The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-23


The Secretary OF the Navy win receive
IN this mornings mail the resignation or
Dennis Horigan. the oldest weather fore
caster IN point OF consecutive service In
the United States.
An accident sustained about two
months ago by Father" Horigan. as he
is called, which resulted in the amputa-
ton Of his right leg at the knee. is tbs
cause OF his withdrawal from the service.
Now Improving.
Mr.. Horigan, who is now nearly eighty
three years OF age. has recently been re-
moved to his home. 25OS p street north
west, from Georgetown University Hos
pital, where for the past seven weeks he
had been steadily recovering from the
operation incident 10 the loss OF his
limb
Despite his misfortune. he appears in
the best spirits. and the story Of his
unique career as a meteorological OBJ
server at the observatory for the last
nfty-two years is without a parallel.
On January Il last. while crossing
boardwalk on his way to procure the 3
O'Clock reading OF the barometers, Mr..
Horigan stumbled and bruised his right
foot, and gangrene having set IN. the
amputation at the knee joint was neces-
sary.
Appointed under the administration OF
President Buchanan. Dennis Horigan has
kept tabs on the weather at the Naval
Observatory. on Georgetown Heights. for
ffty-two years
Stood Regular Watches.
Rain or shine, In albseasons, Mr.. Hor-
lgan stood his regular watches for more
than half century. Through the silent
hours OF the night this faithful man has
taken note, every three hours. OF the tenn
perature. baTometricaI pressure. the ma
tuTe of the winds, clouds, &c.
Mr.. Horigan came from Ireland in the
early SOS. and has since resided in
Georgetown. His long service IN the gov
eminent brought him in contact with
noted scientists. naval officers. and OSh-
ers with whom he used 10 hunt aster-
oids," as he puts it.
When questioned in regard to his long
experience as a meteorological observer.
Mr.. Horigan said:
"Oh, can tell you nothing new On
weather forecasts. though have been
taking notes on them, day and night. for
more than fifty years. You know was
al the old observatory before Capt. NJ.
F. Maury left it, in 1861, and have been
learning little all along since then.
Il have come TO the conclusion that we
can make no long forecasts until we learn
more Of the higher strata OF temperature
and direction of winds around the globe.
I mean, Of course, with any degree of
scientific accuracy. Forecasts may, OF
course. be made on a series Of precedent
conditions with more or less scientific
precision. but those deductions have TO be-
made on ones judgment.
Topography OF Country
The topography OF the country ada
cent TO a given point has much to do with
making predictions. For instance, take
Washington. We have the mountains on
one side and the Gulf stream on the other.
In my opinion. both Of those exercise
an influence on the course OF storms for
this immediate section; besides, I be-
iieve the higher currents Of air govern.
more or less. both the speed and direction
Of storms, and. therefore, it is no easy
matter TO anticipate them"
In his long service at the Naval Obser-
vatOry. Mr.. Horigan has stored I'D count
less "reminiscences OF naval officers and
scientific men with whom his work
brought him in contact. Many rear ad-
nirals OF the navy worked with him, and
among the scientists whom he has aided
in the study OF the stars are Profs. Hall
Newcomb. Hardness. Eastman, Frislly.
Skinner, and others.