STORMS. 131 



In the " World of Science " tin t ago, 



an article on a, so-called, circular storm, which j> r tho 



.ship X>,>l,!tit at St. Thomas. This is acminpanifd by a diagram, 

 showing the direction of the wind on the -ship, at different 

 intervals during the storm. First then; was a tremendous gale 

 of wind: "The barometer falling, at nine a. in., the storm 

 increased, and at noon it was blowing a fearful hurricane, wind 

 STEADY at X. N. W. hf. W. ; at 12.15, p. m., it full a dead 

 'nlin, with a considerable sea; at 12.40, p. m., it 



became almost dark ; and of a sudden, a most fearful and 

 li-rrible rush of wind succeeded from S. S. R hf. E., (a 

 directly opposite point) and struck the ship on the port broad- 

 side, keeling her over on her beam ends, blowing her fore and 

 miz/.enmast right out of her. * * * At one, p. in., the 

 barometer began to rise; 2, p. m., rising gradually, the wind 

 steady at S. S. E. hf. E." This diagram shows the storm to be 

 round a centre, strictly according to the accepted theory. But 

 how is it possible to make the circular force correspond with 

 the facts as stated, where the wind blew furiously from only 

 two directly opposite points, into a dead calm, which lasted 

 some 25 or 30 minutes, and during the calm at noon, it was 

 almost dark ? How in this case can they account for the calm 

 between the gales, or in the centre ? Generally in the centre of 

 any whirlwind, or whirlpool, then- is the most violent move- 

 ment or disturbance. Such a storm as we have described, if 

 circular, must of necessity, have resulted in some such tremen- 

 dous central commotion. Thciv -jould not possibly be a calm. 

 If, instead of saying the winds blew round a centre, we say 

 they blew into a centre, then the whole phenomena can be 

 easily accounted for. A deluge of rain poured continually 



