davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28
A. i. Babcock Indulges in Some Speculation
Regarding Recent Discovery

Han THE number just issued of the pub
w LEGATIONS of the Astronomical Society
10 of the Pacific will be found the in
teresting announcement that the preimi-
nary orbit computed for the last comet
discovered at Lick Observatory by Mr..
Perrine indicates the possibility that 1t is
identical with Biela's lost comet OF 1852.
Comets are not identifable by any study
of their visible features, because their ap-
pearance may and often does change with
great re pidity. They do possess distinc-
tive earmarks in the shape, size and posi-
ton of their orbits, with reference 10 the
earth orbit.
When comet is discovered observations
are made for three nights and prelimi-
nary orbit computed. Then the cata-
logues of preceding comets are examined
to see whether or not anyprevious orbit was
approximately the same as the one COM
puted. Few, if any. cometary orbits are
exactly in the plane of the earth's orbit,
but are more or less inclined to it. The
angle of inclination as well as the location
of the intersection of the plane of the
comets orbit with the plane of the earth s
orbit are two elements to be considered in
a comparison of this kind. When these
two quantities correspond closely. and
when com bined with this the comets dis
tance from the sun al the point of nearest
approach and the location of this point
are within certain limits, it is probable that
the two comets are Identical. The pre-
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

nomicaI Critics

by its revolution around the earth. In
the long run it therefore keeps the same
side always toward the earth" An ex-
tremely simple explanation of an abso-
lute!y unknown cause. If my readers
will imagine a huge rod OF STEEL stretch
ing from the earth to the moon and
firmly fixed at its ends to the two bodies
they will have conception of the actual
respective relations positions and condi-
tions of the earth and the moon. AS the
moon swung around the earth, fixed to
the end of the long rod, ii would revolve
upon its axis just as much as it now does
NJ more, no less. Yet, who would be
guilty of proposing to an intelligent man
the statement that the moon SO fixed re-
VOWED on its axisl
The real shape of the moon is that of d
pear, not globe, and the larger end of
the pear is held toward the earth by the
force OF gravity with as firm and unyield-
ing grasp as if the gravity were a solid
I rod of steel fifty miles in diameter. There
are many statements nut forth under
cover of little scientific knowledge
which are equally as absurd as this. II it
were possible for the world to forever for
get all that it knows about astronomy and
| physics and begin anew with its present
advantages the intelligence of the next
century would be OF a higher order than
is possible under the handicap OF obsolete
opinion that is tolerated simply because it
was voiced by some learned { p individual
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

If all diff culties have been overcome. Tee
possibility of its being washed away by a
storm has been reduced to a m inimum,
because it will work at its full efficiency
on a 12-inch wave and can consequently
be built in q sheltered place, possibly be-
hind a reef out of reach of the heavy
swells. 1t will automatically adjust itself
to the size of the waves and the rise aud
fall of the tide, with no change in its de-
velopment OF power.
Mr.. Schom berg has a working model of
his apparatus at 3647 Twentieth street, in
this City, that gives a good IDEA of what
the completed motor will look like. 1t is
simplicity itself. In the first place there
is wharf built OF piling, with platform
on the top. Between certain set of the
piles there is float shaped like square
fiatboat, that rests on the surface of the
water and rises and falls with the waves
and tide. 1t is this motion that has been
utilized to develop power.
Attached by a toggle- joint to the center
OF the float is a ratchet bar that reaches
upward, when the float is at its lowest
point, short distance above the PLATFORM
and when the float is at its highest far
into the air. It is perfectly natural that
the float swinging on the wave tops will
rise and fall different distance with each
swell. In overcoming this lies the point
of Mr.. Schom berg's invention.
The power developed by the rise and
fall of the float is converted into COM
pressed air by means of an ordinary air
pump. But instead of communicating the
power directly from the float to the piston
the ratchet bar is made to engage lever
having its fulcrum at one end and the
other on the connecting rod. The atchet
par works midway between the fulcrum
and the connecting rod, so that when it
rises or falls one foot the piston is moved
two feet. OF course this makes a loss of
power, but that is easily compensated for
by making the float larger.
If the waves always rose and fell lust
one foot there wouio be no need of any
mechanical contrlvarce 10 make the piston
give a continuous twe-foot stroke. But
they do not always do that. In case the
waves rose two feet it would be necessary
to have a four-foot cylinder in order to
accommodates the stroke of the ratchet
bar.
This point Mr.. Schom berg has overcome
by controlling dog that works in the
ratchet bar. When the ratchet bar has
risen one foot and driven the piston its
full two feet, the dog is automatically re-
leased. allowing the ratchet bar to ascend
freely through the lever. The distance it
rises is OF no Importance. 1t may be two
feet or il may be two inches.
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

