Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-08
SCIENTIST FINDS
SECRETS OF SKY
DANISH ASTRONOMER BUILDS
WONDERFUL TELESCOPE
HALLEYs COMET SEEN MANY
MONTHS AGO
Noted Investigator of Celestial Bodies
Declares Fiery Sky Visitor Headed
Directly Toward the Earth
and Los Angeles
rspeclal to The Herald ]

AZTEC, n. M, Jan. 7.--Antonia Race,
an educated Navajo Indian, arrived
here from the reservation last evening
with startling intelligence regarding
the Investigations which have been
conducted secretly for several months
by an astronomer who has constructed
an observatory on the top of Ship Rock,
one of the most conspicuous landmarks
in the southwest.
Less than two years ago a man Civ
ing the name of Hans Georg FIR. Mel
son visited the Navajo reservation in
quest, he said, of a favorable location,
as fas as possible from the haunts of
civilized mon, for astronomical re-
search. The things most desired, he
stated, were altitude and a clear at
mosphere, in both of which this re-
gion abounds.
To the editor of the Aztec Ruin, a
paper published at Casa Bonita, sup
posed by archaeologists to have been
one of the famed Seven Cities of Cibola,
he confided the fact that he occupied
the post Of first assistant to the Dan
ish royal astronomer at Copenhagen,
but wished to live in the mountain
country incognito in order that he
might conduct certain astronomical re-
searches without molestation.
After passing about two weeks in
this part of the territory he disap-
peared. Early in July, 1908, he returned
overland from Gallup, n. NJ, by way
of Canyon del Muerto and Canyon del
Chelly, accompanied by a big pack
train bearing vast quantity Of what
proved to be scientific instruments and
paraphernalia. Within three months
after his arrival there was completed
on the very summit of Ship Rock, but
invisible from any point on the sur
rounding plateau, an observatory
which, while exteriorly crude, is said
to rival in equipment the greatest in
the world.
Has but One confdant
Since establishing his station Prof.
Nelson has taken but one man in New
Mexico into his confidence. He is DR..
Michael de la SauerWein, a pioneer
physician who knows how to preserve
any seal placed on his lips under ordin-
airy circumstances, and especially when
pledged TO secrecy. But it is now evil
dent that Prof. Nelson has lifted the
embargo. if any had been placed on
Dr. de la Sauerwein's powers of de-
scription, for a few days ago the lat
ter, in conversation with your staff
correspondent here, admitted he had
seen, in the mysterious observatory on
Ship Rocks almost inaccessible sum
ever had beheld.
prof. Nielsen certainly must be one
Of the worlds greatest scientists,
whether the world is in ignorance of
the fact or not" declared DR.. de Ia
Sauerwein. land when the truth about
his researches becomes known scien
tific circles will be fairly stunned. 1t is
true he has a telescope mean the
Conventional instrument-in his observ-
atOry, but he uses it, he tells me, for
nothing except the most ordinary work.
He has perfected and at Ship Rock has
in operation q maze of mirrors, con-
cave, convex, round, oval-everything
conceivable in the mirror line, should
say.
"These are arranged in two circles, |
one above the other, the diameter Of
the upper circle being, I should say, |
not less than eighteen, possibly twenty, |
feet This circle of mirrors, every one
of which is mounted on a small plat |
form operated by what appears to be
clockwork. is about seven feet above
the circle below, which is about twelve
feet in diameter.
I'm the center of the circle, face up
ward, about n foot below the level of
the lower circle, is a mirror made from