Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-06-16

A Newspaper Astronomer who Does Not SA
act,y Agree with Ur. A, Young

A Newspaper Astronomer who Does Not w
ac,,y Agree with Dr. A. Young
From the New York Tribune
Three tornadocs and several m""o',
storms wero reported from oak"a ~
the adjacent region Friday nig"n m'"o'' ~
simultaneously with desiruc,'N" "sn's =,
and torrents OF rain In roiotiers, fra'ce' IL
4, a cpincidopco of no account, perhaps, that
mt tbo same time three earthquakes were ielt
4, ,ho I.,,o, district aud slight disturbance
a., ,.,r. ,,,,ua on tho New Jersey shore al.
ibouyh Proctor says that storms and earth
nunke frequently come together. But there
was auotl,er colncidenee worth mentioning
I'm connection with tho weather phe-
no,nena Just mentioned. Within forty eight
hours of their occurrence, and preceded them,
sun spot came into view on tho edge Of the
solar orb, by tho revolution Of that body, and
another and larger one broke out ON the side
OF tho sun turned toward us. Ii may DO
added that the destructive storm at Kansas
city. the cloudbursts at xenia and ST Louis,
several tornadoes In Ind lana and Ohio, the
hurricane which moved down "a forest OF oaks
IN the suburbs OF Madrid, Spain, another
which devastated tho vineyards OF Montpelier
France, extraordinary gales In Germany, and
the tornado which swept over Tomato, Lom-
hardy, between May II and II were also pre-
ceded, at an interval OF from few hours to
two days, by the appearance of large and
particularly active sun spots.
The notion that some relation exists
between sun spots aud terrestrial disturb
ances, especially OF the weather, ia All old
one, and has been pretty generally discred-
ited by scientists whose opinions tho civilized
world Is bound to respect. Nevertheless,
during the last twelve or fifteen years 1t has
been discussed quito earnestly by men OF
reputation and eminonco In astronomy ana
meteorology, and, though long way nom
being established, has certainly gained some
what In acceptance. The Imperfect manner
III which observations of solar storms have
been conducted, tho undue haste oi enthusi-
asts In interpreting tho phenomena actually
observed tho apparent conflicts in the owl
deuce actually secured, the intricacy and nov
city OF some of tho problems which 1t raises,
aud other circumstances have combiucd
to prevent final termination of the
truth or falsity of the theory
as yet. But continued attention
tn the possibility In question has led a
number OF mon, Independently oi each
other, To notice striking condolences be-
tween solar and terrestrial disturbances, SIM
liar TO those lust mentioned. Dozens ot tor
nadoes, scores of thunder and hail storms
and several cloud-bursts, for instance, have
occurred in the United States and Europe
within the last three months, inside oi two
or three days after the appearance of violent
commotion In the suns gaseous envelope {;
aud the three greatest storms aud cold waves
of last winter in this country followed close
upon similar solar phenomena These few
facts are quite inadequate To prove any the
ury, but they challenge consideration and
justify respectful treatment Of the " sun
spot cranks" until the matter has been more
closely studied.