New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-20
THE MOON HOAX.
THE GREAT FRAUD ON THE SCIENTIFIC WORLD
LOCKE's STORY OF HERSCHELs MOON Dis
COvERIES-HOW TIE WORLD DOUBTED AND
RELIEVED,

world was convulsed by the publication Of what pur
ported the discoveries OF Sir John Herschel he
younger az the Cape Of Good Hope. The account aI-
peared in Moses Y Beachs SesTork sun, and was sup
posed 10 be communicated to The EdLurg Journal Of
Science. OF this hoax Richard Adams Locke, whose
death Just announced the author So clearly was
the narrative written that for time the marvellous story
was accepted as genuine. The article originally
printed. appeared under this formidable title:
GREAT ASTRONOMICAL DIsCOyEEIEs LATELY MADE ny
JOIN HEIsCHEL, LID, I...r., AT TIE cAfb %
GOOD HOPE"
The article then goes to state that Hcrschel, by
means Of vast telescope constructed entirely new
principle had ~ an elevated Point n South Africa. sue
ceeded making most extraordinary discoveries IN
every planet Of the solar system but especially had
penetrated al the mysteries Of the moon. Every detail
Of the information was accounted for with mathematical
accuracy and scientific ingenuity, and scholars who had
devoted their lives 10 tho special study OF astronomy
could bring conclusive for dOuh'nc the truth
Of the pretended discoveries The stated graycy
that the elder Horsche had devoted his life 20 the Perec
ton OF a telescope lens which woud, by combination
Of ingenious coutryances reduce distance to nothing
ness. BY means Of its lens and combination u achro-
matte coutrivances, comprehensive only TO the initiated,
tis wonderful instrument magnned 1900 times, bring
ing the most distant planet close enough for investga
ton objects Saturn not over Il inches In diameter
made perfectly plain. Uerschei it stated. ex-
pressed his ability TO study the entomology ~ tho
noon transit Of Mercury % in 1875, and tie
Cape Of Good Hope was the only spot Offering the
needed facilities for its accurate observation This ex-
planned quite satisfactorily tie spot where the alleged
discoveries had been made.
The Astronomical expedition. IL stated, consisting
Of sir John Hc-schel the younger Dr. Grant and Lieut.
Drummond OF the Royal Elgiue RS, r. T. A ;, and
large corps OF skilled mechanics left Loaion IN septcm
ber ls and the results Ci their labor, were thus given
% the world one year later TIC OF the explorers
~. IL q f1r
selection of an observatory AMI the Of the
Telescope are surcnctly and uinutcly do,rihri Ihe
len which - nco~ed m frame OF wood. and 'raced 70
IL corners u1 naIa oil copper, is s l ~ " pp '- r
between two pillars. which are nearly lo f'et Lsh Ihr
field 81 view from tlis colossal telescope hal diameter
WHAT WAS SEN N TIL MOON.
After many days Of preliminary investigation. IN
which stars and comets were reduced to commonplace
spectaces, the supreme work-the exploration Of the
meon-took place. 1t was about III o'clock, on the
night Of the 10th Of January tie moon being then adj
vancel within four days OF mean libati1n that The
astronomer adjusted bis instrument FOR the inspection ~
telescope was applied. and ts focal imageabo1 one
hall oi the power ~ Lis microscope on removing the
THROUGHOUT rs er rr area win beautifully distinct and
vivid repr ,cltJu'n oi b1sHtc rocE' Is coiof
defined by the utersce, on Zee canvas, was liy many
. uchel. NJ r., ture whatever APP arrd h me ma
first presented but in few seconds shelving pile
appeared of 1--WE or SIX co-nl-ns Wiith "Alt4
srowed t!rr tsGle 70 .r A'.i-,,-' ,,i,i4
~ i - oarr Alijs The e4r-li'. --urrr rotation
causu. o. raud ascension of the moon, .emet % pre-
st new features % the observers every Instant, ana
1rou no canvas appeared every moment green field,
such as the world "a. ith al the 9th a.rDu'e, OF
ti1,a ~ an r,ivaricd kind. and mike any
have seen except the largest kind Of ycws IN English
gravo- arcs, which they IN cts InoIe iier
he trees green pain miles in extent reflected
on the clavas II time an inland lake appeared which
