The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-27

WIGGINS'S PREDICTION.
Astronomer Proctor Denounces the Canadian
as a Knaye and Mischief-M Maker.

ST. Louis, Sept 26.-The English astronomer
Richard A. Proctor in an article entitled ''Mr
Wiggins's Prophecy" says:
"It appears to me shameful that any man, even
though he be not student of science, and there
fore fully aware of the mischief he is doing,
should spread abroad predictions of coming dis
aster In such sort that foolish folk likely to
become disturbed and terrified. Mr.. Virgins, a
half-educated and wholly unscientific employe of
the meteorological Office in Ottawa; has long en-
deavored to acquire cheap reputation by
weather predictions of that kind which of itself
assures the studento of science that the weather
prophet is either utterly ignorant or exceedingly
knavish.'
After noting several instances of the failures
of.former predictions made by MIR. Virgins, Mr..
Proctor asserts that the formers alleged dscov-
cry of second moon is but reinvention, an
adopted discovery, and sustains his statement by
quotations from Tice and NJ. Petit, of Marseilles,
and shows that the existence of second lunar
body. similar to our visible moon, is an imposs-
bilitN "Mr. Wiggins." continues the writer
claims to have predicted the earthquake of Aug
81. But. truly. he has so continuously threat
ened storms and earthquakes that no great dis
turbance of either sort'could steer clear of his
predictions. He now loudly proclaims that on
the Goth instant there will be another great
earthquake one Of the most terrific subterrane-
an upheavals ever known on this CONT
tinent. He knows that such a
prediction will attract attention for a
while to his name; that, If mo disturb
ance should take place on the 18th,
or near enough to that date to seem like full
hlment of his prediction, people will soon forget
the failure of his prophecy and BE as ready as
ever to listen to him again. It may,
not some reason for regarding the 29th of Sep
tember as day of danger. Even Virgins it
may be suggested must at least, imagine rea-
sons for his predictions the Tices, the Ven
nors the Grimmers and others of the mischiev-
Gus tribe have imagined for years in the past"
Mr.. Proctor then goes on to say that certain
well-known astronomical facts have probably in
duced Mr.. Virgins to make his --latest
prediction, being the slight tendency
of earthquakes to increase during the
months of August and September, and another
that earth-throes are more apt to occur when the
moon is in or near her pointo Of nearest approach
TO the earth, and in or near the line connecting
the earth and sun, than at other times. The
moon will be in such position during the latter
part of the present month But such conditions
Mr.. Proctor observes, recur year after year. and
resulting earthquakes no more liable to occur
this year than in any September of the coming
century. On the contrary. he argues that there
has already been one great earthquake, and it is
exceedingly probable that the imprisoned forces
of the earth beneath the American continent
have for while found relief and that no great
earthquake will occur in the same region for
many years, possibly centuries.