In 1852 they were seen again aud prs-
sented much the usual appearance, ex-
cept that their distance apart had in
creased 10 1.500, 900 miles. They were due
again in 1859 and n 1865, but were not re-
discovered until 1872. when they appeared
this time in even a more remarkable
manner.
1t had long been held by astronomers
that meteors are the remains of old,
broken-up comets whose particles have
been scattered along the former orbit.
Schiaparelli announced it as q fact about
1867, but part of his theory was laid by
for future confirm alton. When Biela' 8
comet divided i'll Decem Der, 1916, it was
looked upon as the beginning OF the end
so far as this comet was concerned. Ac-
cordingly its non-appearance in 1859 and
1865 was considered as confirming the
theory of its destruction, and further
evidence was furnished in 1872, when the
predicted time of its return came and
went and no comet. Finally, on Novem-
ber 81 of that year, the theory was driven
home and clinched by the appearance of a
most brilliant meteoric display on the day
when the earth in its revolution around
the sun passed the intersection of the old
comet orbit. As many as 80 600 were
counted at one observatory in six and
half hours. ana it was by far the most
striking exhibition of the kind which had
occurred since 1888.
DR.. Klinkerfues of Gottingen argued
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

As the tide falls the ratchet bar descends
of its own weight, slipping past the dog
when the lever is at the end of the down
stroke. 1t will be thus seen that no mat
ter how erratic or irregular the rise and
fall of the waves the piston will always
give the same length of stroke in the CYL
inder 1t will be pushed 'home" with
every stroke and so compress the air to
the greatest density.
The handling of the comp pressed air is of
course no part of the wave motor. The
air is forced from the pump into tank
where it is stored until needed. From the
tank it is only necessary to connect an or
dinary steam pipe with an ordinary steam
engine and the proper valves to be ready
to develop power. BY opening the valve
in the usual way the compressed air passes
into the engine the same as steam and
causes it to revolve. 1t has been conceded
that air is better for this purpose, as there
is no waste, no matter how far it is car
ried in the pipes from tank to engine.
Change OF temperature also has no effect
on it.
Mr.. Schomberg has put his working
model to every possible test. He has tried
it in the bay at North Beach and it worked
perfectly, even when large waves came in
and washed all over it. The piston gave
about thirty strokes a minute and de-
veloped enough power to continuously
run small steam engine.
The mechanical parts OF the large ap-
paratus that is to be built near Santa
Cruz are now being made at the Union
Iron Works. There will be several tons of
iron and brass in it and several receiving
tanks for the compressed air. According
to the most careful calculations this ap-
paratus should develop been 90 and 90
horsepower. In case il is successful a
number OF them will be built at different
points along the coast.
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28
Z A LOS GAJOS MAN INVENTS A WAVE-MOJOR
Henry Sckomburgs Design Promises to Successfully Harness
Old Oceans Waves

came up--weIl. the apparatus could gen
orally be found scattered on the beach
shortly afterward. In the second case the
apparatus worked as long as the tide was
at the proper height and the waves rose
and iell just so. But even the slightest
deviation ruined its efficiency and rendered
it worthless the greater part of the time.
There were also a mum ber of minor
difficulties peculiar to each machine. If
they had such and such circum stances
they would work; if they didn't, they
would not. Until the present time, as
every body knows. none of them have
worked.
In Mr.. Schomberg's motor it seems as
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28
Old Oceans Waves

