The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-13
FACTS ABOUT CYCLONES.
MENTION OF SOME WHICH HAVE
VISITED SAVANNAH.

The rapid recurrence of a terrific cyclone
in sucn short space of time, following
one of equal if not of greater severity, and
years past, has interested the writer, not
only from a scientific but from a most
active personal standpoint, as will be seen
later and it impresses him that most Of
our citizens VIII be also interested In the
laws which govern its coming, as well as
its origin, and utility, in natures great
economy-it being only very few gener-
atoms since we have determined with any
definite knowledge the atmospheric laws
of cyclones. We now know that all the
great storms which sweep over the seas
are cyclones, or circular gales, revolving
around an axis, or vortex, at the same
time that they are travelling in a given di-
rectlon, the revolving wind inclinsng in
wardly, as it were; these cyclones orgi-
ate in warm ATTITUDES, or, as a Dutch Of
fcer quantity remarks: THAT they prefer
to put their feet in warm water" They
usually embrace a diameter of 100 to 400
miles disturbance always accompanied by
dropping from 80 20 to 2S 81, as was the
writer's experience while on board the
United States revenue cutter Boutwell,,
when blown ashore, high and dry, in 1881,
In Cockspur Rhodes; this drop occurring
within thirty-six hours-the winds veloc-
lily at times being So miles an hour. 1t
took the government six months to canal
co.
vessel had both wheels going, and two
1300-pound anchors out, with 600 feet of
chain; the force of The drift being so
strong as to cut two deep gulches through
the hardened river bank, having dragged
through 100 feet of marsh soil in the
path of each anchor; tripod derrjcks being
rugged over each unshackled anchor to
hoist them out of the mud, such was the
power of the wind.
Rains usually accompany cyclones which
cross the United States from West to east,
or visit us from the West Indies. These
winds circulate contrary to the hands of
a clock in our hemisphere, while they pre-
fer the contrary direction in the southern
hemisphere or, with the hands of watch;
they are the great regulators or balance
wheels of the atmospheric machine, as II
we're, arising at seasons of atmospheric
disturbance and seem necessary TO the
restoration of the atmospheric equilibrium.
cyclones exist in the Antipodes under
the name of typhoons, being, if anything,
more destructive than with us, as hurri-
canes or cyclones; having their origin
from the same combination of circum-
stances as our cyclones, occurring during
the change of the monsoons or periodical
winds, blowing northeast for six months
and reversing their direction the other six
months, or southwest. The distortion OF
the elements during the periods of the
changing at either season brings about
battle of the winds. as it were, the out.
going wind struggling against the new
coming wind in its endeavor to assert the
mastery, creating Gains, waterspouts
heavy and drenching rains with black
Withholding clouds, rent. torn. whirled
and laden with vapor, obscuring the sky
in every direction throttling the old dy-
ing monsoon This skirmish OF the ele-
ments is the prodroma Of the fearful ty.
phoon of the China seas. Nature then
smiles again for six months, only to renew
the over ana over fight of the Tltans.
Analogous to the foregoing cause of ty-
phoons. appears the corresponding cause
Of our familiar hurricanes OF West India