Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1899-03-28
Startling Prediction of a Ger.
man Astronomer.
Remarkable Manner in Which He
MS Foretold Events, Makes
His Prediction Credible.
1899.

hurricanes at sea, with great loss
to shipping, particularly on the
American continent.
Toward end of March--Earth-
quakes and destroying hail storms.
July-August-Tidal wave, de-
stroying eastern coast of America,
Florida and California becoming
islands from submarine earth
quake.
November 13-Our planet to come
in contact with the comet known to
astronomers as the comet OF lo66-
our planet to be, if not absolutely,
partially destroyed.
This is the cheerful prediction
Prof. Randolph Falb, of Vienna,
noted scientist and world-renown-
ed authority on earthquakes and
meteorological conditions, in March
1894, forwarded to the Imperial
Academy of Science at Vienna.
Probably nothing more would have
been heard of the prediction if the
meteorological conditions of the lat
hart of January and early part
February, Of this year, had not
correspondent with Prof. Falb's
prediction, and the scientific jour
mails of Europe are, in consequence,
giving Prof Falb and his predic-
tons a great deal of attention.
\ While Prof Falb is by many sci
eatists, considered a crank" his
Spgedictions on seismic disturb
anSee have been remarkably full
filed. AS, for instance the great
earthquake at Zante in 1898. He,
Aseveral days before the earthquake
Incurred, sent warning tothe press
'all over Europe. Again, in March,
1898, he was invited to lecture to
the Tourist Club, of Vienna, on the
SUBJECT of earthquakes, but, while
accepting the invitation, postponed
the lecture until after April Is, as
an earthquake would take place
about that time and he would pre-
fer to include the results of his in
vestigation of this earthquake nhis
lecture. And, as the German prov
erb has it, ''Has du mir geschen,
the earthquake did occur on April
s and was felt all over Southern
Hungary and did much damage.
Many incidents like these could
be quoted, where predictions have
been made one to two years in adj
vance and been fulfilled. Profes-
sor Falb, disclaims in the most pre-
emptory manner that his warnings
should be classed as predictions or
prophecies.
II am not prophet, he said in
an Interview. MY theories are
simply scientific Investigations in
to mundane anatomy. The inter-
Tor of the earth is filled with a mat
ter mass, subject to ebb and flow
just like the waters of fine ocean.
Every intelligent and educated
man knows this. Between the SUR
face of the earth and this molten
mass, which is slowly COOLING there
is a shell of an average of eighteen |
lies in thickness, in some places
thinner than in others, and here
the confined force escapes in the
form of gas. But not finding such
an outlet through the influence of
the moon, great tidal wave sweeps
round the inner crust OF the earth |
aid produces the terrible phenom-
cha known as earthquakes.
This is, in short, Professor Falb S
theory and it has been much dis
kytsd, particularly his references
he influence of the moon. Pro
"a Fab calls attention to the
.fully established" instances
where comet has come in contact
with our planet and the results.
616. January IA, ten people kill
ed in China by the fall of meteor.
S23. November 3, thirty FIVE viii
leges destroyed in Saxony.
1911. September 4, many lives
destroyed by falling meteors at
Crema.
l749. November 4, ship cross
ing the ATLANTIC was struck, killing
several sailorsl
Each Of th2se Instances, says