The National tribune., 1882-09-28
Bridges and Houses Washed Away
by the Equinox.
STEAMER LOST.
A Dismal Record of Startling
Crimes and Casualties.

week were the heaviest ever experienced IN
many parts Of the country especially on the
Atlantic seaboard. In New Jersey the storm
was very severe. Buildings were washed
away, railway and other property to the
value of many hundred thousand dollars was
destroyed and several lives were lost The
loss was particularly heavy on the line of the
Pennsylvania railroad, and on Monday last
connection between New York and Philadel-
phia via that route was cut off In New York
the water fall was in excess of six inches in
three days, the greatest ever recorded in the
history of the Signal Service. The aggregate
loss caused by the freshets reaches several
millions Of dollars.
The great comet which made its appearance
with startling suddenness near the sun on the
18th inst, has excited extraordinary interest
throughout the civilized world. The celestial
visitor is being watched closely by scientists.
At the time of the first observation the comet
was about 36,000,00 miles from the EARTH and
at the time of the three observations 80 800, 900
miles. This corresponds to a rate of speed of
100000 miles day. Assuming the above to
be correct, the comet will approach within
the early part of October, but will then be
visible only in the southern hemisphere. 1t
VIII probably be visible above the horizon for
a few days at little before sunrise. An OBJ
servatiOn of a comet in broad daylight with
meridian instrument is unique. This is per-
haps the third instance in more than hundred
years of its having been DONE Wells comet
was thus observed few months since at the
Dudley observatory. The daily motion of the
comet is in right ascension minus six minutes
six seconds, in declination minus fifty minutes
fOrty-five seconds. The comet will rise Thurs
day morning, September 81, shortly after five
o'clock, and may be easily discovered with the
naked eye. 1t may be readily followed in
daylight with a good spy-glass, provided the
glass is thoroughly shaded from the suns rays.
In an interview with Prof. Lewis Boss, of the
Dudley observatory, Albany, information was
furnished about the comet which seems to be
important in the highest degree. Prof Boss is
now in Washington, and on the eve of his de-
parture for Santiago de Chilli where he is to
observe the transit of Venus in December next.
He says that he cannot now give much atten-
ton to his hypothesis, but from what follows
it cannot be doubted that the fullest powers of
astronomers all over the world will be enlisted
in the solution of problem of such startling
significance. As related by Prof. Boss, his
hypothesis is briefly this: He believes that the
comet which we now see near the sun is re-
turn of the great comet discovered by DR..
Gould in South America on the 9TH day of
February, 1880. He says he was led to the
suspicion, in the first place, by his efforts to
suppose the present comet identical with the
one discovered in Rio Janeiro by Cruls on the
10th of September. In order to thus identify
the two objects it was necessary to suppose
that the Cruls comet, when discovered, was on
its way to perihelion. Somewhere about Sep
tember 18th it must have been overpowered by
the binding radiance of the sun and thus lost
to view. On the 18th of September it was past
its perihelion, and of such dazzling splendor
as it emerged from close proximity to the sun
as to be seen by several observers in its position
three or four degrees west of the sun. The
comet was now on its return journey into
space. On the 10Th, at noon, it was about
eight degrees west from the sun and still
going westward. Assuming these facts to be
true, we must also assume that the perihelion
distance is very small. In order to fulfill these
relations the comet must have passed around
the sun on the Eastern side so close as almost
to Craze the surface. These suppositions were
established by rough calculations. 1t occurred
at once to Professor Boss that the orbit which
this comet must have, if it is identical with
the Crus comet is of an extraordinary char
acter and only parallel in its principal feat
hyrf bp pf md
Quite as striking to the mind is the fact that
the published accounts Of the comet of 1913
bear striking resemblance to what is written
of the present comet. The two comets to-
gether stand without parallel as the only ones
which have shown such extraordinary bril-
lancy in close proximity to the sun. On the
day following perihclion passage the 1813 comet
was observed by Mr.. Clark, of Portland, Maine
who used q sextant for the purpose and found
no difficulty in measuring the distance of the
comet from the sun. The same thing might
have been done with the present comet on the
18th of September, which was presumably tho
day after its perheion passage.
The commission appointed by Congress has
issued book of instructions for observing the
transit of Venus, which occurs on the 9th of
next December 1t is compiled in the first
place for the use of the observing parties, but
astronomers III general will find it Of value.
The general parties commissioned are subject
to naval rules, regulations, and discipline, and
are organized by the the Secretary of the Navy.
Each is under command of chief astronomer,
WHO in turn has an assistant. Next in order
Of rank comes the chief photographer, who also
has an assistant The transit will be visible in
this country.
An adroit bank robbery was perpetrated in
a Baltimore bank q few days ago. The clerk
of another banking establishment was seated
at a table in the cashiers room clipping cou-
pons from a package Of railroad bonds, when
two men entered Ostensbly TO purchase some
securities. One, who pretended to be deaf
engaged the attention of the cashier, while his
accomplicc managed to secure package of the
bonds. worth $4,000. The loss was not dis
covered until after the men had disappeared
On the same day two men, believed to be the
same who stole the bonds, attempted to picl,
the pocket of bank runner, in the same city.
of a package containing some $500, but were
not successful. There is no clue to the sharp
ers.
Rev. J. P. B. Eddy, colored preacher of
Philadelphia, formerly Virginia slave, died
on Tuesday in a dilapidated building aged so
wears Investigation discloses the fact that ba