New-York tribune., 1907-10-04
METE0RS A BIT EARLY.
Shouldn't Come So Soon, Say Scien-
fists to the CredulouS.

The recent frequency of celestial fireworks in the
shape OF meteors and what are populariy calleu
comets has aroused a great deal or interest,"
among laymen all over the country even II tne
scientists have said there is nothing very unusual
in IT, Reports OF comets from various paFls oi
the United States discredted, because what
had really been seen were meteors' "hlch are
sort of pony comet. with short or docked tal.
For the last three weeks hardly day has passed
without dispatch from some part OF the country
telling of ball of fire a streak OF IRE that t'e
good folk of Yazop Corners or Smithvie thought
a dangerous neighbor.
But the nearest exhibition noted from 4zd
street and Broadway at $50 o'clock on Tuesday
evening. A number of the natives of that locality
saw il. They declared that a great meteor rose
from somewhere back of Fort Lee. and, while the
sunset glow still on the sky, sped across the
aerial pathway until sank Of sight behind the
Statue of Liberty Since the time of this phenome-
non was fully two hours after upper Broadway's
'highball hour Tribune reporter set out yester-
day to gather data from the men who are on inti-
mate terms with things astronomical
Louis P. Gratacap. curator OF the Museum or
Natural History, said he regretted that there had
not been among the observers some astronomer
who might have formed conclusion as TO its nat
ure. He said that he had observed the numerous
published reports of meteors in the last Few weeks
He continued:
November is usually the month when meteoric
showers most frequently noticed. There are
more than fifty radiant points in the heavens from
which these meteoric showers have been traced
This Is not the year. IN the regular course OF
events. for the appearance OF the Bielfds. the
rneteoric showers from the Biela comet From the
time it was discovered. in 1926. II and the Novem-
Der reteoric showers have become visible together
every six and six-tenths years. Two years ago.
when IT was expected. many observers were dis
appointed because IT was hardly visible. The next
great display of the Biends Is due in 1909"
Mr.. Gratacap said that he could offer no ex-
PLANTATION Of the many reported meteors at this
time. although he ventured the opinion that. since
the BieIa comet had been observed at various
times to be breaking up into sections these meteors
might have been thrown off by OF the belated
fragments He referred 10 work by Professor
Fletcher OF the British Museum, in which that
authority said that. by careful observation and
investigation It had been proved that since the
year s02 A. d there have been great meteoric show
ers every thirty-three years. the month having
gradually changed during the centuries from oc-
tober 20 November. But this regular display Will
not be due again until some time about 1925.
However" said the curator. with a twinkle In
his eye, there Is a question whether this periodic
meteoric display is not connected in some way
with the periodic display of meteoric dispatches
IN the newspapers. The late Professor Henry a.
Ward. whose collection of meteorttes has been
lent this museum. made for period OF ten
years systematic attempts to follow up the stories
of reteers published in the newspapers. The news
agencies and clipping bureaus furnished him with
everything published IN the daily papers the
subject. and in each instance he sought for con-
frrnation well"-here Mr.. Gratacap paused-"he
reported that 90 per OF the stories proved 10
be without foundation except IN the Imagination
OF some person who thought he saw a sudden
brightness IN the sky"
Professor II. S. Jacoby. Of the astronomical de-
partment Columbia, said last night that he had
heard Of the comet seen from Broadway, and
much interested He had. however, received
scientific report IT. He said he had fol
lowed the newspaper reports. but that sometimes
the November meteorc showers started in bit
early. perhaps that IS the this year" he
said but I have personally made observations,
and the showers from the Constellation Leo called
Leonids are not due until November"