and has carefully considered every point
and calculated every strain. All are san
guine of success and. indeed, when all the
points OF The apparatus are considered.
failure seems possible.
The great ca uses of the failure of wave
motors in the past have bean the necessity
of locating them in places where there
was heavy swell in order to get enough
leverage 10 move the machinery, and the
inadapta bility OF the mechanism itself to
the varying size and force of the waves
and the rise and fall of the tides.
In the first case the machinery would
nearly always work as long as the surface of
the water was just right, but when storm
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28
,0NETS. IMPORTING CHANGE OF TINE AID STATE

did not keep its engagement. The one of
1882 was said to have period of 129 years.
1t did return in 1861, but was absent in
1870. No more fertile field for speculation
is presented to the thought OF men than is
offered by the comet. The colossal tail OF
the comet in 1880 150, 100000 miles in
length, swept around the sun in a few
minutes.
Think of the enormous velocity and en-
deavor to imagine what kind of a force 1t
was that swayed that mighty object. No
known law OF nature can explain the sud-
den shift OF position. Evidently we do
not know all the laws of nature, not even
if we happen to be an astronomer. 1t
would appear that throughout all the vast
universe exists something-call il force
if you will-that comprehends all other
forces and that passes from measurable
energy TO intangibility, only to manifest
itsef again as recognizable energy when
the conditions for such metamorphosis OBJ
tain. Some forces of nature lie dormant
until they are brought into contact with
other forces, and then when the com bina-
ton occurs the resultant energy is of
changed form. That there must be
something of this character is the only
solution which satisfies the reasoning
mind. Some day it may be that our in
telligence will comprehend it, but at the
present IL does not
OHe of the recognized laws of as stronomi-
cal physics is that every stellar body ex-
erts some influence, great or small, upon
every other stellar body. They all attract
one another. They all shed their light
upon one another. The sun is popularly
supposed to diffuse heat among the mem
bers OF his system. Recently the idea is
gaining ground that each body exerts an
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

whose means of acquiring truth were ex-
tremely limited. There are two classes in
the world--the one engaged in tearing
down new structures because the archi-
lecture of tine new does not harmonic
with the antique, and the other class en-
gagged in the erection OF any structure
which promises to be at some time a tenn
pie for the worship of the natural, in
which nature shall not be relegated to a
position inferior to that of her creature.
propose to keep on building, 1 know in a
very crude way, so long as the columns of
a great paper of the thinking people, as
THE CALL, permits me.
Last year l discussed the probability of
a large comet shortly making its appear
ance. Within the past sixteen years three
very large comets have illumined the
skies; the one of 1880 had tail oyer 150.-
0C0 600 miles long and was visib bic during
the daylight. As to what comets really
are astronomers, both PROBES ionas and
amateurs, are unable 10 say; neither can
they say why the fiery meteor courses
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28
A NOVEL WHEEL FOR TOURISTS
The "Omega" InVented by William de Witt
Of Santa Barbara

William de Witt of Santa Barbara,
woodcarver and inventor has studied up
and put together a wheel which he holds
is an improvement on any of the cycle
family yet turned out to skim the road
As he has not yet patented his machine
he refrains from making public the de-
tails of his invention, but states that with
a model which he has constructed he can
attain greater speed at less outlay OF pro-
pulsion power with it than with an ordi-
nary bicycle.
The Omega, as he calls it, has two
large wheels of any diameter chosen rum
ming side by side. about two feet apart,
with a small steering wheel in front; also
with a small wheel behind it. BY Pc
cullar device, not yet made known, the
rear wheel also acts as brake, which can
be operated by slight change of position
on the part of the rider.
One OF the large wheels revolves on ball
bearings like the bicycle, and its mate re-
wolves with its axle, consequently mower
need only be applied to one wheel, the in
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28
The Sweet, SAD Years.

