342 Observations on the New Haven Tornado. 



Let us now trace more particularly those facts which have a 

 bearing upon the laws which govern this storm. 



1. The first great fact that strikes us, is, that all the trees and 

 other objects that mark the direction of the wind which prostra- 

 ted them, are with very few exceptions, turned inwards on both 

 sides towards the center of the track ; while near the center, the 

 direction of the prostrate bodies is coincident with that of the 

 storm. 



2. On more minute inspection, we find prevailing a remarka- 

 ble law of curvature. This is most favorably seen in cornfields, 

 as the prostrate corn indicates the course of the wind at each spot, 

 with great precision. The law is this. Commencing on the 

 northern margin of the track, the stalks of corn are turned back- 

 ward, that is, toward the S. E. ; — proceeding towards the center 

 of the track, their inclinations to the south become constantly 

 less and less, turning gradually towards the course of the storm, 

 until when we reach the center, they lie to the N. E., exactly in 

 the line of the storm. This curvature is in all cases more ob- 

 servable on the northern, than on the southern side of the track. 

 In the latter case, the stalks of corn lie more nearly at right 

 angles to the course of the storm, (but inclining forward ;) still, on 

 reaching the center, they turn to the northeast, and become coin- 

 cident with that course. 



3. Numerous examples are seen where the bodies as they fell 

 towards the center of the track, or after they had fallen, were 

 turned farthet round towards the direction in which the tornado 

 was moving, that is, towards the northeast. 



4. The ruins of buildings that were demolished, are scattered 

 in nearly a right line towards the center of the track ; but they 

 frequently are strewed quite across the central parts, reaching, in 

 some instances almost to the opposite margin. In this case, they 

 are often found covered with trees, and other bodies lying in pre- 

 cisely the opposite direction. 



5. In a few instances, very limited spots are found where the 

 prostrate bodies, as hills of corn, lie in all directions. Examples 

 occur where one portion of the same hill of corn is turned west- 

 ward, and another portion eastward. 



After these general statements we may now have recourse to 

 the accompanying diagram, and review particular cases of the 

 foregoing laws or modes of action. For this representation of 



