Year: 1871

Wcsicrn Tires ard Urrricsncs.
The most remarkable and the most appall-
Ing fact in connection with these late destFuc-
tive Western fires is the fact that, in most
cases, they were driven forward by fierce
winds, of the character Of hurricanes. Thus,
at Peshtego, the rushing fire through the
woods came down upon the devoted village
with such rapidity that large numbers Of the
flying Inhabitants were overtaken and lost
their lives. From various other places swept
away by the forest fires in Wisconsin and
Michigan we have the same melancholy story.
Even at Chicago such was the unexampled
rush Of the flames from house to house and
street to street that thousands of the bewil-
dered citizens escaping with their lives con-
slider 1t miracle that they escaped at all.
From experience and past observations in city
fires they had calculated that the fire in trav-
ersing certain number of blocks would occupy
so much time, and they proceeded TO pack up
and prepare for moving as upon margin of
two three or four hours of grace but In
hundreds Of cases the flames were upon and
around them while they were yet discussing
what valuables they could take away and
what they would have to leave behind.


The unparalleled rapidity Of movement and
overwhelming destructiveness of these Western
fires are chargeable to the ferce Winds which
fed them and swept them onward. But why
these fierce winds, amounting to hurricanes?
They are due to geographical causes. From
Lake Michigan to the Rocky Mountains and
from the British possessions down to Mexico
we have region Of great plains Over these
plains, as over the deserts Of Africa and Asia
and the pampes of South America, the winds
have free play. In their free play they indulge
in frequent tornadoes during tho spring and
summer, and in long and heavy blows during
the autumn and winter. In regard to the hur-
ricanes accompanying these Western fires they
result, first, from the vacuum Of light or rari-
fed air created by the fire, aad next, in the
outside current of denscr air drawn into the
vacuum. Then, as the effect upon the outside
atmosphere from a great fire in an extensive
plain must extend over an indefinite space, the
incoming current to the fire from the outside
pressure rapidly assumes the character Of





the wave OF the incoming air is broken up and
out off; but on an extensive plain the wind
gathers strength in proportion TO the area
affected, as the outpouring waters from mill
dam gather strength in proportion to the size
Of the pond. We think that the Signal Service
Bureau will sustain MS in the opinion that such
was the effect upon the general atmosphere by
these heavy fires in the West that they contri-
bnted very materially to bring up from the
Gulf of Mexico the general rains which put
them out.


But apart from these general causes and
effects, experience within The last few years.
including these late destructive fires, has
taught the people of the plains Of the West
that they are liable to hurricanes, which iu
few minutes may sweep their movable possess
sions from the face of the earth, by wind or
water, or by wind and fire. Hence the wisdom
Of deep and roomy cellars to the houses OF
our Western farmers, for the safety of the
family and the preservation Of its valuables
against tornadoes; and hence the danger of
building up a Western city on the Eastern or
European plan Of narrow streets and compact
blocks of combustible buildings. This lesson
of adapting themselves and their homes to the
peculiar accidents from winds, foods and fires
to which they are naturally liable cannot too
soon be learned and adapted by our Western
people.