New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-19
NEVER TOUCHED ME-!
EARTH TO COMET
Takes More than a FiImy Tail
to Feaze this StanCh Old
Universe of Ours.
CROWDS ON VANTAGE POINTS
Only Excitement Was in Italian
Quarter, Where Prayers Were
Said-Hotel Throngs Sip
Tea and Things.

Oiu MOtner Edrth went through Lne
tail of HaIey's comet last night. ac-
cording 70 schedule, but she is stiu
going around in the same old circle to-
day as if nothing had happened Moth
ing did happen. so far as ordinary eye
sight could perceive, the passage Of the
celestial bodies not being observable on
this portion Of the terrestrial globe.
All New York seemed to haye turned
out last night to get a view of the
celestial visitor. Those who had fol-
lowed the movements Of the comet as
reported by scientists were out early.
in the hope that before the comets tail
had sunk beneath the horizon shortly
after s O'Clock it might be visible. There
was thick haze over the Jersey shore,
however. and nothing could be, seen
This did not cause any one 20 go home.
however. and the crowds still stayed out.
in the hope that at the time the earth
entered the filmy haze which constituted
the caudaI appendage the shock would
be so great that a reflection might be
seen even in this latitude.
Comet parties were in order in all pOr-
tions of the city, and the members OF the
Excuse Club had brand new reason TO
explain their continued absence from
home. Points of vantage all over the
city were crowded. and even along the
streets the refrain Of one OF the late
popular songs was changed into Has
any one here seen HaIIey's?"
Young men and young women took ad-
vantage of the expected coming Of the
comet 20 walk abroad in places best suit
ed for whispering soft words. but every
one who wanted TO see the comet either
climbed to the highest roof within reach
or went out in the open spaces which
commanded broad views.
Various Kinds OF Thirst
The general thirst for knowledge OF
the phenomenon expected in the heavens
did not by any means cause an abate-
ment of the thirst for earthly liquids
Comet cocktails had the first call. natu-
rally. and the syzygy drink was close
second. These were flmy connections
which appeared TO produce considerable
satisfaction among those who had vainly
watched and waited TO satisfy their eyes
with the va2or stretched millions Of
miles through space
The solids. too. were in considerable
demand along Broadway. and indeed
throughout all the restaurant districts
of the city. The feminine portion of the
diners who crowded the lobster palaces
were CARRIED in raiment as flny in ap-
pearance as is said to be the portion of
the comet which all sought TO see last
night. and as the fair wearers passed
along they attracted comment more
favorable than any which HaIIey's dis
covery could ever hope 70 have show
cred upon it.
The comet was fixed as the limit by
many parties who assembled around
tables with painted s1ps Of paper in
their hands and varicolOred disks at
their elbows to tempt Dame Fortune in
play
AS the night Wore on and nothing in
the heavens showed different from what
may be seen on almost any other night
in the year, the crowds wendell their
ways homeward. disappointed. but de-
termined TO keep ward and watch on
Friday and Saturday evenings. when it
is promised that a better opportunity
will be offered to see the nebulous Wis
itor which dropped below the horizon too
early last night TO allow the many
watchers even a glimpse of it's fiery ap-
pendage-
Alarms were not wanting in many
parts of the city as a result of the ex-
pected visit. Persons imagined they
saw signs Of the comet everywhere In
the Italian quarter the fear was per-
haps greater than in any other section
for the people there had heard from
childhood of the prayer now three cen
turies old: "Oh Lord. deliver US from
the devil. the Turk and the comet" and
repeated the portions of it applicable 20
Joker ssirs Up Italians.
The first part of the city TO show ex-
element which had been growing for
some DAYS was the neighbOrhOod of Mul-
berry street About twenty persons were
standing at Mulberry and BroOme streets
looking skyward when they saw a round
ball of FIRE appear from behind a cloud.
as ii seemed TO them. and descend grad
uaIiv toward the earth. The ball seemed
10 burst and several smaller fires started
toward the earth at increased speed.
while the witnesses Of the terrifying
phenomenon yelled and knelt and prayed
Meantime others were attracted To the
spot and all believed that the fire from
heaven was descending TO destroy the
pitv Finally the fiery ball fell TO the
earth and it was found 10 be fire bal
loon. The. police from the Mulberry
street station were called TO dispense the
big crowd that fed to che street at the
rau of the frightened men who saw the
fire in the sky
This was not the only call for police
in that district About $50 p m. as
Policeman Kirk was standing near the
old ST. Patricl's Cathedral. in Mott
street. he heard the sound of chanting
coming toward him. He recognized the
chant as that of the Litany of the
Blessed Virgin. and soon saw long
procession of little Italian children. the
girls dressed in white over a hundred
adults walked behind the children. bare
headed and reverently singing.
A number OF Italian men were at the
head OF the procession. They waved the
policeman aside when he sought TO find
the reason for the gathering. and
pointed to the sky. Kirk let the pro-
.essiOn go by and sent In a call for re-