was described most enchanting The beach
rocka OF apparently green marble. varied 20 chasms
with tesque blocks o. chalk or gypsum and feathsred
known trees while the water line rs that ~
deep and broke IN large white pillows on ~ sandy
discovered. Hundred. Of miles Of moon we're
s taISt1 o t5s ,zr aug fr sinS .,p q Ire n
the world thus wonderfully brought 70 their feet
lens, and Dr. Herscnc was throTn INTO an ecstasy OF
wonder and delight lofty chain Of obelisE shaped or
each composed 81 about trty OF forty spires ever one
OF which perfectly square, and ~ ecu
crystal They were Of faint ii'ac hue, and very
re,piendeTt D.. Hers"hcl proved these to he wine
feet TIE whole breadth Of the northern extremity Of
this sea which about 800 miles having crossed tie
forests ~ very mucn larger trees apparently Of En-
g.ish forest oak than had been hitherto seen,
vas entered upon. These trees were covered
with a superb foliage Of broad glossy leaves,
ike laurel, which hung IN the omen EHles from
vas er,-ed which filed tAe observers wi ast0uish-
ment" 1t vas oval, surrounded except 10 narrow
opening toward tie south, by hills rcd az the pesl YER
H'rc tie object Of the astronomers search wa finally
achieved; animal life ia various varieties WA- disco
cred Vast herds OF brown quadrul@ds. resembling the
bson but dimnutive than our species were dis
the eves crossing the whole breadth Of the forehead
and united % the ears; claract rstc OF al the am
mails afterward seen IN the valley OF the moon.
THIS says the narrator HGircy. Dr. Herche pronounced
q PIC, tcUtI contriyaucc 10 protect the eyes " the
animals the great extremes OF night ana darkness
:, ylich am the inhabitants OF side OF the
periodically subjected. Another animal about the size
numbers This singular beast afforded the sul-lunary
observers great amusement bT rs au.cs 90 which
were faithfully reproduced on Dr. Hcrscheis lens In
this beautiful valley; large nrachS rN.r +" as 4l'.os
cred Astounding IN lovely Islands inhabited by water
birds Of numerous kinds species Of gray pelican being
the most numerous Here the narrative covers the
mnutest details OF the moons inhaDitans ana physical
rms was substantially the work Of the first nights OBJ
seryaon. on the second the following grapic picture
toni hncut 10 see four nocks OF largesIged
creatures wholly unlike any kind OF birds descend with
a slow even motion from the ems ana lSht upon me
plain below. They averaged four feet In night were
covered except on the face, with short aud glossy COP
per c0lored hair, ana had WIGS cohpo'ed %
Thin membrane without haif, lying ,snuGy upon
their backs from the top OF tAe shoulder
20 the calves OF their legs me lace
which was OF yellow hesh-cOlOr. was slight improve
Of the large orang being more 9leh ana ~
head The mouth however. very prominent, though
somewhat relieved ~ thick beatu ai"n te "a"
and uy lips far more human ~ the N'ed genus IL gen
rr4I symmetry OF body and limbs they were greatly
superior 10 the orausOutaug so much 50 thht bV Tor
their long wing, they W0uld look a Wen on a PdIde
ground a. some % the old cOckney militia! The hdlr on
Inc head was OF darker color than that OF the body,
closely curcd but apparently not wOoy, and arranged
ID two curious semicTcle- over the temples ILtf itet
could only DE they were alternately II ted IN
walking: bur, from what we could see
of them ia 80 transient view, they
appeared thin and very pr1tuber'nt at ihe heel
Thev engaged in earnest conversation evidently
10 Judge from their ge~ucuiatlou, and the emphatic
act ION ~ their hands hCL th were presumed
IL ne rational bting-" some OF them mad crossed tine
water aud were lAc ,prrldtIges on TIE edge or
the wood In tis lttitadt tLrr wings spread ONT Ike
those 81 bat, and composed ~ M I-trtsial"ht
membrane. banded 10 curry line IT DIVISIONS by means
OF straight Tdu united 80 The back by the d"i'al urgu
mems. Tie narrative dI-Ciccf4t adds: our lulihcr
observation OF the habits of These creatures, Who were ot