Year: 1872

The brief but pthy description given below OF the
indications OF impending cyclones or hurricanes
4ogether with advice to the best way TO steer
clear OF such dangerous winds, Is from the pen OF
one OF our most experienced practical navigators
and will command the attention OF every American
Bhipmaster. The charts and tables. which we also
publish, Illustrate the points enforced and the cOuh-
sci given. Few branches OF nautical science nave Q"
Hate years been SO exhaustivcy and earnestly can
vassed as the 'aw OF storms" but the short article
we present to our readers to-day, while not In al
1eatures new is least the clearest exposition OF
sound doctrine on these matters which can be
found In the same compass.


How TO Ascertain when . Hurricane or
Cyclone IL At Hand and How 70
' Avoid II.


lourfold and they are all easy OF recognition They
consist Of


First-A rapidly falling barometer.


Notwithstanding aspect OF the weather ana
The appearance Of the heavens.


Tnfrd-A heavy swell OF the sea- far heavier than
pould be accounted for by the existing wind or by
that which has ever recently existed In the neigh
6orhood OF the ship.


Fburth-A wind increasing In violence.


Whenever or wherever all these indications are
round to occur simultaneously one may well take





Il Impending and that, in fact the ship is already
In contact with Its outer margin. and that 1t is
kime for the captain to Immediately prepare and
Hirect his vessel accordingly.


. II In the Northern Hemisphere, the first thing to
be done Is to bring the ship by the wind on
The starboard tack, to shorten sail and deaden
her way much as possible; then determine
parefully by the compass how the wind veers, or
whether it vecrs at all. The wind OF hurricane





will In all probability be quite long enough to indi
cate Its course and the change OF wind


II the wind be found to veer by compass from left
10 right to haul, then keep the ship by the wind
pr little free on the starboard tack and under as
bther time with the same force Of wind, and con
kinue TO keep her by the wind or a little
fright, until the barometer begins to rise and the
wind itself cease In violence. There need be no ap-
prehension ofthe wind shifting in any other direc
Zion than to the right, with the ship situated and
acting like the one in point r.o,,


II the wind be found by compass to veer from
right to left or TO back, then run tue sup oi M a.
pnce, with the wind on the starboard quarter note
Immediately the course that has to be seered 70 90
much the winds may change to the left, Us long as
needs be, or as long as you can n safely, owing TO
gins 'sss to rise and the wind cease in violence
Ship situated and acting upon these directions VIII
always find the wind to back


All, but to remain steady at one particular quarter
then run the Ship Off at once vicinity OF land rcrr
Guarter, say so as to bring the wind hin
being two points dead aft Note Immediately !.
course to be steered to do so, aud stick to thai
course no matter how much the wind may charGr
40 the left until the barometer begins to lias
ship situated and acting like this will
always find the wind to back and may, like the one
alluded to in the preceding paragraph, by dong as
directed readily herself into Il gl0riousy falr
wind and thus turn the storm TO u great ad-
vantage.


In each OF the before mentioned tthree) cases
the ship, after following ont the directions pre-
ecribed finding the barometer TO rise and the
wind to cease in violence, may then be kept with
4he wind abeam the starboard tack Tor
The Northern Hemisphere and the port tack
for the Southern Hemisphere irrespective oil
the direction from which 1t may blow.
No great while will now clapse before tic
Centre or vortex will have passed entirely by you,
md at comparatively harmless distance, and thus
ended and in each OF these cases. too, by adherlng
closely to these directions, fair wind ana tine
weather may be confidently expected In large
majority OF cases.


Always adhere to the rules so distinctly laid
down.


In the Southern Hemisphere the port tack Is the
preferable one, and bearing up with tnc wihd Oh
ahe port quarter or beam should be res0rtcd 70.


Remember the wind OF a cyclone In the southern
Hemisphere whirls exactly in the opposite dircction
10 those winds ofthe cyclone OF the Nortnerh ucni
Sphere .,,.


Now, keep in mind this opposite whr'ing
motion, and manage your ship accordingly. -.
{ Remember also, in the Northern iienisp!eIe .mc
right hand semclrcle contains the heavlcst wluuH
while In the Southern Hemisphere the hcaVlcst
winds are In the left hand semicircle.