The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-19

ance. The ranch owners, the small
farmers, the jewellers in the hamlet
did not realize what a windfaH wa
coming to them until the trains IN
loaded at their gates. Every building
on the ranches, even to cattle sheds
every miserable hut on the hillsides
, was at once in demand, at enormou:
prices, for purposes Of shelter. Ths
country round was secured for provis
} ions, which were sold at famine prices
The poor fugitives were glad to be alive
and endured all their privations with
che greatest possible cheerfulnesS.
AWFUL SCENES.
There had been the most narrowing
scenes when the train left Valparaiso
Probably not scientific man in the
world of acknowledged reputation has
the slightest faith in the theories upon
which Fab bases his earthquake pre-
dictions Consequently in all large
communities there is always a small
number of men, respected for their
scientific attachments, who do their very
best to calm the people and belittle
Fab as prophet whenever he favors
region with a prediction OF impending
catastrophe These men had consider
able influence in Valparaiso. Fortified
by their opinions, many of the people
declared that they would remain at
home and calmly attend to their bust
ness. Thus many families were div!d-
| ed, some of the members declining to
| join in the flight; and in the streets
end at the railroad station many moth
erS and sisters were seen, the tears
streaming down their faces, vainly beg
ging their dearest relatives or friends
to go with them to place of safety.
They did not share, they could not un-
derstand, the cheerful confidence with
which many a friend elected TO stay at
home. Up to the last moment they
pleaded with anguish in their hearts
and voices, and the scenes of parting
were most painful. Safe at last under
the shadow OF the mountains, they
could rejoice in their own security, but
were tortured with apprehension Tor
the fate of those left behind.
Well, the critical day" CFalb always
calls the days he marks for calamity
''Kritischen Tage'D came and went.
Valparaiso was not herself by any
means. 1t was to be expected that most
of the places of business would be
closed, for it was Sunday. But there
were no thronsA of church-goers or
amusement-seekks, and the streets
were as silent as the grave after an
early hour in the morning, for most of
those who were left town repaired to
open spaces outside the city, where they
would be in less danger of anything
really did happen. It was believed by
those whom Falb had most impressed
that the really critical time would come
during the night. The only phenome-
non observed was that the night was
painfully still. There are streets in Val
paraiso where there Is always more or
less traffic in the night time, but not a
wagon rumbled through the thorough
fares. In the Dutchen Nachrichtens
own words, klein APPEL EUR Erde,"
which means mot an apple fell to the |
ground" The sun rose next morning |
upon peaceful scene. Toward even |
ing the trains began to arrive with the |
of the returning fugitives !
hustled as Latin-American |
cities seldom do when the doors swung |
open once more and the affairs of life |
were resumed. No damage was done
except that which Fab himself caused.
HERR FALB'S HISTORY.
Herr Rudolf Falb has often been call
ed a charla tan. He is not a charlatan.
No one ever more thoroughly believed
in a theory and in himself than Falb
does. He is honest in his faith, respec-
table in his attachments, and untiring
in his advocacy of the theory of earth
luakes he originated. For these rea-
sons he has been able to attract many
readers and to win quite a large fol-
lowing among the unscientif1c. Those
who live where earthquakes are fire.
luent have known of him for years end
nave read much that he has written.
l. I'll Qc+r
hat still fiourishes. He has written
.wo books on astronomy, two on
four on earthquakes and
7oicanos, including his Catalogue %
Critical Days" and other works. He
las predicted earthquakes for certain
lays and districts in regions where
these phenomena are very frequent,
md his predictions have come true: and
It such times Falb's theory has enjoy
ID tremendous boom.
Herr Falb has devoted volumes on
lefining and fortifying his theory. 1t
iced only be said here that he holds
hat even atmospheric pressure may be
he final, the determining cause of an
He magnifies the influence
which, all meteoroiogists admit, the
IN and moon together have upon at
nospheric ebb and flow. He determines |
lie says, the day when this influence
will be most powerful in a certain re-
ion, and if this region happens to be
ne where earth movements are apt to
e Of violent character that day Is a !
ritical period for the region in cues |
ion. His theory serves him not only
or earthquake predictions. but also for {
'eather and storm representations.
scientific authorities have dealt at |
ength with Falb's theory. and Horne, 5
'arnuZZer and Pernter. in particular.
ave given il an exhaustive examina- +
ion. All the authorities in the depart
rents Of knowledge with which Falb
eals say that his theory rests upon no [
cientific basis whatev
MALICIOUS PREDICTIONS. !
II no injury resulted to mankind from 6
abs predictions he and his followers =
hight amuse themselves as much as !;
ley pleased by watching the fulfillment {
r the failure of his prophecies, and no :
ody would care. But. as matter of :,
act, great material injury. anguish IN r
I'D. and even death ahve come as the :
asult Of his groundless predictions. s
he Valparaiso affair Is by no means n
re first instance Of acute suffering ?
aused by this irresponsible crank. The :
ravest example OF an earlier date oc-
lrred in Greece in 1894. 4
For years seismologists, or students n
Z earthquake phenomena, have been q
wing with the aid OF delicate instru- a
rents they have invented to attain $
lch knowledge as may some time en- "
bic them to predict the coming of i,
,rthquakes. But not a particle of pro- n
-ess has yet been made in this direc-
on. This is said on the authority OF il
rofessor John Milne. the most noted g