The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-11-24
IN A COMETS TRACK.
If Biela's and Not on Time We May Expec
Startling Results,

| If Biela's and Not on Time We May Expect
Startling Results.
Two men running for hole in the fence
through which only one can pass at time
| would illustrate the race now going on between
the earth aud the approaching comet
| If both are on time Sunday, and If the comet
is Bielas, it will pass across the spot where the
courses meet eight hours ahead of The earth.
1t is not yet known, however, whether Or not
the comet is on time.
IF il is Biela's comet, there is every reason
TO believe that it is not on time, because 1t
never vet has met the expectations of astrono-
| mers, and is the most eccentric and unreliable
wanderer of the heavens. If it is Biela's its
perodicity has arrived; Nov. 81 1892. is the
date when it should be nearest the earth.
1t has been shown how in 1852 this comet
came up only to explode into two parts. But
the appearance of this celestial traveller at this
time has aroused astronomers to high pitch of
interest, because it is believed to be Biela's.
After it burst these wise men say the two parts
kept company several years, being only few
hundred thousand miles apart, and then one of
them struck something or had its course altered
by some phenomena, or exploded into frag-
ments. which accounts for the one being left
When the comet gets within speaking dis
lance of the earth this week there is no know
ing what may not happen. Surprising it
happen to be eight hours late, which is quite
possible with Biela's comet2 1t seems to be head
ing for the earth. but is still so far away that
the DETECTION which would carry it around the
globe at safe distance cannot now be noticed.
Every time Biela's comet has come the
earth there have been extraordinary atmos-
pheric manifestations. 1t is likely that there
will be plenty of falling stars seen this week,
and on the night of Nov. q grand meteoric
shower. These meteor5 which fly with Biela' s
comet are almost solid balls of iron. Many ex-
plode like shells from q man -of.war when they
strike the ground, while others plunge into
the sea with loud report or bury themselves
in the earth. Men and cattle hit by these fall
ing stars have been killed instantly. There
are countless millions of them in the tail of
the comet.
Here is what the eminent scientist Mauper-
tuis has said in regard to the possible contact
of the earth with comet:
with their variety of movements it is
clearly possible for comet to encounter some
planet, or even orr earth, upon its way, and it
cannot be doubted that terrible results would
ensue. On the mere approach of these two
bodies great changes would lie effected in their
movements, arising either from their mutual
attraction OR from the action of some fluid COM
pressed between them. The least of these
movements would suffice to change the position
of the axis and the poles of the earth. That
portion Of the globe which had been previously
near UHc equator WOuIu DC Sltualeu, dlJeT SUCH
an event, near the poles and that which had
been near the poles would be situated near the
equator"
Other possibilities were foreseen by Mauper-
tuis as the result of comet striking the earth
or coming close thereto. Such body might,
he says, divert the earth from its present orbit
and Subject it to its attraction; in a
word, make a satellite of our globe, which,
henceforth would be compelled to follow the
re pf bo We oh mid thpc ha
exposed to the greatest vicissitudes. sometimes
scorched at perihelon, sometimes frozen by
cold at the remotest regions of the heavens.
comet, he says, could in like manner deprive us
of our loon, steal off with that old friend while
we were looking at it and unable to retain pos
session of our property, and that forevermore
the earth would be doomed to moonless nights.
But the seyerest accident of all which Maui
pertnis foresaw was direct collision between
the earth and comet. The earth, he says, would
be broken into thousand pieces, and in be
all probability both bodies would be destroyed.
But from the fragments" concludes this COM
mentator, gravity would speedily form new
planet or several new planets
Prof. Lewis Boss, at the Dudley Observatory,
Auburn, n. Y, has made observations which
to him indicate concusively that the comet
now racing towards us is not Biela's. and that
it will not come near the earth. The motion,
he declares, is inconsistent with the idea that
it is Biela's.
Prof Garrett P. Serviss, who ranks among
the most learned astronomers of the country,
says that he thinks this comet is not solid
body. but that it is made up of innumerable
small mcteors, and that, should it come in con-
tact with the EARTH the only result would be a
meteoric shower, which would probably do little
or no damage. His contention that the comet
is very tenuous is based on the fact that he has
seen small stars shining through it.