Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-19
Chicago, May 1s-A splendid
View Of the tail Of tho comet was
enjoyed hero early this morning.
It was exceedingly brilliant and
much brighter than tho milky
way.


well toward evening, the earth and the
tail OF Halley's comet will rush hurt
ling together in space with q velocity
inconceivably greater than the speed
Of an projectile.
From the moment OF contact and for
a period Of several hours the globe
will cleave its way at speed Of ap-
through. the gaseous mass that Is sup-
posed to be the main constituent or the
comets tail.
Nobody can say how tho earth will
| emerge from this formidable bath.
So far as even the most learned as
tronomer knows, the earth has had no
similar experience in the past. The
theory Is generally held among scien-
lists that the earth did pass through
possibility was not foreseen at the
time and the only phenomenon which
was observed was slight, phosphor-
escent, broadly diffused glow In the
heavens.
Matter Of Speculation.
This was observed during the whole
| Of one night and bold speculators aft
erward hazarded the explanation
which since has been accepted. But
pected, nothing was added to the
scientific knowledge concerning COM
| cts, nor was the assumption verified.
This being true, the interest in the
passage Of Halley's comet today II
without parallel In the history Of tho
world. Foreseeing that the liveliest
apprehensions might be entertained
hopeful bulletins from time to time.
assuring the public that no catas-
trophe will attend the transit.
! It Is three-quarters Of q century
since Halley's wonderful comet has
disturbed the mental quietude Of hui
manity and has aroused astronomers
| to a fever heat Of scientific excite-
ment. While people all over the world
will be talking about the comet, sniff
looking for meteors, the greatest spec
ialists in the science Of astronomy will
be testing the influence Of the celes-
tia1 visitor at all corners of the world.
Every continent on the earth holds q
group Of astronomers who will main
tain vigil at their instruments for
the next twenty-four to forty-etght
hours.
| At the end Of that time the scien-
tif1c world may have scored one Of It's
greatest triumphs in discovery. Half
a dozen astronomers may have Inn
mortalized themselves. and the world
may never have to fear another comet.
No Fear Felt by Astronomers.
Astronomers from all parts OF the
world have assured the laity that
Halley's comet is harmless celestial
institution. Some grudgingly admit
that there is possibility Of minor
meteoric display at the most; one or
two astronomers have predicted at
mospheric disturbances and storms.
none Of them serious. But, on the
whole, the astronomers and scientists
who have spent their lives In studying
comets, stars and other heavenly
bodies speak lightly Of the comet.
The rarity of the substances COM
posing the tail was given expression
yesterday by Prof. S. A. Mitchell Of
Columbia university, who said that
the whole 10000, 900 cubic miles Of the
appendage could be put into wum-
ans handbag If compressed to the
density Of the earth's atmosphere. The
weight Of the entire comet, according
to Professor Mitchell. Is about one
one -hundredth thousand Of that Of the
earth.
Reassuring bulletins were also is
sued yesterday by Director Campbell
Of Lick observatory, ON Mount Ham
ilton, near San Jose, Calf.
"It is true" he said, that comets
are the most mysterious body In the
sky, and many important questions
concerning their origin and constitu-
however, that their tails are so at
tenuated that the most perfect labora-
ory vacuum is extremely dense In COM
parison. 1t is probable that both min
ute solid particles and Isolated gas
|