New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-19

presence OF the police and went 70 their
homes.
Professor Harold Jacoby. Rutherfuro
professor OF astronomy at Columbia UNI
versitr. went TO Riverside Drive ano
18th street. at 10: 80 to watch for aurora
luminous rays, shooting stars or any
ether evidences that the earth was with
IN the tail Of the comet. he was accom-
named by 5, number Of friends and news
naper reporters The crowds that had
been gathering along the drive through
out the evening made walking there quite
task and :he police were busy keeping
the crowds moving.
At 5I:2e O'Clock Professor Jacopy salo
that by the most careful calculations
made BY scientists, the earth must fheii
he about half way through the tail Inc
rirbt was very clear, but there was no
sign Of anything unusual. and no ceies-
risI phenomena discernible.
The professor declared that he did not
believe anything would be seen until To-
night. lust after SHUTDOWN. and for sew
,rsI nights after that at the same hour
: when the tail of the comet should be Wis
ible above the horizon as soon as suffl-
cient darkness had settled on the earlh
20 make the tail shine out The head OF
The comet VIII set before the sun each
night. and the tail viii be visible until
il fades away out OF sight of any por-
zion OF the earth.
The estimated speed at which the
comet and the earth are travelling apart
is forty-three miles q second. The earth
travels eighteen miles a second and the
comet twenty-five Thus they are going
away from each other at the rate of
$50 miles a minute. In other words,
the distance between New fork ana
Chicago would he covered in about hair
minute at that speed
Ia 1855. said Professor Jacoby, photog-
rap.4v was not invented, so that no pct
ures OF Halley's comet could be secured
an its last appearance. Although the
tail is supposed TO be gradually dimin-
ishirg in size, the records secured at
that time show the tail 70 have shrunken
hut little so that even if the comets tail
is growing smaller the diminution is
going on very slowly.
Brooklyn Disappointed, Too.
Most Ct the buildings, public and pri-
waite in Brooklyn last night and even
into the morning had groups of comet
=azers on their roofs. Disappointment
was their lot, though few of them could
Aer what they really had expected TO
sec Those who had read something
about the comet kept their eyes in the
direction Of the light upheld by the
Statue Of Liberty, while others scanned
the horizon. noting the lights shining
from river craft Anything luminous in
The sky or along the horizon line at
1racted attention.
Members OF the Union League Club.
in Grant Square and of the Hamilton
Club. in Pierrepont street, spent an hour
on The roofs Of the clubs. The observa-
tory OF the Institute Of Arts and Sciences
on top Of the Brooklyn Academy OF
Music was deserted, the professors hav-
ing concluded that there was nothing TO
zee last night. Some Poly boys, stu
dents Of Brooklyn College. on Crown
Heights: those Of Adelphi College. of
Pratt Institute and of Erasmus High
School in F1atbush. also did some long
SKY gazing. but none was dazzied by any
strange or unusual luminosity in the
sky.
Hotels Put on FriIs.
Most Of the larger hotels of the city
prepared to receive. the expected heav-
only visitor. There are SO many sorts
% people in New York hotels that there
ere bound 10 be some interested in about
anything. With some il was a genuine
interest: with others il was pastime,
something to help while away the time.
You'd be surprised though" said one
clerk. TO know how many people are
talking about the old comet. Why one
man here buys every edition of every
morning and afternoon paper, and has
been going up Oh the roof even In the
daytime We have had plenty Of them
up al nights 10 take look but so far
believe that lis 2 hit or miss game
with most Of Them. Me? No. I think
IN wait seventy-five years and perhaps
i; viii come at a more decent hour"
The Manhattan had a fifteen-foot tele-
scope out Tor the benefit of its guests
and tables spread with things to eat and
drink- The Waldorf also secured a tele-
scope and mounted ii on the roof Of The
hotel where hundreds OF guests took 2
peep at the sky. Up AT the Plaza. the
guests had several parties on the roof.
The Enickerbocker made its three flag
towers points % vantage. In the grill
room OF the Astor, Eugene DilIman. a
waiter, had worked clever design pict-
airing The comet AT the Belmont there
was throng on lie roof watching the
stars.
All 81 the big hotels served lunch
o. coffee and tea-and other 'hings-to
drink 10 keep ont the GOODNESS of the
light and 20 :l,o,s.en thr9ats dry with
comet dust.
Gimme = syzygy drink, was the cry
on ali sides Every tine il vas said il
seemed 10 be 50 such 'ldlling" remark