The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1881-06-28
"Like a Comet Burned"

CanDy IN Jhe OolumDla river. Inc |
Alta of the oath says.
If there is nothing under the
sun, there is something surprising
over and within ten degrees of
that luminary, the phenomeHoneof
a comet, unprotected by the as
tronomers. The discovery of this
long-haired visitor, flashing in the
northeastern heavens, at two
o'clock Wednesday morning, will
tend to startle the scientists, if it
does not take the wind out of their
sails, rather than alarm the general
trash of mankind. The guilty are
no longer maddened nor the free
appalled,, when
From the dlead immensity of space
Returning, with accelerated course,
The rushing comet to the sun descends.
In fact, the general run of man.
kind, while deeply interested in
the results of scientific observa-
tions on this comet, and while
they fully appreciate the wonder
full progress and achievements of
astronomical science, having here
tofore been obliged to rely on
almanax for information as to the
time and features of celestial phe-
nomena. will In this affair hardly
be disposed to remark with Addi-
son,
Why shrinks the soul
Back on herself, and startles at destruc-
ton?
But will rather enjoy this north
eastern joke Oh their scientific
supericrs.
The claim also of Messrs. Nor
ris of THE AsTORIAN, and Mr.. j.
A. Gillespie must be respected.
Dispatches from the east report
that Prof. Swift, at the Rochester
observatory, was notified of the
discovery twenty-four hours later
than the report made to US by the
steamer Gen. Candy, and forty
eight hours later than the report
made by Messrs. Norris and Giles
pie. With regard to the dispatch
from Rochester, it is to be remark
ed that Professor Swifts specially
is that of comet-hunter, and that
while he has secured space and
shaken the scientific bush, some
body else has secured the astronom-
ical bird, and is wearing the
feathers. If the comet was seen
in the constellation of Auriga (the
Wagoner), rs intimated in his dis
patch, 1t must have been In the
outmOst limit of that cluster of
stars. The difference of time
between Astoria and the east
being allowed, it must be admit
ted that the observation there on
the morning of the 23d preceded
that on this coast by several hours,
which shows the advantage of
being ON the sunny side, if comets
will mysieriously appear in the
east anticipating the glorious king
of day; but our steamboat is ahead
so far having discovered the comet
on the morning of the 22d, an
hour ahead of the report made by
the San Francisco pilot boat.
Concluding upon this topic the
Alta SAYS:
Official astronomers seem to
have been taken 10y surprise by
the news of the event. 1t is ad-
mitted that no comet was due OF
expected, and that the one seen
could not be a telescope comet,
observed May lst by Professor
Swift, and which was expected to
reach its perihelion May Goth,
when it would recede from the
sun. The aDmet of Wednesday
seems TO have presented itself
with no letter of introduction, and
astronomers must now resolve into
a committee on credentials, and
report. If some historical comet
has been playing hide and go seek
behind the sun and now brings
with it airs from heaven, the pub
lie want to know it. If, on the
other hand, this unexpected yisi.
tant springs from the vasty deep
having used the sun to mask its
approach, and now energies from
ambush, bright enough TO cast q
perceptible shadow, this communi.
ty wants to know that, too. 1t is
thought that this may explain the
sudden appearance of the interest.
ing star with tail. Astronomical
observations on the sun are con-
centrated about the disc Of that
orb, and the existence of a comet
in the vicinity might not be
noticed. The identity of this
comet can be determined only by
several observations, and it will be
several days before the question oi
Its being a new member in the
solar system can be settled. Oh.
servations were made this morning
from the observatory of the
! United States coast and geo.
detic survey on Octavia street
Among the fortunate observers
was II. G. Hanks, who had fan
| yiau O( tho ooroaf fror, he ,,,;Y,d