Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-17

=. 49,. @ootyNtu ~ wv cuNtutln ttntpF
" There iexclaiinef, II these storms
Sonunae, and have every yasou to be
iieye they VIII, there Il lair prohabIllty
OF an earthquake In that reeion., and
ran my fiuger through the varions s,ates
ffom Georgia to PENNSYLVANIA.
Would you object 10 nivinu the
ltheoryP" 49,
mot 1t all, replied the professor. and
added, after pause, at has the merit
OF simplicity, which Ia more than can be
said for the theories OF some Of the so.
called scientists. In brief, then my theory
is simply this. Earthquakes and at.uos.
pneric disturbances 60 together. The
latter Is the promoting cause ~ the form
or. NOW the normal external pressure OF
the atmosphere on the earth's surface is
ABOUT hfteen pounds TO the square inch.
series OF heavy storms come and dis.
placea portion Of the atmosphere, dimln.
ishing the external pressure In that nar-
ticulsr locality. The internal pressure
the volcanic forces at work within the
earth--seeks vent wherever the external
pressure Is least. Result, an earthquake. y
els this ALI there is 10 your theoryrr
mot quite oil, T" he answered, with A
smile, al paused In order TO give Won an
opportunity to grasp the general outline
before went into my theory more In de-
tail. Now, all storms, In my opinion, are
attributable TO the movements OF the
moon. The moon carries tho atmospheric
waves upward--attracts them toward
herself. Scientists OF the schools deny
this, because they cannot weigh these sus-
pended waves. have twofold
answer ready 10 meet this objection.
Let us suppose that we have small
letter balance before us on this
table. Iplace steel weight on the bal
ance, and IL bears II down. NOW, let me
take powerful magnet and hold IL above
the weight. Note the result. The bal
ance returns to It's normal position Just
as II the weight did not rest upon IL,
How can weigh that suspended weight
! Tell me, and | Will show the scientists
how 20 weigh suspended atmospheric
wave, My second answer is leyeled at
those who doubt the power OF the moons
attraction. II Is simply an argument
by analogy. The moon, according
to the very generally accepted
scientific theory. causes the ebb
and flow of the tide What Is this but at
traction and repulslon II the moon
can lift volume Of water thousands OF
miles In area and hundreds OF fathoms
deep, why cannot II lift a volume OF air
Now, TO go back little ways to where
said that the normal pressure upon the
earth's surface was changed by series
OF heavy storms, you viii now compre-
bend that this atmospheric displacement
Is directly attributable TO the attraction
of the moon. The moon causes the
storms and then lifts the atmospheric
waves. The pressure within the earth's
crust has diminished pressure from
without to contend against, An upheayal
follows"
''Do the recorded facts concerning the
state OF the barometer at Charleston and
the condition OF the moon immediately
preceding the earthquake bear out your
theoy?n
''ro the fullest possible extent, they do Z.
There has never been an earthquake In
any quarter Of the globe where the pre-
vious meteorological conditions have not
been substantially such as / have de-
scrloed. As to Charleston, rain storm
after rain storm has swept over the city
duriDg the past two months. Destruc-
tive floods have been chronlcled through
out that section Of the country. Lastly, a
most important fact, the moon was direct.
ly overhead at the time OF the earthquake.
In this position, according to my theory,
II exercises the strongest attractive
force.n ,lit
"Do you not think 1t possible that the
thinness OF the earth's crust in tho neigh.
borhood OF Charleston might have much
TO do with the recent earthquake2n
al am not believer In that thia crust
that the earth's crust is sixty.flye miles
thick here and only twenty-five at Charles.
ton. II that be so, how do they account
for the fact that we experienced quite q
severe shock OF earthquake here In New
Jersey two years ago, and that they did
not feel II in Charleston at all. Now they
have terrible shock, and we scarcely q
perceptible one. Believe me, the storm
theory Is the only reliable one. Prior to
our earthquake Of 1854 terrible storms
and destructive foods ragged throughout
this state"
"Do you think we have seen the last
OF the earthquakes for this yearfn
'Indeed do not,' was the reply. "In
fact. the condition OF the atmosphere
tends to confirm me In the belief that at
least one violent earthquake will come
within a very short time. As soon as the
conditions existing prior TO the Charles
ton earthquake reoccur the earthquake
must necessarily follow.n
"When and where will such conditions
reoccur2n
"0n or about the 25th OF this month.
The earthquake may be expected between
that date and the 28th II will be vio-
lent one, but It's center will be In the
northwestern part Of the United States,
Washington Territory, Idaho, Montana,
Dakota, Oregon, California, Nevada and
Utah will get the full benefit OF IL, We
shall very possibly feel II here. From
the goth TO the 25th OF the month IL will
be intensely hot. Then will follow yio-
lent storms and Immediately aiterwai DIS,
or simultaneously Herewith, the earth
quake"
Impressed by the similarity OF the
above TO Prof. Hammond's prediction,
the interviewer asked Prof, De Voc
whether he had read the Western
scientists representation. He hadn't,
but after glancing at It, he remarked;
~ am glad that my opinion meets
with the confederation Of an able man,
who is actually upon the ground. II