Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-27
PROCTOR ON WIGGINS.
The Great English Astronomer Excori'
ates the ottawa Charlatan who
Poses as q Prophet.
An Earthquake MAY Come on the soth' but
tits Improbable and Virgins Knows
He Knows Nothing About Il.

ST.. LOUIS, Mo, Sept. 20 The English
astronomer, Richard A. Proctor, in an
article contributed to the Globe-Demo-
crat, entitled "Mr. Virgins Prophecy"
saws at appears to me shameful that
any man, even though he be not a
student Of science, and, therefore,
fully aware OF the mischief he
is doing, should spread abroad
predictions OF coming disasters In such
short order that foolish folks are likely to
be disturbed and terrified. Mr. Virgins,
a haif.educated, wholly unscientific en-
ploye Of the meteorological office In OF
tawa, has long endeayored to ac-
quire cheap reputation by weather
predictions OF that kind, which
OF itself assures the student
OF science that a weather prophet is either
utterly ignorant or exceedingly knavish."
After noting several instances Of failure
OF former predictions made by Mr.. Wig
gins, Mr.. Proctor asserts that the formers
alleged discovery OF second moon Is but
a relnvention Of an adopted discovery,
and sustains his statement by
quotations from Tice and NJ. Petit and
shows that the existence Of a second
body, similar TO our moon, Is an impossi-
bility. 'Mr Wiegins," continues
the writer, "claims to have
predicted the earthquake OF August
81. He really threatened storms
In August and September
when storms not infrequently occur, but
truly he has so continuously threatened
storms and earthquakes that no great dis
turbance Of either sort could possibly
steer clear of his predictions. He now
loudly proclalms that on the goth inst.
there will be another great earthquake,
even worse than the last earthquake, OF
which he isays that II will
be ole OF the most terrific
subterrauean upheavals ever known on
this continent. He knows that such a
prediction viii attract attention for
while 70 his name, and that II no dis
turoance should take place on the Goth or
near enough to that date to seem like
the fulhlment OF his prediction, peo-
pie will soon forget the failure
OF his prophecy, and be as ready
as ever to listen TO him again, and that
II by chance II should happen that an
earthquake of marked character takes
place on the 29th, and there Is no reason
why such an event should not happen,
then his netoriety among the ill-informed
many will be established for good or evil
forever-for his own good and
for evil to others. Heads he
wins; tails he does not lose
II may, however, be perhaps, asked
whether there Is not some reason for re-
garding September 20 as a day Of danger
Even Virgins. 1t may be suggested, must
at least imagine reasons for his
predictions, as the Tices, the
Vennors, the Gummers and Others
OF the mischievous tribe have imagined
for theirs In the past" Mr. Proctor then
goes on to show that certain well-knowu
astronomical facts have probably induced
Virgins TO make his latest prediction
one owing to the slight tendency OF
earthquakes to increase during tn,
months Of August and September
and another that earth throel
are more apt TO occur when the moon Il
in or near her point OF nearest approach
TO the earth, and in or near line con
Meeting the earth and sun than at othe
times The moon will be In such posi-
ton during the latter part Of the presen
month, but such conditions recur yea
after year and resulting earthquake
are no more liable TO occur this year thai
in any September OF the coming century
On the contrary he argues that there hs
already been one great earthquake and
is exceedingly probable that the impris
oued forces OF the earth beneat
the American continent hav
been for while relieved
and that no great earthquakes will occu
IN the same region for many years, poss
bly, centuries. The article conclude
as follows; "Should 1t chance that
great earthquake occurs at or abou
the time mentioned by this MIR. Wlggin
II would confirm in rather nor
emphatic manner than they themselve
could expect the views OF scientific stl
dents OF vulcanology and seismolog,
Mr.. Virgins prediction would still |
but proof OF his dishonesty, for b
knows that all he knows about cart
quakes has been borrowed from the Il
searches OF scientific writer's, and that h
predictions haphszard guesse; - a.
based or intended to be based {
the results OF their labors.
would still be evident that
his selfish wish for notorle
he does not care what mischief he may {
by exciting false alarms about storm al
food, eruption and earthquake. Here
he has sunk TO a lower level than ev,
those weather Projectors, whose nam
have long been n by-word among men
science. Vennor and Tice on II
side OF the Atlantic, and equivale
chailatans on the other were degrad
enough in gil conscience, but they
least kept clear of the wlckedness
spreading mischleyous fears by threats
-.