The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-06-06

For thousands of years the planets have
not been in such conjunction as they are
now approaching; Neptune and Uranus past
perihelion, and in 40 to so of the electric cir
Gle (Heliocentric) with Jupiter and Saturn
to be in perhelion and passing the 80 de-
gree node nearly at the same time this
summer Prof. Falb fixed the dates ESQ
Chronicle telegram said), and greatest dis
lance at July 8, Aug. II, in the United
States Saturn's periheion and node pas
sage (orbit 20 45-100 years. may be stated at
1884, 45-100. Jupiters 11.87 years., 1894, 50-10O.
The almanacs give the precise day. Prof.
Fable considers the intensity of Aug. IT, is
the greatest, and that to be the period for a
great submarine earthquake which will SUBJ
merge by tidal wave New York city and
vicinity, away up the Hudson will discon-
meet Florida from the mainland and cause
it to sink; and make an island of California.
His calculation do not extend specially to
other points of the world; but no doubt
equal disturbances and destruction will hap
pen all over the globe, on or about Aug 30,
stated by him to be the most intense date.
The evil influences of these four great
planets-but especially Saturn and Jupiter
began six months ago, and were exhibited
in the great earthquake throughout Japan,
the terrible tidal wave on our coast in the
Gulf of Mexico in October, the swallowing
up of Kuchan in Persia, the destruction in
Crete, the Tibetan cataclysm around the
shrine of Buddah (not VERIFIED, of which
we have not received particulars, but that
it's magnitude involves millions in famine,
ard now another great earthquake is re-
ported in Japan 1t will be observed that
in all of these six vast disasters the To-
cality a little north of latitude
so, indicating that they must have been
pr oduced from the same causes. California
and Florida are in the same latitude In
the first japanese the Persian and the
Tibetan, mountains were thrown down and
vast assures opened to unfathCmable
depths to engulf tens of thousands Of
human beings and animals, closing up
and crushing many right at the surface.
Within so short period the occurrence of
startling phenomena such these must
indicate the existence of common cause,
a ruling force and that is most probably,
from all that we can conjecture, the
prevalence of sun spots and the passage
of the great planets through the nodes at
the same time The professors at Roch-
ester, N. Y, observe the sun spots, and
doubtless furnish exact data as to pres
ent conditions. The spots have occupied
vast areas heretofore, and sheets of flame
are said to pass over the suns surface
with such rapidity that one was measured
shooting out $4,000 miles and returning
in ten seconds.
Now, do not know what might be the
consequences of diverting the earth from
it's present orbit by means of this great
pulling force. 1t may be conjectured that
if the earth once diverged there could
longer be the equalZing power by the sun
to make it revolve as in the past; and that
we might wabble within 30,0G0,000 miles of
the sun, less, and then go again to 49,
100000; and in the one case be burnt up by
excessive heat (see note) or in the other
frozen solid. Even if we remained in the
orbit the forces might shake US out of our
axis and then the astronomers have in
formed US what would happen.
Take a top and see how well it spins
upon it's axis and around orbit, if let
alone. he slightest cause will change
both.
Astronomers say that the oscillation of
the earth and change of axis, with an &C.
centricity of orbit in maximum, would be
exact coincidence for cold beyond even
the power of human calulation Prof.
Agassz. who made a lifelong study of the
glaciers. considered that the catastrophe
which enveloped all the globe north of the
35th parallel with huge mountains of ice
was sudden. Hence in Siberia the preser-
walton complete of the extinct mammoths
found there, some of which have been
eaten and the tropical plants whose fOli-
age was complete in every detail-not suffi-
cient time given to wither and to crumble
into dust. If globe should suddenly
stop in rotation on its axis, for a second.
though we continued on in our orbit ev-
erything on the surface, including oceans.
buildings. trees, would be hurled headlong
into space. If the planets could increase
our motion much, all loose bodies would fly
off from the earth like water from swift
iy turned grindstone. and men would re-
quire chains their legs, like fastened
bulldogs, to hold them down.
SO can perceive that worse calamity
might befan us from planetary influence
than earthquakes and tidal waves. how
ever unparalleled and unprecedented in
1894. If these come, indicated by Prof.
Falb. there will be also pestilence of vast
magnitude.
We know nothing about comets, and so it
would be well for the survivors to get the
full aid of Science-four years hence-to
discuss the consequences Of a collision.
Note-Heat would be increased as the
cubes of the diameters. AT 80, 100000 miles
it would be q times hot present
summers. The heat in Mercury, astrono-
mers say would Immediately turn our
ocean into steam and melt many of the
metals. The ray of light at the sun is COM
puted to be 100000 times greater than when
it reaches the earth Very truly
BLANTON DUNCAN.