McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-12-20
A TERRIBLE PROPHECY.
The Red Sunsets, Cyclones and Earth
A-s quakes FareteIling Coming Disas-
ter-.HOw to Meet 1t.

The recent mysterious appearances
following sunset and preceding sunrise
have attracted wide attention from stu
dents of the skies and the people gener-
ally. During the days of recent weeks
the sun seems to have been obscured by
thin veil of dull leaden hue which,
as the sun receded toward the horizon,
became more luminous, then yellow,
then orange, then red; and, as night
settled down upon the earth, a dull pur-
pie. AT first it was thought these ap-
pearances were ordinary sunset refec-
tions of light, but it is now pretty GER
tain that they are either the misty sub
stance of the tail of some unseen comet,
in which the earth is enveloped, or a
surrounding stratum of world dust or
very small meteOrs. Professor Brooks,
of the Red House Observatory, Phelps,
n. Y, has turned his telescope upon
these objects and discovered what he
thinks are myriads of telescope me-
teors. If it is unorganized world dust,
decomposed vapOrs, us the Democrat
and Chronicle of Rochester, n. Y, re-
marks: ''IIow is this matter to be dis
pcoCo VI! w Ill IL SCtUlc anu 1OI Ill IL Ut
post upon the earth, or remain par
tial Opaque shell about the earth to cut
off portion of the suns light upon it ?"
Whatever the mystery is, there is no
denying that some very strange forces
are at work in the upper airs. The ter
rible tOrnadoes and cyclones which
have swept our own country, and the
fearful volcanoes and earthquakes which
have destroyed SO many cities and
thousands of people-the tidal waves
which mysteriously rise and fall on
coasts hitherto unvexed by them-the
tremendous activity which is evident in
the sun by the constant revelation OF
enormous spots upon its surface-all in
dictate unusual energy in the heavenly
bodies.
These circumstances recall Professor
Grimmer's prophecies that from 1881
to 1887, the passage of the five great
planets-Mars, Neptune, Jupiter,
Uranus and around the sun
would produce strange and wonderful
phenomena. He says: "The waters of
the earth will become more or less pois-
onous. The air will be foul with moi
some odors. Ancient races will disap-
pear from the EARTH He attempts to
prove his prophecy by the fact that in
1920, when Mars and Saturn made their
passage around the sun coincidentally,
great destruction and mortality visited
all parts of the globe. He also found
the same results in previous pereheliOn
passages of the planets, and argues
that these circumstances always pro-
duce epidemics and destructive diseases
which will battle the skill of the most
eminent physicians; that the poor will
die by thousands, the weak and intem-
perate falling first, those whose blood
has been impoverished by excess of
work or dissipation next and only those
who are in comparative vigor shall es-
cape to enjoy the era of renewed activ-
ity and prosperity which will follow the
period of destruction.
Inasmuch as the entire world seems
subject 10 the sway of the heavenly
bodies no part of the earth, he thinks,
can escape scourging. He even pre-
diets that America will lose over ten
millions of people; that farmers will
be stricken with fear and cease to till
the soil; that famine will make human
misery more wretched. That hundreds
will flee to OvercrOwded cities for aid
in vain. That sudden changes in ocean
currents, temperature and surround
ings will entirely transform the face of
nature and climate of countries; that
the air will be so foul with malaria
and other noxious gases; that
those who survive will be
troubled with disorders of the d.
gestive organs. That many who escape
other ills will bloat with dropsy and
suddenly pass away, while others will
grow thin and drag out a miserable ex-
istence in indescribable agony tor
weeks. Neuralgia pains in different
parts of the body will torment them
They will easily tire and become des-
pondent. A faint, hot feeling will be
succeeded by chilly sensations while
Authorizations and dread of impending
i'll will paralyze all effort. "The birds
in the air, the beasts of the field, and
even the fishes of the sea will become di-
seased, poisoning the air and poisoning
the waters of the globe" We are told
ON the other hand that those who shall
pass through this period of trial will
have larger enjoyment of life and
health. The earth will yield more
abundantly than ever before. The ami
NAL kingdom will be more prolific and
life prolonged very materially. This
prolongation of life will be owing to
the healthy electric and magnetic in
fluences that will pervade the atmos-
phere. 1t would perhaps seem that the
present redness of the sun, and the
presence of belt or veil of cosmic
matter, justified, in measure, the pre-
diction of Professor Grimmer, but dis
turbing as his predictions may be we
are told for our comfort that the strong
and MIRO hlooded need have Iitf1e IN faar