THE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH — NOVEMBER 9, 1919
END OF THE WORLD.
TREMENDOUS WORLD CATASTROPHE TO HAPPEN ON DEC. 17? ♢ Professor Porta Insists That the Peculiar Grouping of the Planets Next Month Will Produce a Gigantic Sun Spot Which Will Explode the Earth’s Volcanoes, Shake Us with Earthquakes and Bury Us with Floods, but the Government Scientists Explain Why All This Is Not Likely to Happen
ON December 17 An unusual grouping of planets occurs in the heavens. On this much all astronomer agree—that there will be an unusual and over-balanced collection of powerful planetary bodies grouped on one side of the sun.
Professor Albert F. Porta asserts with great conviction that this unusual planetary situation will pull forth from the sun the mightiest sun-spot or explosion of gases ever known to man, and that our unfortunate planet, the earth, as an innocent bystander, will receive the full force of this solar cataclysm. Staggering under this blow, Professor Porta predicts a disturbance on the earth without precedent or parallel, with hurricanes, lightning, colossal rains, gigantic lava eruptions, great earthquakes, floods, and fearful cold.
Professor Ports’s predictions have attracted a good deal of attention and have brought many anxious inquiries to the Government astronomers in Washington and to the scientists in various State and college observatories. While all astronomers agree with Professor Porta as to the unusual planetary situation in the heavens next month, they do not admit that the consequences will be as he predicts. On this
