The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-28
Prof. Proctor ON Virgins.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, September 27.-The
English astronomer, Richard A. Proc
tor, in an article contributed to the
Globe Democrat, entitled Our Wig
gins's Prophecy" says:
at appears to me shsmefnl that auy
man, even though he be not student
OF sciance and therefore, not fully aware
of the mischief he is doirg, should
spread abroad predictions of coming
disaster in such sort that foolish folk
are likely to be distmb.d and terri
fed. Mr.. Wiggins, half educated
and wholly unscienlifc employe OF
the Meteorological Office in Ottawa,
has long endeavored to acquire a
cheap reputation by weather predic-
ton OF that kind, which tf itself as
sures the student of science that the
weather prophet is ei her utterly
ignorant or exceedingly knavish."
After noting several instances of
the failure of former predictions
made by Mr.. Virgins, Mr.. Proctor
asserts that the formers alleged dis
coveIy OF second moon is but a re-
invention, an adopted discovery and
sustairs his statement by quotations
from Tice and NJ. Petit, of Marseillee,
aud shows that the exis ence of a
second lunar body similar to our visi-
bic moon is an impo: sibility.
"Mr. Virgins" CONTINUES the
writer, "claims to have predicted the
earth quake OF August 3lst. But truly
he has so continuously threatened
storms aud earthquakes that no great
disturbances of either sort could steer
clear OF his predictions. He now
loudly prdclaims that on the Goth
instant there will be another great
earthquake, one of the most terrific
subterranean uphesvals ever know n
on this continent.
Gle knows that such a prediction
will attract attention for a while to
his name; that, if no disturbances
should take place on the Goth, or near
enough 10 that date to seem like
fulfillment of his prediction, peop'e
will soon forget the failure of his
prophecy and be as ready as ever to
listen to him again.
at may, however, be asked whether
there is not some reason for regarding
Iub &JIu VI kGpbGLlDsl no q ud1 VI Onll-
ger. Even Virgins, it may be sug-
gested, must at least imagine reasons
for his predictions, as the Tees, the
Vennors, the Grimmers and others of
the mis3hievous tribe have imagined
for years in the past. Mr.. Pre- ctor
then goes on to show that certain well
known astronomical facts have PROB
ably induced Mr.. Virgins to make his
latest prediction, one being the slight
tendency of earthquakes to increase
during the months OF August AID Sep
TENDER, and another that earth thIots
are more apt to occur when the moon
is in or near her point of nearest ap.
proach to the earth aud in or near the
line connecting the earth and sun than
at other times. The moon will be in
such a position during the latter part
of the present month. But such con-
diiions," Mr.. Proctor observes, ''recur
year after year, and resulting earth
quakes are no more liable to occur
this year than in 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 a while found re-
lief and that no great earthquake will
occur in the same region for many
years, possibly centuries.