 10. 1850, whose sphere OF action
whs so vast that II embraced the ex-
tFeme points OF the Windward Islands,
while its centre passed over Barbados,
From there It was borne 20 the shores
OF Martinique. where 1t enveloped in its
deadly folds French convoy, composed
OF sixty merchant vessels and trans
ports, with Ave hundred soldiers on
board, escorted by the frigates Ceres
and Consulate. Ten OF these ships
alone escaped destruction; the Others
disappeared on the 18th the wind still
continued its work of devastation, and
at the Isle of Mona II sank the greater
part Of British merchant fleet an
chored there. Two British war ships,
forming part Of the squadron Of Com
modore Walslngham, disappeared, no
one ever knowing the spot where theP
went down. on land nine thousand
persons persisted at Martinique. six
thousand at Santa Lucia and sixteen
hundred at Port Royal. At Saint Pierre
not one house was left standing, ev-
erywhere there was ruin and desola-
ton.
More Recent Memories.
Eight years later terrible cyclone
ravaged France, Belgium and Holland.
More closely related 10 our time are
preserved the memories OF such fatal
tornadoes !l those at Chatenay, close to
Paris, In 1889; In Normandy In lH5,
when the villages Of Monvllle and Nal
nunay were devastated. being practic-
ally destroyed and at Cartances, In 1859.
when tidal wave added its horrors to
the effects of the terrestrial disturb
ance
The cause OF these formidable phe-
nomenn is yet shrouded in mystery.
Scientists are far from thoroughly un-
derstanding them. principally for the
reason that there are serious difficult
ties In the way OF drawing conclus-
ions, and happily opportunities for OBJ
servation OF the facts are rare
VI. Faye, an eminent member OF tho
bureau of lonEitudes and of the Acad-
envy, performed an act OF the greatest
benefit to science when he proposed as a
new branch OF investigation for savans
In the Academy OF Sciences the origin
OF tempests, and especially those OF the
rotary type. The problem was one
which had long Interested NJ. Faye, and
there is perhaps no more pleasant Incl.
dent In contemporary scientific annals
than the persistent effort of this man,
long past the allotted span OF human
life, to bring about the final triumph
and general acceptance In the learned
world OF the theories which he had crea-
ted.
1t may be noted here also as a re-
markable fact that NJ. Faye has been.
strictly speaking. a meteorological only
upon occasion. It was in studying as
tronomy that the venerable savant was
finally drawn to the consideration of the
causes which led to the production of
tornadoes and typhoons. The theory
which NJ. Faye evolved was based upon
this premise. that there was n striking
and demonstrable analogy between the
terrestrial phenomena OF cyclones and
W. hhANNo anu NHt NNll lFllltu tlolH
upon the sun. ana he drew the Inference
that the phenomena were due TO the
downward gyratory movements origin
ating In the solar atmosphere.
How Cyclones are Produced.
Cyclones are probably produced by the
shock and progressive impulse Of cur
rents Of afr moving in the same dlrec-
tion. An analogous phenomenon is that
which Is noticed In the formation Of cd
dies In rivers. The movement OF air IA
prlmordial, but almost all meteorOloglsts
admit that tornadocs are generated also
In their centre movement OF aspiration
towards the zenith.
Many apocryphal statements and facts
the recorded bearing upon this subject.
one OF these legends, which has gained
great credit among the uniformed, deals
with the liquid column, bicOncavc as to
Its borders, and having small base aud
a very enlarged apex.
Frightened spectators have narrated
fearful stories, and II IL. II appears. very
dangerous 10 be caught under water
Hp"dt as ono would risk being sub
merged a stlll more singular thing IN
that sailors who have been caught under
n water spout have. In spite Of them
selves swallowed q little Of the water
and Il has tasted sweet TO them. So,
Gays NJ. Faye, waterBpouta not only suck
up the sea winter. hut remove the salt
from II. These statements sun find Dc
tcnders. for many believe that they
themselves have witnessed these mar
vols with their own eyes.
WhuI Ia mara u1tuI.HIIIa Ia NhHN ts, a.. 81.
ocnire Of The cyclone aFeiatiVe vacuum ~
formed. This would account for tho
enormous depression of the barometer at
the storm centre and for certain pho
nomena observed by nnylCatofH-abao-
lIIIn nnln1 Mnnn lhn MIN nLLnL- ~. M