Huntsville gazette., 1886-09-25
WICKED wIGGINs wIGGLEs.
He Takes the Earthquake Part Of
the Prediction Back, But still
insists on Storms.

1t is said that Atlanta was genuinel,
alarmed over the prediction of Wiggins
thai direful earthquake would reno
this region on the 18th instant. The
scare was particularly noticeable among
the negroes, who believed every word OF
it.
In consequence of this the Constitution
dispatched Professor Virgins at his
home in Ottawa, Ont. asking him if he
still stood by his predictions as publish
ed in the New York Herald, and if he
had anything to add for the warning or
consolation Of the region which sits above
the path OF this subterranean disturb
ance? The professor replied
"0TTAwA, ONT, Sept. %.
Editors Constitution
The earthquake wave that visited
Charleston and your region Aug so has
movd eastward, and from it there can be
to you no future danger. The shocks
there yesterday were caused by the sun
moving across the celestial equator.
There is positively no danger from earth
quake in your latitude eastof the Rocky
mountains. except on Wednesday next,
and even then the force will passs west
ward on parallel south of you. The
greatest danger is to Central America
and Eolif,,r,,,,
forces that create the earthquake will
cause great storm with high tides, both
in the North and South Atlantic on
Wednesday next, which, however, will
not be felt in forty degrees OF the equa
tor. 'E. STONE WIGGINs."
Prof. McGee telegraphs the following
to the Constitution:
"WAsHIHGToN, Sept. D.
"Editors Constitution
"No attention whatever should be
paid to Virgins prediction. You will
remember that he is the same man who
a few years ago predicted hurricanes,
floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
war pestilences and famines all over the
earth, and that never came in responce
to his predictions. His predictions OF
that day were based, as his present pre-
diction is, on the con junction of princi-
pal planets. 1t proved to be absurd then
and will prove to be absurd now.
"W. j. MCGEE"
COLUMBIA, S. G., Sept. 23.-The follow
ing letter from Prof. Virgins retterating
his prediction of earthquake disturbances
and great storm on the 29th inst, was
received Tonight by prominent citizen
of Columbia:
OTTAWA, Sept. IS, 1SS6.-To Eugene
Cramer, Esq, Columbia, S. c., US
Dear Sir: l have just received your ia
vor of the 11th, inclosing the Associated
Press dispatch (at least suppose it to be
so) from Ottawa, regarding my predic-
ton Of the recent earthquake in your
State. 1t certainly gives me great pain
that this dispatch should have caused a
panic among your people, as the object
of my researches has been to forvarn of
danger. and thus assuage, and, if possible
PiCNCiIb ouhOtlbS. LII ldtt,
hesitated for week before making my
report to the Canadian minister OF
marine for fear of alarming the people OF
the Southern States and California, and
| regret now that any announcement was
made till after the Goth inst, for unlike
great storm the disasters of an earth,
quake cannot be avoided. / knew the
earthquake force would cross North
America on the 30th of August, ten de-
grees north of TrOpic of Cancer. But
this wave has moved eastward and, there
fore, cannot further produce disaster on
your meridian, though slight shocks
may yet be felt on account OF the dis
placed particles resuming their normal
condition.
"The greatest strain will occur on the
25th inst, but it will pass few degrees
farther south. After that date | can per-
ceive no danger north of the equator, at
least east of the Rocky Mountains. l full
ly intended being in Charleston on that
day, but find / will be unable. | may
add that the 29th will be remarkable for
great storm oyer the North and South
Atlantic, as predicted in the New York
Tribune, May 10, 1886.
Very sincerely yours,
f. STONE WIGGINs.