Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-23


circumstances chickens have been Invested OF Their
feathers and after the passing OF the storm, roostes
have been strutng about the farmyards, Growing
deiantly but stark naked
Only few days after the disaster at Sherman public
attention suddenly and completely distracted from
it bv the great tornado that struck St Louis Nav p
destroying twenty million dollars worth of property
minutes So far money loss goes this by far
the worst catastrophe OF the kind in history. But
most striking feature perhaps, was the manner in which
the destruction accomplished, many buildings Of
solid brick and stone IN the path of the being lit
orally blown up. When the twster passed them,
they exploded. the roofs being lifted off and the walls
thrown outward, as by gigantic force eXerted from
within.
This strange phenomenon (often observed in con
nection with tornadoeS elsewhere has since come to
be fairly well understood, thanks study Of
the subject by the United States Weather Bureau The
destroying cloud, resembling a mighty funnel in shape
is mass of vapor-laden air revolving at enormous
speed, estimated from hundred and fifty to FIVE
hundred miles an hour. 1t is tubular, and inside OF
vacuum. There is tremendous upward draft IN
side the tube Thus understands its power suck
up whatever it finds in its path. When it upon
house, instantly swallows all the the neghbor-
mood OF the building which thereupon explodes
The house you live in is filled with considerable
pressure. Envelopng all sides an atmosphere
equal pressure, and there is a condition Of
equilibrium But if the surrounding air suddenly
removed, the pressure from within would promptly
burst the walls asunder. Your domcile, in a word
would be transformed all at into gigantic bomb
and would be rent into pieces srewn far and wide
that it would be difficult to reassembe them.
This is the Of thing that happens when tornado
strikes town: The monster shaped like immense
balloon, is provided with appendage somewhat
sembling elephants trunk, which, it along.
seems to feel its way the ground sucking up and
destroying whatever it comes across. Whirling an
incredible rate in direction opposite to that OF the
hands of clock the trunk, funnel tube, moves
ward at a speed of about thirty miles an hour Its
power OF suction, with the twisting force auxiliary
IS not to be resisted by any structure whether Of
Steel that feeble able raise above the sur
face OF the earth In all likelihood the Pyramid Of
Cheops could not successfully withstand the assault
Of a full fledged tornado.
The St. Louis tornado after passing with destructive
effect through several miles OF brick buildings left the
city with greater force than when entered fact that
shows the futility Of the expedient, often recommended
OF planting forests to the southwest OF towns as a
means OF protection against such storms. In truth, the
strongest trees says Chief Moore of the Weather Bureau
would offer little resistance than many blades
OF grass. There is way fight guard against
this most violent OF all atmospheric phenomena Gov
eminent experts withhold their approval from the
scheme adopted not long ago by small Western city
which hired Cannoneer to shoot at any suspicious look
ing cloud.
THE freak effects of toradoes have been the subject OF
much description. In instance a farmer was
milking IN his barnyard when the twister came along.
His pail was not upset; but the knocked over
Several small pigs in the barn cellar picked up and
blown out of the window and went squealng through
the air past his head like flock of birds.
Occasionally the side of house is carried away and
converted into klndng, while the rest Of the building
unlnlured. An Iowa tornado shattered half OF double
dwelling to bits, while the other halt and the hall
ming through the middle untouched the carpet on
the hall floor and the paper on the wall being
spotted The porch of Kansas house was cut away as
neatly as the job had been done with huge AK In
Nebraska the second story of eght-room house was
taken off with so little shock that the clocks the
elpeces OF the first floor went right ticking On
other OCCASION IN Kansas all the members OF a family
took refuge in a cyclone cellar escape approach
ing tornado They heard ire
mendous crash, and supposed
= that the house gone. To
their establishment. when they