The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-05-20

CHICAGO, May 20.-The earth did
not pass through the all Of Halley's
not pass through the tail of Halley's
important occurrence Wednesday
night, and as a consequence the
whole astronomical world was thrown
into amazement.
For several hours yesterday the ex-
perts at Yerkes Observatory and at
other astronomical stations were un-
able to account for the slipping of the
celestial cogs and did not even at
tempt to make an explanation without
at the same time offering an apology
In which the explanation was wholly
discounted
AS the day wore on, however, the
facts become clearer and the astrons
omers began to take heart. The
trouble was found to be with the
comet itself and not with the men who
made the calculations on which the
prediction of the passage of the
earth through the tail had been based.
In short, the tail Of the comet was
found to be formed in great sweep
ing curve, which caused 1t TO lag be-
hind the head to an eAsent of sever
al millions of miles. These millions
y Of miles. owing to the fact that the
curve could not be seen by the ma
thematicians who made the calcula-
tions, were left out of account, and
the time of contact was therefore
predicted by many hours in advarce.
But that is not all. dalley's cor {
has played gigantic trick On the
entire astronomical world and it is
now by no means certain that the
earth has passed or will pass through
the tail at ell.
From the leading astronomers of
the United States, from the directors
of the largest observatories, from the
most expert star gazers in the world
comes a grist of opinions which clash
like contrary winds
Professor Jacoby of Columbia says
that he doesn't know whether the
earth has made that long-ex2ected
and surely predicted passage, but that
he feels certain that il the passage
did not take place Wednesday night
1t never will take place
Professor H. N Russell of Prince
ton stakes his professional reputation
on the prediction that this planet will
sweep through the tail this morning.
The best talent they have at the
Harvard Observatory is cautious in
making positive statements Harvard
hazards the opinion that the passage
through the tail viii take place many
hours later than the transit of the
head across the suns disk-if it takes
place at all Professor E. A. Faith of
Mount Vernon says frankly that he
does not know whether the earth has
passed or will pass trough the tail,
and more than that, does not believe
that there is any known way of ascer,
tanning.
Professor Borgmeyer or st. Louis
declares positively that the passage
mas not occurred and that 1t will new
ef occur. at least on the present visit
OF the comet. Professor George e.
hale, director of the Carnegie Obser-
vatory at Mount Wilson, declines to
say what he thinks about the prob
spiilties, but explains the great cos
mic fiasco of Wednesday night by the
presence In the tail of the tremend-
Gus curve, invisible to observers on
the earth because of the fact that the
lail Itself is in the same plane as the
earth.
Ihat the earth already has passed
through the tail at some time is the
last twenty-four hours is the mature
opinion Of Professor Elkin of Yale.
Wnlle Professor Innes of the obserya-
.ofy at johannesburg is just as pos
i'se IN the opposite conviction.
we have not passed through the
.ail' says Professor Innes, and we
WI not pass through it,
= AT Yerkes Observatory Professor
.ios', Barnard and others, who were
e.', sae nrst to observe that the comet
1a,ll ,n was in the east yesterday morn
~. s When, according to the calcula.
IONS, IT should have been already IN
~ ~ west, think that the earth took
nss ~ iong expected dip through the
spu'ous appendage last night Al.
oush these astronomers were free