The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-13
LOOK OUT FOR FAYE'S COMET.
ASTRONOMERS SAY THAT THIS
FIERY RODY MAY HIT THE EARTH.
VIII There be COIIisiOng-Direful
FOrebOdings of the Things That
Would Happen, II the Two should
Come TOgether.

Come Together.
From the New York World
Every once in a while the astronomers
discover far off in remote space a small
speck, upon the strength of which they
Immediately work themselves up into a
state of excitement. which ultimately
spreads to the more ignorant and super
stitious.
Just at present this phenomena IS being
witnessed since the telegram sent out
from IIiel Sept. 2S that Prof. Javelle. of
Nice had discovered the approach of
Fayes comet Immediately there began
the calculation of orbits.
The astronomers, some OF them without
taking time up into the heavens and see
the ominous body which was reported to
be approaching. pulled down their maps
and planispheres. Upon these they began
TO hurriedly draw lines, the while consult
ing tables Of statistics.
one line represented the path of the
earth as 1t swings through space. This
was easily marked off. The other was a
long curve representing the orbit Of
Faye's comet.
AS was expected, these two lines cross
ed. Faye's comet is to cross the path of
the earth.
But right here is the interesting point.
II the earth in its progress through inn
mensity is on schedule time, 1t win be
lust at this crossroads of the heavens at
about the time Fayes comet Is due TO ar
such a calculation and announcement
at this time is characteristic Of the as
tronomers. The world in ats needless
plunge through space would be apt 10 lose
sight of the astronomers az the latter did
not from time to time throw scare
into it,"
human race on lonely mountain tops
on dreary headlands and on lofty peaks
above the snow line they are supposed
TO mount guard, glass in hand, forever
Securing the horizon. The announcement
from Nice that the sail hor Of the as
Economical world, and IL was Immediately
telegraphed to every observatory.
OF course nobody has seen this comet
which all the row is about. If II Is any
thing like Biela's comet, which created
a similar disturbance two or three years
ago. it will never appear within the or
binary range of vision.
The astronomers who say they know
all about 1t assert that 1t is coming this
way at the rate of several million miles
a day. If II hits the earth, as some or
them seem to fear, it will strike with the
force of 1900 900 foot-tons, and people
who are standing around in the neiga-
borhood are apt to be hurt This conner.
for instance would think nothing Of
smashing whole city ike tODOkeu.
But the earth has striking force, too
The earth is bigger than the comet. ana
as every disciple Of pugillsm Is aware,
mere bulk is a large part Of the battle.
While Faye's comet, at the rate II is
said to be approaching, might hit the
earth a staggering blow In the stomach,
vet the earth when II got its second wilma
would step into the ring and put an end
to the comet in way TO make Mr.. Faye
its discoverer, shed bitter tears. The
earth might simply roll over through
and ali that would be fgff The
track would be little more than grease
spot.
between the earth and the comet, in which
all admit the comet would come out Sec
ond best But how would 1t be with the
II the human race is to be all con-
sumed by our coming in contact with a
comet 1t Is a matter of little or no i'm
portance what becomes of the earth The
comet, indeed. might take the earth If it
would only take the human race.
II is right here that the astronomers
find what they allege to be yerification
ing out. AS is well known, there has
recently been surprising rise In the tenn
Not for two centuries, or as long as me-
teoroIogical records have been kept, has
there been a September as hot as that of
this year. Phenomenal heat occurred not
only here but in Europe, and cab horses
in Paris dropped dead in the streets, while
dogs lay painting with their tongues out.
These are some of the signs OF the times.
according TO the astronomers. When you
see dogs painting with their tongues out,
then look out for comets. When cab
horses drop dead in the streets the end Of
the world is at hand All this heat, say
the astronomers, heralded the approach of
a comet
And now the comet is coming, breath
ing hard like a man running UP hill. It's
eye Is bent on the earth and there is blood
in it. Fayes comet in other words, Is
out on the range, and planets, stars and
satellites had better keep in doors until
the procession has passed
That, however, the earth cannot do, for,
as has been said the orbits cross, and
when these two bodies meet there Is
bound 10 be trouble. But long before they
could come to blows the human race would
have perished according to NJ. Camille
Flammarion, who has drawn a most har-
rowing picture of just what would happen.
People would frst he said, experience a