I02 TRANS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIENCE. 



The Tornado of April 14, 1879. 

 By J. L. R. Wadsworth, M.D.,* and Francis E. Nipher. 



The weather map of the Signal Senice, for 7 : 35 a.m. of the 

 14th of April, shows that a well marked barometric depression 

 existed over southwestern Missouri, and over Indian Territory 

 and southeastern Kansas. It was central about 60 miles N.W. of 

 Ft. Gibson. During the day this area moved to the N.E. and at 

 4:35 p.m. it was central near Marshfield, Mo., about 170 miles 

 S.W. of St. Louis. 



Shortly after midnight of the 13th- 14th, a light rain began in 

 the region around Glasgow, Mo. This rain area extended out- 

 ward in all directions, the front of the rainstorm forming at 4 a.m. 

 an oval or ellipsis, the major axis of which extended from a point 

 somewhat north of Lexington to near Fulton, lying thus in the 

 Missouri bottoms. The length of this major axis is about 150 

 miles. The minor axis was at the same time about 50 or 60 miles 

 in length. The velocity with ^which the front of the rainstorm 

 advanced was then about 25 to 30 miles in the direction of the 

 major axis, and from 15 to 20 miles per hour in a direction at 

 right angles thereto. [At the same time a rain in the Indian 

 Territory had extended into southwest Missouri, the two rains 

 apparently mingling in the Osage valley at about 9 a.m.] The 

 amount of rain was on the average one-fourth of an inch, and the 

 duration from half an hour to an hour and a quarter. It reached 

 St. Louis at 7 a.m., where the rainfall was only a tenth of an inch. 

 In the western part of the area the rain was heavier, being o.S at 

 Kansas City. 



This rain thus existed first as an area^ and was continued as a 

 slowly enlarging belt, Oji' elliptical ri^ig^ on the inside of which 

 the rain had already ceased. This seems to indicate a descending 

 current of air, which, striking the earth, spread thus outwards, 

 its front being marked by a raincloud. 



At noon, a rain area, precisely similar to the former, began at 



* Dr. Wadsworth has collected all the information in regard to the effects of the tornado, 

 a work which his intimate acquaintance with the witnesses has enabled him to do with great 

 success. 



