Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
Frequent Observations Made by the
Weather Bureau.
TEE COURSE OF THE GALE
Uncertain Whether It Will Follow
Up the Coast.
THE LATEST BULLETINS

The West India hurricane Is undoubtedly
approaching the United States. The follow
ing bulletin was issued by the weather bu-
reau about II o'clock this morning:
Hurricane center approaching Jupiter,
Fla. Hurricane signals ordered as far
north as Charleston, and special warnings
of character of storm given widest distri-
button in south Atlantic states. All ship
ping interests notified"
Even If the hurricane should come in the
direction of Washington, 1t will not reach
the city, it is thought. for couple of days
Two-Hour observations.
Inc weather bureau established system
of observations to be made every two hours
by the agents of the bureau along the
southern coast, reports to be made to the
bureau during the day. The observations
were directed to be made at 10, II, 2 and 4
o'clock for the day service
All last night the weather men were ON
the lookout for the storm Key West,
Jacksonville, Jupiter and Tampa were the
places expected to be heard from first
Nassau, In the Bahamas, was the point of
greatest interest, however for being out
at sea- and in the supposed track of the
be felt there.
Inc cable office at Nassau agreed to keep
open all night for the weather bureau
soon soon after the storm began to rage at
III NJ
ter, Fla, reported about 10 O'Clock last
night that they could not raise Nassau on
the wire, and the same condition existed
early this morning.
telegram was received this morning
from the weather man at JupitAr dated
S:26 a. M, as follows:
Storm velocity began within hour.
fuHy and squaiiy. Moderately heavy sea
now prevailing. Tide remains normal"
This dispatch was evidence that the hur-
rlcane mad showed its outer edge UP to our
coast The question concerning the Off
Gals here was where was the center of the
storm, ana which way would 1t move after
reaching the coast.
The natural tendency of these West In
Ola hurricanes is to recurve to the east and
north soon as they strike the sulf
stream Their intensity is likely to in
crease at the time of recurring Some of
them have been known however to take
a northwesterly course after hitting the
land, and others have gone due west. over
the gulf The weather bureau officials
could not f0reshadow the course of the hur-
ricane until they got one or two observa-
lions on land.
Coarse Indications.
The conditions this morning were very
favorable for the hurricane TO move north
ward. along the usual lines. The barome-
ter was below the normal all along the
coast, from Washington down AS the
hurricane will move in the direction of
the least resistance, this low condition of
barometer is more favorable to it than if
a high existed over the lower section of
the United States.
The showeTy, cloudy weather today was
not due to the influence of the approach
ing hurricane. 1t was caused by the pres
ence of several lows drifting over the
country to the nocthWard.
The barometer at Jupiter I'D to O'Clock
this morning had fallen II of an inch since
last night, which is a very significant fall
at Jupiter. The reading this morning was
2974, which is down TO storm mark in
that latitude.
Hurricane signals were ordered to be
set In Florida last night. Storm signals
were ordered for the Atlantic coast north
OF Florida, and the hurricane flags will
go up as the storm moves north if it comes
this way. The officials In Florida were or
dered to give the widest publicity possible
to the warnings and to disseminate them
through the state by every means.
1t Is thought at the weather bureau here
that this hurricane has smaller area
than the usual West India blows. 1t is
probably not over 400 miles in diameter
and has been moving at the rate of 800
miles day. The speed will probably be
accelerated when the storm reaches the
gulf stream.
Damage In Porto Rico.
The quartermaster general has received a
cable message from Major Glenn, quarter
master ct San Juan, saying that the light
ers belonging to the department which were
to be taken to Santiago have been SO badly
damaged by the storm that they cannot
make the voyage. The damage to the bar
racks and quarters In both San Juan and
Ponce is fully as great as first reported by
the quartermaSter.
GRATIFYING RESPONSES.
piSns ,r