Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-19
COMET HUNTER
IS KIDNAPPED BY
PRINCETON MEN
Eight Hundred Students Raid
Observatory and Create
Reign of Terror.
Especial to the Newark star.

PRINCETON, May 1~9.-Zaccheus
Daniel, the only without the
title of professor" tackled to his name,
was Kidnapped at midnight When 500
comet-crazed students stormed the OBJ
servatory here and compelled him to
make W speeches.
1t was a great night for Princeton.
The demonstration started right after
the senior singing, and plunged the
timorous among the townsfolk into ter
ror. Well it might, for the uproar
sounded like the breaking up of a boiler
factory or a million cook stoves falling
from the milky way.
1t began on the campus with the
firing of every shotgun and revolver
that could be scared up within the col
lege precincts, then to the music of four
drums, a bugle AMI two flies the
"peerade," as they call it at Prince
ton. started. 1t was the biggest
"~peerade" ever got together in the col
lege history. In it were youths in bath
robes, paJamas and anything else that
seemed appropriate costume for comet
gazing.
The parade deployed on the lawn in
front OF the observatory, yelling zach.
$4,000 w vail 1dNas LIN tlltilJ oCCltN5
no lights about the place, it was de-
cided to take 1t by storm. Three stu
dents formed a human ladder against
the wall and several lightweights
Skinned up them to the platform lead
Ing TO the dome.
Find Zach and bring him out" were
the orders, but no Zach being found
they muse themselves by squirting
through the telescope and working the
lone machinery. Suddenly Zach"
who had yentured out of hiding to
make sure no damage was done to his
beloved instruments, was spied. In
stantly the mob fell IN him and hois'e
him shoulder high.
speech, speech, speech" they yelled,
while roman candles flared and the
band played furlously.
Despite his p~leadings, the astronomer
was borne off amid a meteor shower CT
remarks. Straight across the campus
they took him to President Wilson'S
house. This time the marching song
was:
Comet, comet, you've got no tail,
What the Haley do we care!
What the HALEY do we care."
In front of President Wilson'S house.
that dignitary. not appearing in re"
Spouse to insistent demands. the stu
dents again forced Zach" to make a
speech.
why aren't we dead yelled one.
Because we are alive" replied The
astronomer. and with that they let him
escape. The ''peerade' kept ON till
nearly midnight. when it broke up from
sheer exhaustion.
This town went comet crazy last
night and there was no sleep for the
just. even had the latter felt inclined
for it, which incidentally they did not.
Even the horses attached to the
Princeton hacks or catboats. as they
are called here, looked additionally de-
jected at the prospect. These aged
nags are all trained to Ike music and
prick up their ears when the senior
singers start.
The Bwana Tumbo of all comet hunt
ers is Zaccheus Daniel who la tracked
to their aeriel lairs half a dozen or
more OF these sky spring-Boks. He
spent the night on the flying bridge of
the observatory on Prospect avenue
watching for phenomena that didn't
enie. At the risk OF assassination, it
nay be said conditions were cometose.