Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-25
rIGqINSW WASTING WORDS
GLASS HIM WITH
THE CRANKS.

e. Predictions Based Only ON Desire
obtain Notoriety-The Falacy of
a.. past prophecies a Matter of His
tory-The situation in Charleston
" ,sHrNGToN, Sept. 24.-Prof. MCGEE,
the geological survey, in an interview
[dav npon Virgins alleged great earth
X,aka in the Southern States next
rednesdav, said. 81 take no stock In
prediction whatever. 1t is not at all
prediction of science. Earthquakes
Lonnot be anticipated. To predict an
ortbouake on Sept. 80 is not scientific
Nd nobody need be the least apprehen-
va on account of the proclamation OF
.Eiggins The people OF Charleston are
secure now as ever they were; great
sal safer, | should say, because the earth
bere is more soldifed, more settled and
rm nv reason of the recent quake. and
Low there is SO much less chance Oh
knother like catastrophe"
4 The scientists in Washington take no
&tock whatever in Wiggins' prophecy.
fhev all agree in pron0unclng MN
Eank-a person of no scientific attain
[puts. without knowledge OF the hrst
Elementary principles of physics, without
handing among scientists, and Without
<Eedit among sensible men.
NOTHING BUT A CRANK.
"lf he is entitled to any name besides
a at of crank" said an eminent scIent'
4, last night, sit is astrol0ger. His ways
4 Q the ways of the astrologers OF the
Marx ages, but he has not Wit or learning
"a ough to be classified even as an astrol-
IN er. He is a person who, four or hve
n ars ago, gained a good deal OF nOtoriety
hy prophesylng that wonderful and disas-
Hous storms. cyclones, TIDAL waves and
tarthquakes would result from an
hnpendng conjunction of Saturn, Jupl-
H.. Mars and Venus, the leading planets.
ne has also challenged the attention OF
tbe public a several other times by max
H. other prophecies, all OF which failed
of iulflment. | carefully read some OF
His former predictions, hut found them
III of rubbish. | don't think he descends
IN argument or q statement of reasons. If
ia did | think the newspapers would let
b m alone. They would see what non
stnse the whole thing is, and L don't
Bunk they would continue 10 bring Wig
gins before the American public by pub
AsnInz his idlocies."
THE CALHOUN CELEBRATION.
Secretary Lamar said to-day that he
MOpOSed to write to the committee in
cb grge of the Calhoun celebration, TO oc-
ut ~ Charleston in NQvem ber, for which
b6 has prepared his address, suggesting a
pbstpOnement until some future day on
aecount of the present condition of the
ely.
CHARLEsTON's NEEDS.
CHARLESTON, 5. c., Sept. 24.-Letters
having been received from all parts
of the country asking whether the
period of great distress in Charleston
has not passed, the statement is author
lzed that the Relief Committee, through
The generosity Of their fellow countrymen,
fee themselves In a position to furnish
er hsistence and temporary shelter to all
Wfo need it, but at the same time the
estimate that the relief funds
IN command, or in prospect, fall short of
fbe money necessary to put in habitable
condition the homes OF persons who are
unable to repair their buildings without
Plbc aid. The government engineers
nave inspected 600 buildings out of 1000
~ the city aud estimete the damage to
those inspected at $2,000,0O0. Their in
epectiOn, however, covers most of the
cDstliest structures. The Relief Commit
Ite, IN assisting needy househoders to
u he residences naDltaDle, Will deal trBt
Hith those whose losses are small, the OBJ
fct being to make as many roofs as Dos
p bic tight, foundations secure and CHM
neys safe before cold weather comes. The
ZONES OF widows and orphans and other
helpIess persons will have a paramount
am. NO loss of any person owning
hore taan one house will he considered
n this time. The intention also is to dis
eiIo" all claims tor plastering as not be-
- indispensable to reasonable safety
and comfort. The subsistence commit
r. nave supplied nearly all persons re-
fIlring provisions, and the number OF ra-
Ions Issued today was the smallest since
the c0mmlssary was established. The
II ce OF clerks and working force is being
gradually reduced. To-day was verv
4uiet. No shocks were felt here and only
sIlght tremOr at Summerville. Busi-
teSs Is active and merchants are hopeful.
Il BosTON'S FUND.
4 BOSTON, sept. 24.-Tbe Charleston re-
Hel iand here now amounts to $6S,l
FIVE SHOCKS AT PEORIA
PEoRIA, ILL, Sept. PA dispatch
Fom Winfield, Iowa, asserts that five dis
tlHct SHOCKS Of earthquake were felt at
tlat place at about IL O'Clock last night.
4O special Glmagn lr,t