q. Hinges taken from doors—mud taken from the bed of a stream (the water being first removed), and let down on a house covering it completely—a farmer taken up from his wagon and carried thirty rods, his horses carried an equal distance in another direction, the harness stripped from them, and the wagon carried off also, one wheel not found at all. (American Journal of Science, vol. xxxvii. p. 93.)

Pieces of timber, boards, and clapboard, driven into the side of a hill, as no force of powder could drive them, etc., etc.

Now to my mind, these circumstances indicate clearly, that it is not wind, i. e., mere currents of air, which produces the effect, but that a continuous current or stream of electricity from the earth to the cloud exists, and carries with it from near the earth, such articles as are movable: That this stream collects from the northerly and southerly side upon the magnetic meridian, in two currents with polarity, which meet in their passage up at the center; curving toward the center in the posterior part as the spout moves on, when acting in a normal manner, and making the “law of curvature” observed: That no conceivable movement of the air alone in such limited spaces could produce such effects; or if so, that no agent but electricity could so move the air: That the air in a building could not shoot the roof upward, and into fragments; much less could the air in a cellar by any conceivable force, be made to elevate or shoot up the entire house, and its inmates, and contents—effects so totally unlike what takes place in gales, hurricanes, and typhoons: That elastic free air never did nor could take hold of the plow chain, and plow up the ground; or scorch and kill the vegetation; or twist the limbs from one side of a tree, while the most delicate leaves on the other, and within two or three feet, remained unaffected and undisturbed; or pick the chickens: That even if the expansion of the air could produce these effects—if a sudden vacuum were produced—nothing but currents of electricity could produce the sudden vacuum, by removing the air above.

It is well settled that atmospheric electricity can and does flow in currents with light, by experiments in relation to the brush discharge, etc. That it may do so without light or disruptive discharge, and in a stream, or as it is termed, by convection, with the force and effect seen in the tornado, is perfectly consistent with what we know of it—and it is, I think clearly evinced that such is the character of the phenomena, by the fact that a sudden powerful disruptive discharge, with light, up the spout, produces an instantaneous partial or total suspension of its action; to be renewed as the cloud passes over another and more highly charged portion of the earth’s surface. Peltier gives instances where the spout has been entirely and instantaneously destroyed by such a sudden and powerful discharge of electricity; marking the spot where it was so destroyed by a large hole in the earth, from which the discharge issued. And in fact these tornados are often steadily luminous, and so much so, when they occur in the night, as to enable persons to read without difficulty.

The lateral inward and upward currents, are accompanied, after they meet and unite, or seem to unite, by gyratory or circular ones. How are they produced? This question can only be answered by analogy. No permanent impressions are left by the circular currents, except to a limited extent, and in occasional instances; and observation of them has been, and must necessarily be limited and uncertain. I have witnessed one or two on a moderate scale; but owing to the suddenness of their passage, and the confusion of the objects taken up, it was difficult to determine what the circular currents were. When the southerly current is much the strongest, it appears sometimes to cross the axis, and curve round the northerly one. Perhaps this may be all the curving that really takes place, except at the posterior part of the axis, for evidence of a curving on the south of the axis is rarely, if ever seen.

Assuming, however, that the main currents unite and form one from the earth to the cloud, induced circular currents would be in perfect keeping with the known laws of electricity. Such currents, and with magnetic properties, are always induced by powerful currents of voltaic electricity passing through wires. And doubtless in all cases powerful currents of electricity induce attendant circular currents. This may account for the external gyration of the spout.

Or it may be that the two lateral currents of air which attend the currents of electricity, do not unite; having opposite polarity, but pass by and around each other, in connection with the circular magnetic currents. Future observation and perhaps experimental research will determine this. But it may not be accomplished by the present generation; for the belief that tornados are mere whirlwinds, produced by the action of the sun in heating the land, is adhered to, notwithstanding they cross the intense magnetic area of Ohio in mid-winter, and seems to be ineradicable.

The proportions of different winds vary in different localities. For the benefit of those who are curious, I copy a table from an able compilation by Professor Coffin, published by the Smithsonian Institute, showing the proportion of the winds at New Haven (the station nearest to me). It will be noticed that during the year the N. W. winds blow the greatest number of days; the S. W. next; the N. E. and S. E. less than either, and about equal. It may be observed that the two latter bear about the same proportion to the whole, that our number of cloudy and stormy days, averaging about ninety, bear to the whole number of days in the year.

Course.1804.1811.1812.1813.Total.
N.14310590111449
N. E.99207138138582
E.3318222396
S. E.131108135110484
S.586911380320
S. W.224255153261893
W.816910257309
N. W.3292643453151253

This work of Mr. Coffin has been brought to my notice since the foregoing pages were written. The facts embodied in it will be found to comport with what I have observed and stated. In relation to the proportionate number of days in the year during which the wind blows from the different points of the compass at the several stations it is very full and able.