Year: 1874

An Astronomers Prediction OF Earfh.
quakes, Volcanic Eruptions, &c.-Fcar-
fuI Tornado In New Jersey.


The comet which now blazes out so conspcu.
ousy In the heavens must continue for some time
TO be an absorbing subject and as 1t approaches
nearer the earth and increases in luminosity timid
people will begin to fear that 1t will come IN COL
sion with the earth while crossing our orbit. The
idea has already Deen put forth that such a meet
ing may possibly take place, and 1t may be said
that on every occasion when these ftlul wanderers
have appeared, while waitzing close round the
sun, predictions were made that a collision would
occur between the planet we inhablt and the
comet. When ali the facts which the whole his
tory Of astronomy has been able TO furnish
iai TO give us any certain knowledge from
whence comets come and whittier they
go, II is not surprising that the multitude
has often been disturbed with anxiety
amounting to terror in view Of the fiery appear
ance, amazing size and rapid motion with which
they SOM times appear. Yet there Is nothing IN
their history, extending over 1000 years. to ndi-
cate that there is the slightest Of fear There
Is no evidence that the earth has ever been dis
turbed in the slightest degree by any OF them
But although it Is quite likely that If a comet
should come near enough 1t might be absorbed and
mingled with the atmosphere, yet the suppOsition
that injury would be the result is without founda
tion. 1t is quite as likely that the largest comet
would not affect us, and 1t Is not Improbable that
we have already run into several Of them without
knowing it. There is so little actual substance In
the whole apparatus of comet that If it COM
pressed under the powerful pressure OF our atmos-
phere it might tail and al! be placed IN a common
snuIf box, and 1t Is almost sale to that they
as harmless as rainbow. In ancient times
comets were looked upon as SO many hells let
situdes OF heat and cold, and they are still looked
upon by persons Of weak minds as the precursors
OF war, famine and pestilence.


AN ASTRONOMERS PREDICTION.


The comet OF 1885 approached to within u, 900
miles OF the earth, or about one-seventh OF our
rom the end of September TO the middle OF
October. Lieutenant Morrison, OF the English
navy, published an interesting work one year be-
lore its appearance. He contended that its electric
and attractive powers would have very serious
effect upon the earth's atmosphere in producing
canic eruptions and epidemic diseases. In sup
port OF this theory he referred to the different APP
that IN comet years these phencnena prevailed
to great extent. The warmth "a the winter ana
the violent winds in 1884, as well as the great heat
OF summer. were attributed to the ap-
preaching visitor. Lieutenant Morrison pre-.
dicted that the summer Of 1885 would be marked
for its intense heat. which would destroy harvests
In many parts Of the world, and that the year
would be noted for earthquakes and volcanic
1S36-37 would be colder than any in the preceding
fifty years. Morrison, who was an astronomer OF
good standing, stated as his conviction that II





with electricity there was any internal cavity OF
the earth containing sulphur deficient of that
our planet at that spot. This ne supposed to have
been the case IN the fifteenth century, when
the sudden rendng OF the earth near
Naples destroyed 10000 persons 1t is certain
that destructive ravages by awful visitatOns OF
nature occurred In south America during the year.
In June New Jersey was visited by two tornadOes,
extending as far west as the Delaware River. The
clouds moved IN TWO opposite directions, and then
@ cone or pillar appeared to descend from the
c1Onla and meet another of q similar aDDearaQc0
ascending from the earth. The tornado assumed
very dark and dense appearance and expanded
into a smoky and fiery aspect. The clouds moved IN
opposite directions, the central pipe or pillar be-
ing visible. In the vicinity OF New Brunswick
about 200 houses were blown down and over 100
persons killed and wounded.


THE GREAT COMET OF 1S43


was one OF the most remarkable known IN history
for it's physical pecuiiaities. 1t first became visl
BILE, according to newspaper reports, in Massa-
chusetts in broad gay nght, and for some Time
suddenly across the heavens for space OF more
than fifty degrees, was mistaken, even by astron-
position was maintained until both phenomena
became visible at once, at the same time, and
wrought conviction. The comet was visible in the
United States on the 1st of Marcn, but 1t was not
until eighteen days afterwards that Hersche no
ticed its progress in England. or all comets on
record, whose elements have been computed, that
Of 1843 approached nearest to the sun, except the
great comet OF 1850. The latter came within SOC, 900
miles OF the SUMS centre the former within 100000
miles. When it is considered that the suns sur.
face Is 10000 miles from It's centre We nnd that
UOtu apprOacncu muCn nearer 10 tne sun 3 SURFACE
than the surface is to the centre. The comet OF
1885 seems to have come In contact with the per-
manent part OF the SUMS atmosphere and to have
been 80 much resisted in its course as to pass of
In path prolonged backwards which led to the
opinion that 1t was absorbed by that uminary. The
contrary, however, was the case. 1t travelled
away into space with increased rapidlty. The heat
OF the sun, when the two comets were each at the
nearest point, must have been 1000 times hotter
than red hot iron. No substance with which we
are acquainted could have endured such heat.


ASTRONOMERS HAVE DwELT WITH AsTONIsHMENT
nn{1 vuit1, r,Sn non
whrled round the sun at the instant OF It's peri
heliOn passage. This was such that II continued
one day. The comet OF 1s43 would have gone i've
times round the sun in the same time. In fact it
went half round IN four hours. 1t Is calculated
that the nearest point that the comet now blazing
in the armament will reach the sun will be about
distance OF 67.ooo,ooO miles, but every day
danger to be apprehended on our part Every.
thing about our system Is in equilibrium and har
mony with law. There is nowhere any tendency
to disorder. Consequently while the grand phe-
nOmenon remains visible our wonder and admira
ton OF the economy OF the heavens may nnd full
scope in contemplating 1t without allowing any
sense OF fear to trouble our minds


COMETS IN ANCIENT TINES.


The history of some or the more brilliant Of these
visitors must be interesting, such as the comet
that appeared 81 years before Christ OF very great
magnitude and accompanied by an earthquake,
the comets influence. In 2Os b. u. comet was
seen Of such size as to extend across the whole
sky. In this case the earth does not seem to have
which IS described as red and fiery and as large
and as bright as the sun. In g B. Q. comet ap-
peared sufficiently bright to be seen plainly In
the daytime In the year 253 A. d. u comet was
seen, the tail OF which extended over about one
third OF the sky In 400 one appeared in the shape
OF sword The shape, OF course, added TO its
awful import. But still the earth and its in
habitants travelled on having more cause to fear
swords within reach than their beautiful visitor
in the heavens. In $50 another great comet was
seen, extending nearly the entire distance from
east to west And so on every few years down to
the present time these blazing torches appe ared in
the SKY. objects for study and admiration and OF
much causeless fear.