The sweet, sad years, the sun, the rain,
Alasl too quickly did they wane,
For each some boon, some blessing bore;
OF smiles and tears each had its store,
Its checkered lot OF bliss and pain.
Although it idle be and vain.
Yet cannot the wish restrain
That / had held them evermore-
The sweet, sad yearsl
Like echo of an old refrain
That long within the mind has lain,
keep repeating Ger and DER
"Nothing can e'er the past restore,
Nothing bring back the years again.
The sweet, sad yearsl
CANON BELL, in Leisure Hour.
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

AHE.T last it looks as if the mighty, un-
~ leasing power of old Oceans waves
1S1y has been successfully harnessed.
The index that points toward this end
is a wave motor, the invention of Henry
Schomberg Of Los Gatos, which, in a
working model, seems to have overcome
tPe many causes of failure in the past.
Needless to remark, this is not the first
tiHne this great problem has apparently
b9en solved, but all indications are that
the barge working plant soon to be tested
on the coastin the vicinity of Santa Cruz
will prove a success. Every body inter
ested in it has many years experience in
engineering and mechanical construction
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

(Perrine), as it will then be known.
The meteors observed in Novem ber, 1872,
have become scattered further along the
old orbit and are observed annually with
more or less regularity. They are known
as Bielids from heir origin, or more COM
monty as Andromedes, their radiant point
being near Gamma Andromeda The
main group is encountered about every
thirteen years on November q or %.
They are rather slow in their movement,
because they overtake the earth instead of
meeting it almost directly, as do the swift
Laonids; are red III color and usually
leave small trains. A. H. BABCoCK.
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

distance, or half the longer axis, A P of
the ellipse, in which the body moves
around the, sun S. Second, the eccen-
between the center and focus S to the
mean distance; third, the longitude of
the ascending node; fourth, tie inclina-
ton OF the plane of the ecliptic; fifth,
the longitude of the perihelion, or point OF
ihe orbit nearest to the sun, and sixth,
the exact time at which the body passes
this last point. Only in the case Of two
or three small comets of short periods
have these data been attaina BILE. All proph-
ecies of the return of comets aie there ore
only guess work. Some very interesting
phenomena have been observed in connec-
ton with comets. The one known as
Biela' aroused a great deal of speculative
thought. This comet bad been in the
ha bit of reappearing al bout every six years.
1t was due to appear in 1872, but failed to
materialize. Instead, there was very
rich shower OF meteors through which the
earth passed Move mi Der 81 and 80, 1872.
Back OF this, in 1916, the comet had been
seen in all its glory, but in Septembe
1852. it was shorn of its splendor and in
stead of one comet there seemed 10 be two
pieces. The comet had split. The study
Of comets has always had a very fascinat
ing power over amateur astronomers
Well-seasoned astronomers are extremely
coy in dabbling with the question OF
cometary origin and movement. The ex-
perienced star sharp knows full well that
the speed and direction of quite mum Der
of comets have been studied carefully and
partial success attained in computing the
times of their probable return, but it has
always heen found that something has in
terfered to negative the result. The comet
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

ventor claiming that by this contrivance
the force necessary to drive the machine
may be lessened a bout one-half.
This cycle may be built for one or two
persons and the great wheels may be of
any diameter, from three to six feet if de-
sired.
ANY amount OF luggage may be loaded
on the machine, making it convenient for
tourists, hunters or any persons desiring
to carry a complete camping outfit with
them.
Mr. de Witt claims that the omega"
will cover by easy work one mile with $50
power motions, or about twenty miles an
hour on a good country road. If neces-
sary for a burst OF speed or climbing a
hill, both riders can drive the machine,
one by hand and the other by foot power.
1t can be brought to standstiIl on any
grade and, being somewhat like a tri
cycle, stands upright when stationary.
The sketch accompanying this article
was furnished by the inventor to THE
CALL. He has spent over two years work
ing upon his machine.
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

through space with so erratic a motion.
1t Is an impossibllity to determine when a
comet will reappear, if at ali. We can only
see them when they appear, discuss the
probability OF their exercising any influ.
ence over our earth, and then guess as to
their return. That is all. Over 500 comets
visible to the naked eye have been discov-
cred during our era, and TO one that has
been seen there have been ten that were
visible only to telescope vision. Yet
out of this immense number only hall a
dozen have returned, and we are not abso-
lutely certain even about these.
To be able to speak definitely about the
movements of any heavenly body we must
know its elements
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

