Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-02
THEY FORMED A PAIR
Companion Hoax 10 Wlldar's "Iller-
nal Regions Story,
now LOCKE MIsLED SCIENTISTS.
His Great "Moon Frand."-Many Poo.
pic Believed It and Also His
Mungo Park Yarn.

interesting because OF the views still
held by many regarding the Symmes
Hole aud other theories respecting
the interior OF tho PLANET on
which We dwell. IL was written
by Richard Adams Locke, and next
10 his article regarding Sir John Her.
scholl's observations on the moon, WINS
one Of tins most successful hoaxes VI the
Jay. IL was for time accepted az true
| ~ people generally, and was seriously
/ discuHsed by scientific men. IL was
| entitled "rho Lost Manuscript Of
| Mungo Park" and its fictioual char
actet was not recognized till the ex-
| posture Of the "Moon Hoax"
/ The latter was revived less than two
/ years ago In the following manner:
! While tearing down Hu old building
| In brooklyn Ia October, 1891, the
workmen came upon n box that Ind
! been under the cornerstone In 1885,
ami contained, besides number Of
old daily papers, two large engravings
and pamphlet. These putported TO
be an account aud Illustrations OF
"Lunnr animals aud other objects dis.
covered by Sir John Herschell In his
observatory at the Cape Of Good
Hope"
Tue "Moon Hoax" was probably one
Of the most successful hoaxos ever per.
| petratod On an unsuspeoling public.
Sir John Herschell, the astronomer,
had gone down to tho Cape OF Good
| Hope 10 make observations Of tho
moon. This much was authenticity
known, but OF the exact nature Of the
observations and OF the Instruments TO
be used there was not much known,
either In England or this country. IL
was not very difficult, therefore, to
make the public believe almost any.
thing Us long IA IL had certain amount
OF scientific consistency.
Richard Adams Locke, at that time
an editor OF tho Sun, conceived the
idea Of perpotraling gigantic hoax,
and he set about doing II In n very
careful way. He published an article
In the Sun, entitled, "Greht Astronom-
ical Discoveries Lately Made by Sir
John Herschell, LII D., +. II. g., ETC.,
NJ the Cape Of Good Hope" II opened
with the following boast.
ain this unusual addition to our
| Journal We have the happiness to make
known to the British public, and thence
to the whole civilized world, recent
discoveries In astronomy which will
build an imperishhble monument to
the age in which We live, and confer
upon tho present generation Of the
human race proud distinction through
all future time. IL has been POLITICALLY
said that the stars OF heaven are the
| hereditary regalla OF man, as the In
telectuel sovereign Of this animal crea.
ton. lie may now fold the zodiac
around him with loftier consciousness
OF his mental supremacy"
Then followed an account Of how
Sir John'e expedition had been organ
lied anda statement OF the funds fur
nished by well.known scientists and
even by the heir TO the British throne.
/ The telescope was infinitely aud scien-
tifcally described. IL consisted OF a
huge lens, weighing about 1896
pounds, which cast an Image on can
vas from which II was magnified
a., 900 times by microscope. 70 make
the outlines clear artificial light was
tTAnsiused through the microscope.
The description OF this telescope was so
good that "a number OF scientific Jour
nnls were deceived into believing 1t 10
be true. Objects on the moon were
said 10 be- brought into proximity
equal to eighty terrestrial yards.
When this had been accomplished, the
pamphlet went on 10 state, most Won
derlul things were seen on the surface
OF the moon. There were vegetation,
animals anu things resembling human
beings. The latter were thus decribed:
"rhoy averaged four feet In height,
were covered, except on the face, with
short anu glossy copper-colored hair,
aud had wings comp sed Of thin
membrane, without hair, lying snugly
upon their backs, from the top Of the
shoulders 10 the calves OF the legs. Tho
face, which was OF yellOwlsh flesh
O. lDr, was slight improvement on
that uf the Ourang-Outang, being more
| open and intelligent In its expression,
aud having much greater expansion
/ OF forehead"
| one OF the ongravlngs accompanying
| the pamphlet showed lunar scene
with these wonderful inhabitants tly-
ing about. Lunar animals were also
/ to he seen gamDOling by the side Of
| lunar river. The other engraving
| showed lunar temple. This was
supposed TO be 90 fame Of devotion or Of
/ science" at was an equiangular
temple built OF polished sapphire or OF
some Tespiendent blue stone, which,
like u, displayed u mylRd points Of
golden light twinkling and scintillating
In tho suubeams. The roof
was VI FbllAt ltlAuH InNAAls
anu divided into compartments which
Were not triangular planes inclining to
tho center, but sub-iivided, curved
AMI separated, 30 US TO represent mass
OF Violently agitated planes"
Tho account then went on 10 tell OF
how the lunar inhabitants "sat around
under the trees near the temple, eating
red fruit that grow ON the lunar trees.
| These beings Were even polite, anu
offered one another large specimens Of
the dainties."
IL seems prep0stoTous that anyone
should have believed this wonderful
story, or that the press could have
thought that Sir John Herschell had
actually written such letter. But Il
was printed and reprinted, discussed
among scientists Rud widely believed.
II was not until Sir John published
au authentic account Of his obseFva-
tionb that all faith In tho hoax was
abandoned
Then the author Of the hoax was
sought after. Many thought that IL
was an astronomer named Nicolet
who had He'd from France In 1880, so
likely were the astronomical details OF
the hoax. But IL eventually became
known that Richard Adams Locke
had written the marvellous tale.