1874—

Coggia’s Comet. This Comet was seen at its brightest over Southern France and Spain during the Summer months of that year. Spain was then in the throes of the bloody Carlist War.

Garfield’s Comet.
1881—

Garfield’s Comet. This Comet showed itself for a few nights only in March during the week following President Garfield’s inauguration. It was observed also in Russia. On March 13, Emperor Alexander II. of Russia, was assassinated with a bomb. Three months later President Garfield was assassinated in Washington.

War Comets.
1882—

Comet of Tel-el-Kebir. A Comet with two tails was seen at its brightest over Egypt during the first two weeks of September. Egypt was then in the midst of Arabi Pasha’s uprising against the British. On September 18, when the Comet was last seen, Arabi Pasha was overthrown by General Wolseley in the bloody battle of Tel-el-Kebir.

1904-5—

Manchurian War Comet. From the early part of February, 1904, until Midsummer, 1905, Chinese observers recorded the appearance of a Comet over Northern China. Throughout that period Manchuria was ravaged by the bloody war between the Japanese and Russians.

Earthquake Comets.
1906—

San Francisco Comet. A Comet discovered by Ross on March 17, remaining visible for one month. Observed from the Lick Observatory in California. On April 17 came the California earthquake and burning of San Francisco.

1908—

Morehouse’s Comet. Visible for more than a month, during the autumn. In Italy it was interpreted afterward as an omen foreboding the Messina earthquake late in the year.

This Year’s Comets.
1910—

Inness’ Comet, otherwise known as “1910 A”. An unexpected Comet of short duration during January. On the appearance of this Comet Madame de Thebes, a French astrologer, predicted floods and general disaster for France. The disappearance of the Comet in France was followed by unprecedented rains and floods which covered one-fourth of France with water and inundated Paris, completely submerging all the bridges over the Seine. Floods also in Italy and Germany. This Comet was likewise observed in China late in January, where it caused universal consternation.

1910—

Pidoux’s Comet. Another unexpected Comet was first observed by Pidoux, in Geneva, during a few nights late in February. It is recorded astronomically as “1910 B”. Its fleeting observations by astronomers were followed by Socialist franchise riots in Germany and by the labour riots of Philadelphia, with widespread bloodshed between the rioters and the constabulary.

1910—

Halley’s Comet of this year was first “picked up” by Dr. Wolf, in Germany. Already various astrologers have foretold disaster from its coming. It remains to be seen whether their predictions will come true.

THE GREAT COMET OF 1882,
ON OCTOBER 9, AT 4 A. M.

HALLEY’S BALEFUL COMET

Among all the stars known in astronomy, the periodically returning Comet now known as Halley’s Comet has the most baleful record.

In this Comet’s wake, after every one of its recorded appearances, there have always followed terrible disasters.

Not only war and battles, or other deeds of bloodshed, such as massacres and murders, but each of the dread disasters that are held to go with Comets have followed along one after the other in this Comet’s train.

Of the eight baneful after-effects of Comets mentioned in the old German ditty that has been sung in the Fatherland ever since the great Comet which ushered in the dreadful Thirty Years’ War,

“Wind, Famine, Plague and Death to Kings

War, Earthquakes, Floods and Dire Things.”