liminary orbits will not settle the ques.
ton, but a more exact one, based on
large number of observations and extend
ing over greater period of time, must be
computed.
Biele's comet of 1852 has a remarkable
history. 1t was discovered in 1926 by the
man whose name it bears, and who was an
Austrian officer. Gambart investigated
its orbit and announced it to be periodic
comet of short period, the second one of
this kind 70 be discovered. 1t was found
that it had been observed on two previous
approaches to the sun, in 1772 and in 1905
Damoiseau calculated its orbit, predicted
its return in 1882, and even went so far as
to state that on October 30 of that year the
two paths, the comets and the earths s,
would cross and the earth would not be
very far away. There were sensational
journals even at this early date, and much
popular apprehension was created, especi-
ally among the peasantry of the south of
France. The scare proved groundless, for
the earth was so 600, 900 miles away on the
predicted day. and they were never less
than IL, 900, 900 miles apart. II was not
visible at its next return owing to its APP
preaching the sun from a direction in the
heavens opposite to that occupied by the
earth. but in Novsm Der, 1916, it again be-
came visible, and presented the usual ap-
pearance. Three weeks later it began to
elongate and finally in about two weeks
more it divided and became double. Both
parts were very bright, but not equally so,
and when one increased in brightness the
other diminished. Part OF the time they
were connected by faint band OF light.
They travelled together. about 100 QUO miles
apart, until they disappeared beyond the
reach of telescopes.
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

electrical or magnetic influence upon all
other bodies. What influence do the
comets exert? Does the fact of their pres
ence affect our climate2 The first recorded
appearance of Haliey's comet in 1c05 was
marked by great famine in Europe; its
appearance in 1855 was accompanied by
excessive cold and crop failures; that of
1890 by the inundation of Germany; 1904,
intense cold and drought; 1880, awful
pestilence; 1456, foundations and earth
quakes; 1881, great floods; 1907, intense
cold and droughts; 1852, floods and great
earthquake; 1859, variable weather and
great earthquake in Egypt
This comet is due to reappear in 1910,
and a numerous army of prophets has
arisen to predict cataclysms and min r
calamities during the first ten years of the
coming century. Il is not only possible,
but very probable, that the earth passes
through the envelopes of comets; through
the gaseous portions of these wanderers.
1t is believed by most scientists that the
earth passed through Biels's comet in
October, 1871, at which time occurred the
awful confagrations in the Northwestern
STATES, devastating thousands of square
miles of territory. The survivors of the
terrible fires in Minnesota testify that the
flames would suddenly, without warning,
burst forth in the thick tim Der, apparently
coming from the sky. The great fire at
Chicago, where buildings of stone ana
iron burned like tinder, occurred at this
time. Did it happen that the gaseous en-
velope of Biela's comet was hydrogen and
that it became mingled with the earth's
atmosphere? Who knows?
+. NJ. CLOSE, d. Sc.
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

that if the shower were due TO particles
from the comet, and there was much evil
dence IN favor of this view, the greater
part of The remains or possibly one OF the
twins, would be found in the opposite
quarter of the heavens from which the
meteors appeared to come. This point
opposite the meteor radiant was too far
south to be visible in his latitude, so he
cabed to the observatory at Madras,
Southern India: "Biela touched earth on
9th; search near Theta Centauri." Bad
weather prev snted a search for two morn
ings, but on the third a comet was found
near the position indicated and only one
was to be seen.
1t was oh served for two mornings and
then cloudy weather prevailed again.
Two observations will not determine an
orbit, so that it has not been proven that
this really was the lost comet. Since 1872
it has not been observed unless it proves
to be Identical with the comet of 1896
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

In the above diagram the ellipse repre-
sents the orbit of heavenly body. c is
the center and S the sun. Now to tell
whether comet, or any other celestial
object, will again appear to us we must
know the size and shape of its orbit, and
to know this we must first learn the mean
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

A newborn infant sometimes doubles its
birth weight in seven days.