The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-11-22
COMING METEORrC SHOWER.
A Rain of Fire Expected for the Night OF
NOvenbe, e.
he Rochester Post-Express.

From The Rochester Post-Express.
DR.. Louis Swift says: II predict that on
the evening of the 9th of this month"; as soon
as darkness falls there will commence a rain
of fire which will be remembered for years.
This display is not of the periodic ones
alluded to before but is connected with the
appearance Of this new comet AS the whole
matter is of great Importance in astronomy
| will explain the connection. Meteoric show
ers use to cause terror on all sides. AS re-
Gently as 1898 the lower classes in this coiln-
try confidently expected the end of the world
mad come on the appearance of a violent d.
turbancc of this sort. Now II is known that
meteo.S are closely connected with comets
and 1t is believed that they may be parts Of
comets"
DIR. Swift produced the following telegram:
"Berberich cables comet. Holmes possibly
Bteas. John Kitche. Jr.' That would be
a puzzle to ordinary mortal, but DR. Swift
read and re-read it with evident relish DR..
Swift examined Holmes comet Thursday
night with care and was struck with several!
strange qualities possessed by 1t. on Friday
AFTERNOON the telegram came. The ntcrDre-
tation of the message is this John Ritchie
Jr, ohseverer at Harvard university sends
this notice to DR.. Swift 10 inform him that a
cabe2ram from the German astronomer Der
berlch. has been received at Harvard stating
that Holmes comet may be found to be the
famous Bica's comet"
DeNtFc LlJ ii IS the true solution said
DIR. Swift. This is certainly the most re-
narkabie comet [ have ever seen In its clean
outlines and position there is something "a
mlllaF. Blela s comet is. perhaps. the most
interesting OF the heavenly bodies We know
that it should he seen II certain periods Some
times when It's season comes it biazes fiercely
at others there is not Il trace of it, and again
it appears i'll two divisions, separated from
each other. In 1772 Monlaigne discovered y
comet; thirty-three years later Pond found
another, and in 1926 Bicla gave his name TO
IA new comet. Imagine the surprise of the
Astronomical world when it was learned a
few years later that these three comets were
one and the Samei Culculators ut once be-
gan 10 search out The path of this heavenly
tramp and it was proved that il should an
pear once in sixteen and sixteenth wears
The figuring was correct and sometimes the
comet appeared when the glasses were ready
At other times it would not even show a tail
feather. 1t was noticed, however, that Bic
las comet came in sight only on nultiples
OF the time calculated for its regular appear
ance."
Does the comet look the same ut one visit
as at another was asked.
NO, indeed was the reply. "In 1916 Bic
las comet vas seen TO be divided into two
parts; in 1862 the division was more prOm-
nent. When a detective is on the track OF 8
crook who has hitherto succeeded in going
into secure hiding places when hard pressed,
any clew is seized eargerly. The phenomena
OF 1886 and 1S52 gave a cieW to the tricks
of Bte!a $ comet. Gould jt be pO33ibleT ask
ed some one, that Beiia's comet at certain
times breaks up into pieces, remains for q
period in a chaotic state, and that, after a
time, the parts are again drawn together by
some strange force and the comet formed
AGAIN. Then il was remembered that the APP
pearances Of this comet had often been con
nected with meteoTic showers. Bela's comet
was due in lS66 and that year marked the
most wonderful meteOric shower ever in
Europe or Asia We had only q remnant of
It here, and vet | counted $50 neteorS during
the night | filed my pockets with keys and
pennies, and SO forth. and dropped one into
my right pocket for each meteor. On reach
ing 100 put penny in the left pocket. Such
& method would have proved vain in Europe,
where 200. OGO could be seen from one point -
THE Inference is plain, continued tine as
tronomer. IF this is Rcil&'s comet. as | firnl-
viii give us n great mete0ric display. A few
sparks may fly on the night OF the 18th, but
the main interest will center on the first
named date. star shower is always fine
sight, but II my prophesy comes true we shalt
learn more about this. the most mysterious and
seen since. 1852, although expected once in
sis roarS.
Flow far away is this comet?" we asked.
''In one Of its visits" was the answer
that if the latter had been delayed or ad-
vanccd have forgotten which. one month
in its course there would have been a coils
ion 1t is quite within the bounds OF proNa-
l,ility that this comet will strike the earth
some time. Indeed, il may be moving direct
slide was so heavily weighted With snow I
could not move IT, and only caught a glimpse
of the new conner through shutter. Friday
night was too fogGy TO give q view. IN clarr
weather the practiced eve can see Bella s
without glass, 50 we shall soon know more