The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-03-14
WHAT wiGGINs SAYS.

His Prophecy Literally Fulflled-The
Greatest solicitude for the People on the
Shores of the Bay of Bengal-His Theory
OTTAWA, March 12-Professor Virgins
claims his prophecy was literally fulfilled, as
ported at Halifax and telegrams from all
parts indicate severe tempests. lie says he
has always entertained the greatest anxiety
for the safety of the people on the shores of
the Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. The
major tidal wave, of which the minor one
on our coast was the reflection, must have
occurred on the afternoon of the 10th, Lon
don time, hundreds Of thousands of lives
perishing. He expressed great fears for the
safety of the City of Chester, and character
ized this storm as the greatest that can pos
sibly occur on this planet, and the greatness
of its extent is the only hope of safety in
any particular quarter. He makes a sly
dash at the Canadian and United States
authorities for not hosting their storm sig
nails until after the storm was actually beat
ing upon the continent. Some people, he
said, expected an impossible storm yester-
day. but he had repeatedly said his object
in making the prediction was for the safety
of mariners, as no danger could possibly oc
cur on land except in the vicinity of place;
named as being exposed to the tidal wave.
But the people liked to be frightened and
chung to their Interpretation in preference
| to his.
may state what know to be an absolute
fact The hour at which great storms will
arise at different points on the esrth's sur
| face also when severe cold periods like tba
of January Just passed is to occur, when re.
markable floods will take place, and when
winters will be distinguished for greei
quantities of snow, can be predicted fol
any length of time in advance and with
absolute certainty. Surely the public of this
continent must be convinced that millions
of dollars annually expended on meteoro
logical bureaus are of little service to sea
faring men, for storm signals were not out
| till the storm yesterday afternoon was &C
tually beating upon the American shore
The gentlemen at the head of the Meteoro
logical Office, London, England. must find
| the conviction dawning upon them that "a
man in the Finance Department. Of Canada
was telling the truth"
Following this he gives as the theory
which he promised to publish after the
storm had taken place, as follows: "Thi:
storm satisfied me the theory Of opposite
| tides which l advanced in 1864 is correct
namely. that it is caused by the vitratory
motion of the ocean from east 10 west. II
you will look at the terrestrial globe and
see the peculiar position of the Gull
of Mexico and the tendency of Cape
st. Rogue to glance northward, tides
moving west you will not wonder al
my alarm when observing the moons forces
| had been increased TO the greatest possible
extent, and that too, when she is Fastening
with the other planets from the south to the
north across the equator. This was exactly
the condition of things during this storm,
and only one element was lacking to have
made this terrible affair for the people OF
America. For, mark it well, il
the moons conjunction with the
sun had taken place at 1 O'Clock
on meridian, London. instead of O'Clock
in the morning, London time; in other
words. if the conjunction had taken place
| over the Gulf of Guinea instead OF the Chins
Sea- the whole AmericaA coast, granting hel
to have been as she was in perigee would
have been put in water, and the time will
come, though it may be thousand:
of years yet, when this will take place
and should Venus and Mercury happen
| at that moment to be at their inferior con.
| junction, and Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, at theil
superior conjunction, breakers will roar in
the streets of New York City and Florids
will be under water. All astronomers, from
the Astronomer Royal down, will admit the
truth OF what l say. / make this explana
ton to show the scientific men that my
system of foretelling storms is not only
founded on science but on earth and
heavenly bodies.