Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-03-12
WIGGINs INTERVIEWED.

A special from Ottawa to the Sun says
that Professor Wiggins was besieged with
reporters yesterday. One Of them found
the prophet surrounded in the parlor of
his residence with scribss and friends,
both ladies aud gentlemen. all extending
to him their congratulations. He seemed
to be in his happiest mood and his counte-
nance indicated that he had achieved q
triumph. His wife, who shares his interest
in the prophetic work, was present and
seemed to be quite enthusiastic over tue
success of her husbands storm. She is a
talented and charming lady and is o fre-
quenc contributor to the press, under the
non de plume of Gunhilda." The
reporter read over to the professor mum.
ber of dispatches giving the effects of his
storm at different points on the Atlantic
coast. He smiled and said {:
"They wanted a storm and got it at
last. The storm came exactly on time
and struck the North American continent
at tho hour named. 1t took the course
laid down and which Hazen said no storm
would or could take. The danger is not
over yet, as the moon was passing tho me
ridian to day. am very anxious to hear
from India and the Bay of Bengal, where
L
am led to belief that the storm was gen.
eral over the whole world. Otherwise it
might have been more disastrous than it
has been. 1t was only as an astronomer
and not as weather prophet that was
able to foresee the storm. would like to
60 around and see its effects.''
At this his wife looked up, came
over to where he was seated and, with an
affectionate smile, said:
But not around the whole world %
"Oh, no :; Just around the Atlantic
coast" said the professor.
Astronomy and tho Weather.
Meteorologists said some hard things
about you on this point" suggested the
reporter.
"Surely they will now begin to SEQ that
astronomy has more to do with the wealth
er of the earth than any other SCIENCE"
"Then it was by astronomical deduc.
tiors your forecast was arrived at %
EYES," said the professor, with en-
phasis, 'sand I consider that it has been
fulfilled to the letter.
The professor here read telegram from
Quebec, sent some days ago, asking if the
storm would be severe in that district. He
answered that the object of his prediction
was not to warn people on land, but to
warn people to keep off the sea. "The
public. he said, ''has misunderstood me
in this respect. In answer to telegram
from Captain Ransom, at Cow Bay, Cape
Breton, wired him to keep in the harbor
until the storm was over. w. G.. Blacke,
of Rochester, telegraphed me last evening:
Your storm acknowledged. Will Euro
pean steamer leaving New York to-day go
with or against it? I Immediately
answered 1T will be upon her bows.
The professor here read a number of
private kilograms, verifying the storm.
"Many storms have occurred within the
past few days. Can you account for
them?"
''The fact is that branches of my storm
have been raging since the 9Th, and you
will remember in my letter to the admi-
rality warned them to have all vessels
under their command in safe harbors not
later than the 5th."
"Have they needed your warning?'
Il don't know, but it was no harm to
warn them"
Tho Eneot Of Sun spots.
What do you think of the criticism of
the United States press ?''
They have condemned my theory On
the assumption that all storms are caused
by sun spots, owing to decrease in the
solar light. No doubt the breaking of
these spots in some way affects our cleo
trical condition, for we Immediately notice |
a thrill in the electric needle but there is
not the slightest truth in the |
assertion that these spots have any
thing whatever to do in causing |
terrestrial storms. As I predicted last |
the winter of 1883 has been
one of the most remarkable of the present |
century, owing to certain position Of the |
planets that seldom occurs. frequently |
zave out that the floods of Europe would |
be in America in February. I also said |
hat the winter of 1888 would be remark |
sble for mountains of snow. When asked |
,arly in the Montreal carnival / pointedly |
Vennoe'e pgedjctions, and