, 1908-12-05

The Gendarme band will play on the
wharf tomorrow afternoon from 4.3O to $50,
AS mentioned in Thursdays Bulletin the
strong northeast wind which prevailed for
some days previously had damaged the sails
of the Viking on her voyage from St Tho
mas on Tuesday and had driven the Sloon
Breld's Bay on the reef while endeavorinp
to make a tack on trying to leave the har-
bour. We are glad to learn that it is likely
that the sloop can be got off and repaired.
The same high wind prevented the Fixing
from sailing on Wednesday afternoon. She
anchored under the lee of Fort Augusta and
sailed at about eight o'clock on Thursday
morning.
These strong winds from the northeast
always come about this time of the year, fire.
quently later, and may be looked for at anv
time from November to March.
Some time ago We pointed out in this
paper what are the causes of. these winds,
but it may perhaps be interesting to some
of our readers if we here repeat the sub
stance of what was then said ON the subject.
The West Indian islands, or rather that
section of them to which our Danish Islands
may be considered, in regard to position,
as belonging, shut in the Caribbean Sea.
which almost divides the two continents
" ANOAbh hA LII OuE
warm season the Sun shines over the
northern continent more directly than
over the southern, the immense plains Of
the former become therefore greatly heat
ed, while those of the latter are com
paratively cool, hence the air in the northern
continent becomes lighter and is pushed up
by the heavier air from the south. At that
time of the year the trade wind is, SO to
speak, forced round from its normal direction
and blows mostly from some point south of
east. On the other hand in our cool season.
when the sun shines more directly over the
southern continent, the vast plains of the
Orlnoco and the Amazon become heated.
the air over these becomes lighter, and then
the cooler, and consequently heavier, air from
the north pushes it up. Hence the wind at
this time of the year is mainly from points
north of east, and when The difference be.
tween the temperatures of the two continents
is great it moves very fast towards the lighter
air. Hence we get very strong northeast
trades. Farther to the west, in the large
islands, apd especially in Cuba, the wind
blows at such times more from the north,
and when IL Is very strong is called a ''north-
err. 1t can be readily understood that there
Is no fast line between a strong northeast
trade wind and a "norther". Sometimes.
however, the force of the wind is so great
as to bring 1T up to q dangerous gale, which
Is felt around the Bahamas, and even as far
east as these islands,. across the Mex
lean Gulf and the Ca ibbean Ser. On
such occasions vessels in the ports of the
lsthmus are sometimes in danger, and then
the "norther' attracts such attention as
to cause the news of it TO be telegraphed
abroad. On the present occasion we have
80 far heard nothing of the character of the
weather to l%eeward, but we may be sure
that it has been rough and perhaps sufi-
GENTLY so on the north coasts of the islands
as to impede the business of the ports.
Since writing the above we have found in
Mail Notes of the End instant the following
noe Of the experience of a steamer which
had come out of the Gulf of Mexico and
arrived at ST. Thomas on the 1st. She
seems to have hid bad weather most of the
way.
HTbe British steamer Ardnuat. Captain
Mepowall, from Moss Point, Miss, lumber,
laden for .Buenos AJres, arrived here yester-
day for coal; reports very heavy weather
for the last week, especially heavy during
Monday night"
Our readers will have seen from the last
anstalment of the Colonial Councils Proceed