Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-10-02
EARTHQUAKES,
Predictions OF "a French Army Oaicer-
The Passage Of Jupiter

The Passage Of Jupiter
The following interesting article is trans
lated from the Paris Teaps: -Four years
ago captain OF artillery, NJ. Del.uIney,
addressed to the Academy memora 1dum
in which it was stated that ten wears of the
last quarter OF our century would be re-
markable for earthquakes. 1t is known
that not year or even half a year passes
without some trembling OF the surface of
the soil. However this may be- the au-
thor of the memorandum indicated the
month of July, 1888, as a period of teri
Gus earthquakes which would obtain Il
maximum OF intensity only in 1856. The
catastrophe of Ischia and the immense
disaster of Java would therefore be only
the beginning of a remarkable period such
as the human race has never known \
committee was nominated to examine the
memorandum of NJ. Delauney. NJ. Faye,
member OF the committee, explains why
he has made no report upon it. The
author bases his predictions on the
one hand upon q series of observa-
tions upon earthquakes, on the other hand
upon astronomical phenomena. This pre-
supposes two preconceived ideas which
remain to be proved. The first is that
there exists a certain rhythm in the move
ment and liquid kernel OF our planet the
second is that the phenomena which occur
in the heavens directly influence the earth.
! The theory seemed at the outset so hypo-
| thetical that the committee did not think
| its discussion necessary, for from the value
of the theory is directly deduced the value
| of the assertions.
THE PASSAGE OF JUPITER.
Among other astronomical phenomena
| cited by Nj. Delaney as exercising an in
tiuence upon earthquakes, NJ. Fave calls
attention to that OF the passage of the
planet Jupiter across the swarm of shoot
ing stars. 1t should first be shown upon
what the opinion is based that regards this
as affecting the oscillations of the terres-
trial kernel. But as fact, the coincidence
does not exist. NJ. Faye has calculated
that in the month OF July last Jupiter was
l00,000,000 leagues from the belt of shoot
ing stars, and that he would not cross it.
What conclusion, therefore, could be
arrived at except that chance came
to the aid of the author of the prCphe-
cy, that no law relating to earthq quakes
has been discovered and that nothing
obliges us to believe in the prediction as
regards the year 1886? 1t belongs to geol-
ogists and not TO astronomers to SeeS out
the laws of earthquakes. These remark
able oscillations are announced some time
beforehand by very light shocks, which
the inhabitants of Sicily are well able to
perceive. When the warning is received
they hastily leave their houses and seek
refuge in woodruff cabins. NJ. j. Ber-
trand remarks that the ten years taken by
NJ. Delauney and assigned within period
of twenty years would, in all probability
having regard to the frequency OF earth.
quakes, include some remarkable phenom.
ena. The prediction, moreover, is vague
With the exception of 1883 it indicates
neither the period of the earthquake noI
the place nor the district, nor even the
part of the world in which il is to occur.