The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-08-12

who have Witnessed their formation usually report
a great commOtOn I'm threatening cloud, or, more
commonly, two clouds come together From this
whrling the characteristic cloud descends
until, in the case of damaging storms, 1t touches
the earth. Sometimes the cloud is really funnel
shaped; more commonly it is described as resem-
bling an elephants trunk or gigantic snake as 1t
writhes and sways back and forth in Its progress.
Other observers have stated that 1t reminded them
of a rope swinging back and forth from the clouds.
Usually in the case Of slender cloud the color Is
milky white except near the ground, where 1t is
dark from flying dust and debris. Clouds of large
diameter usually much darker"
A still better smile 1t would seem, is that of a
gigantic balloon, scuddlng low across country be
fore the wind and dragging an enormous cable
which trails along the ground, twisting and
turning and creating fantastic destruction.
1t seems to be established that west of the
Rockies and east Of the Alleghenles there isn't
much danger from cyclones. But anywhere In the
Mississippi Valley it's keep your eye open. Chi
cagO has thought itself immune, owing to some
peculiar influence exerted by the Great Lakes, but
this spring real twster visited its suburbs to the
northwest
1t is estimated by the weather experts that FOR
any specific area or farm Of one square mile the
probability Of being visited by tornado is less
than 1-1G Of 1 per cent per century,
There is a popular feeling that cyclones, like
lightning. do not strike the same spot twice. Nev-
ertheess it is of record that Codell, Rocks county
Kan. hit three years i'm succession on May
% at the same hour Of the day
The crop of "cyclone stories is very large every
year. The plain truth is that almost anything that
is told may az well be believed There seems to be
no limit to the fantastic vagarles of these twist
ers. For example, here's what an official weather
bureau record says in part:
"The freakish occurrences that result from
these storms will tax the Credully of person who
has never seen them. The often reclted instances
of straws being blown with such violence that they
are left sticking in the bark and the wood of a
tree or post have to be seen In order to be appre
ciated. Chickens are sometimes stripped OF their
feathers and left alive, though often they
killed.
IAN instance has been related credible
thority of dresser being smashed to klndling and
its mirror being carried some distance and set
down against fence without being cracked; also,
OF a window sash being blown from railway de-
Dot which was demolished and laid down on an
adjoining lawn with a heavy iron scale weight on
1t without the glass being broken.
zone Of the remarkable features noted Is the
number Of almost miraculous escapes"
1t Is easy enough TO understand that a house
may he exploded; :" the passing twister creates
partial vacuum and the house If tightly closed, Is
blown to pieces by the pressure Of the air inside
IT, This vacuum also explains why feathers are
pulled off chickens, since the qus contain air.
But when wheat straws are driven Into green
tree-then it's time to wonder.