The San Francisco call., 1910-05-19
DISSERTATIONS MADE
WITH AID OF BALLOON

ST LOUIS May 1s.-Professor.
George o. James, astronomer at Wash
ington university. accompanied by
John Berry, a veteran pilot, ascended
in the balloon st. Louis Ill, at $50
o'clock tonight to make observations
during the transit of Halley's comet
across the face of the sun.
The purpose of the expedition Is to
determine if possible. what effect the
passage of the earth through a comets
tail has on atmospheric conditions and
to observe possible meteorite showers.
The balloon took northeasterly
course in a light breeze and soon was
out of sight.
In the basket of the balloon. Pro-
fessor James has provided an aneroid
barometer, a sensitive termometer
and finder for his telescope.
Just before the ascension, Professor
James announced that a landing would
be attempted about midnight.
Feared a Tidal Wave
DULUTH, Mimi, May 1S.--A tempo
rary general exodus took place today
from Minnesota point, a long and mar
row strip Of land, containing the homes
of several thousand people, located be-
tween the finger of Lake Superior and
St. Louis bay, reaching between Duluth
and Superior, Wis. Residents of the
point district have read with misgiy-
ings the reports of the approach of
Halley's comet. The more timid de-
clare that the point. situated at the
apex of Lake Superior, and not more
than a dozen feet above sea level,
would easily he submerged should the
comet drag tidal wave up the lake
and sweep on into st. Louis bay.
Lightning Rods Removed
NEENAH Wis, May 1s.-Fearful
that the rods might attract dangerous
substances that might accompany the
comet today. many farmers in this vi
cinity removed the lightning rods from
their homes and barns and took other
extra precautions.
Wireless Not Affected
SEATTLE, Wash, May 1S.-At the To-
cal headquarters of the United States
army signal corps, which has charge of
the government cable to Alaska and
severale wireless stations in the north
ern territory, 1t was said tonight that
the passage of the earth through the
comets tail has had no effect on the
operation of the cable system or the
wireless stations.
The Alaska cable and the wireless
stations in the far north respond read
lily to outside interference.
Last fall when Mars was compare
lively close to the earth great diff
Guilty was experienced in operating the
cable and the wireless. Tonight, how
ever, there has been no interruption,
the signals being clearer than usual
Wireless Working Well
LOS ANGELES. May 1s.-Contrary to
expectations, the passing of Halleys
comet has not interfered in the slight
est with the workings Of wireless tele-
graphy up to tonight.
Local stations report that the wire
less worked better than usual last
night and today. Nine ships reported
their positions, and one of rnem-the
big liner Manchuria-was far across
the Pacific.
Since Monday morning all wireless
operators throughout the country have
been watching for unusual phenomena
in connection with the comet at the
request of the hydrogaphic office of
the government.
Scientists expected electric magnetic
disturbances which would affect wire
less telegraph instruments as the comet
appeared, but these have not occurred.
Viewed From Skyscraper
Special Dispatch to The Call
STOCKTON, May 1S.-Members of the
Yosemite club assembled on the roof
garden of the eight story Stockton
Savings and Loan society bank building
tonight to witness Halley's comet.
The committee in charge of arrange
ments for the comet party sent out
artistically arranged invitations show
ing Halley's comet and Venus gliding
over the local flour mills. The invita-
tion read
Whereas, in order that the mem
bers of the Yosemite club may be
asphyxiated by the various gases
1frfr an1 in tl1n fa5I NJ To 1caxrt