The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-30
NIrrIn., Enrlhnnnkn prrdlrllons.

Yesterday WIS not OnIy lhe -utn VI cup
TENDER but also the day on which dire disas'
ters were to happen by earthquake to the
people OF New 0rleang and the Gull coast as
far as Galveston Texas; In fact, all alongt the
SOEh parallel Of latitude. At least this was
the prediction Of Prof, WigginP,of Canada,
who claims not only to be an earthquake
scientist but meteorological prophet. tits
no wonder that many people down there
were concerned and scared about this pro- |
phecy Of Virgins in veiw Of what has
already happened. They we're ready to be-
lieye almost anything after such a series
Of shocks as they or their neighbors have
experienced. The Colored people we're
especially alarmed, and some Of the white
people had asked the weather bureau at
Washington to keep them informed rs far
ahead as possible Of the outlook for seismic
disturbances,
1t is some relief to know that as the day
approached and the world began to taks
notice Of the prophecy, the prophet him
self evinced a disposition to qualify
his disturbing prediction, His latest re-
ported utteranCe was that the Disturbing
torces" would be at work ito the south G.
the SOEh parallel" II is also relief to
know that so eminent an astronomer as
Proctor pooh'poohed the whole
Virgins deli ysrence, and branded it as a
pross piece OF scientific preteuse. He
attacked the prophet in very CaustC
manner for triaing with the fears Of
already afflicted people in such pre-
sumptuous way, We quote Proctor as
follows;
"It appears 10 me shameful that any
Q man, even though he be not student oil
o science, and therefore fully aware Of the
Z mischief he ia doiTg, should spread abroad
predictions OF coming disaster in such sort
b that foolish folks are likely to be disturb
q ed and terrified. Mr.. Virgins, half
a educated and wholly unsCientiliC empiOye
OF the Meteorological Office In Ottawa, has
= long euGeaynred TO acquire cheap repu'
: tation by weather predictions Of that kind,
o which Of itself assures the student oil
4 science that the weather prophet ia either
- utterly ignorant or exceedingly knavish,
y After noting several instances OF tho fail
/ ures Of former predictions made by Mr.
q Virgins, Mr.. Proctor asserts that the
!, formers alleged discovery Of a second
moon 10 but re.invention, an adopted
Z discovery, and sustaing his statement by
Il quotations from TiCe and NJ, Petit, Of
e Marseilles, and shows that the existence
\. Of second lunar body slmilarto our vlsI'
:. bic moon Is an lmpossibility.
u "Mr. Virgins" continues tho writer
o ''Claims TO have predicted the earthquake
o Of August 81, but truly he has SO contin'
y, uously threatened storms and earth
70 uuakes that no great disturbance Of either
J. sort could steer clear oil his predictions
d He now loudly procsims that on tho 10Th
/. inst. there will be another great Garth
- quake, one Of the most terrific subterran'
- can upheavals ever known on this CONT
q nent.
"He knows that such prediction will
a attract attention for while to his name
a that, II no disturbance should take place
= on the Goth, or near enough to that date
d 10 seem like iulfllmert Of his prediction
It people will soon forget the failure OF his
n prophecy and be as ready Us ever to lis
ten to him again. 1t may, however, DO
" perhaps, asked whether there is' not some
II reason for regarding the Goth OF Septem
d Der as day Of danger. Even Virgins
It may be suggested, must at least imagine
reasons for his predictions, as the TiCeg
the Vennors, the Grimmers, and Others
o OF the miaChievous tribe have imagined
I. for theirs In the past"
a Mr.. Proctor then goes on to show thai
- certain well known astronomical facts
" have probably induced Mr.. Virgins t
o make his late prediction, ono being the
Il slight tendency Of earthquakes to increase
" during the months Of Angus. aud Septsm
4 Der, and another that Garth throes arC
more apt to occur when the moon Is in OF
t near her point Of nearest approach to the
o earth, and In or near the limo connecting
; the earth and sun than OF other times
The moon will be in such q position dur.
ing the latter part OF the present month.
But such conditions, Mr.. Proctor observes,
Y roCur year after year, and resulting earth.
a puakea are no moro liable to occur this
! year than in any September Of the COM
= ing century. On the contrary, he argues
i that there has already been one great
Q earthquake, aud 1t 10 exceedingly proba.
!. BILE that the Imprisoned forces Of the
earth beneath tho American continent
have for a timo found relief and that no
0 grea. earthquake will occur In the same
8 region for many years, possibly centuries
-