The Man Who Rocked the Earth | Page 8

of the globe.
Calculations based on the time of arrival of this disturbance at widely separated points
show that it proceeded with the velocity of sound from a point situated probably in
Northern Labrador. The maximum rise of pressure recorded was registered at Halifax, the
self-recording barographs showing that the pressure rose over six centimetres in less than
five minutes.
5. SHIFT IN DIRECTION OF THE EARTH'S AXIS. The axis of the earth has been
shifted in space by the disturbance and now points almost exactly toward the double star
Delta Ursæ Minoris. This change appears to have resulted from the circumstance that the
force was applied to the surface of the globe in a direction not quite parallel to the
direction of rotation, the result being the development of a new axis and a shift in the
positions of the poles, which it will now be necessary to rediscover.
It appears that these most remarkable cosmic phenomena can be explained in either of
two ways: they may have resulted from an explosive or volcanic discharge from the
surface of the earth, or from the oblique impact of a meteoric stream moving at a very
high velocity. It seems unlikely that sufficient energy to bring about the observed changes
could have been developed by a volcanic disturbance of the ordinary type; but if
radioactive forces are allowed to come into play the amount of energy available is
practically unlimited.

It is difficult, however, to conceive of any way in which a sudden liberation of atomic
energy could have been brought about by any terrestrial agency; so that the first theory,
though able to account for the facts, seems to be the less tenable of the two. The meteoric
theory offers no especial difficulty. The energy delivered by a comparatively small mass
of finely divided matter, moving at a velocity of several hundred kilometres a
second--and such a velocity is by no means unknown--would be amply sufficient to alter
the velocity of rotation by the small amount observed.
Moreover, the impact of such a meteoric stream may have developed a temperature
sufficiently high to bring about radioactive changes, the effect of which would be to
expel helium and other disintegration products at cathode-ray
velocity--(Kathoden-Strahlen-Fortpflanzung-Geschwindigkeit)--from the surface of the
earth; and the recoil exerted by this expulsion would add itself to the force of the
meteoric impact.
The presence of helium makes this latter hypothesis not altogether improbable, while the
atmospheric wave of pressure would result at once from the disruption of the air by the
passage of the meteor stream through it. Exploration of the region in which it seems
probable that the disturbance took place will undoubtedly furnish the data necessary for
the complete solution of the problem." [Pp. 17-19.]

V
At ten o'clock one evening, shortly after the occurrences heretofore described, an
extraordinary conference occurred at the White House, probably the most remarkable
ever held there or elsewhere. At the long table at which the cabinet meetings took place
sat six gentlemen in evening dress, each trying to appear unconcerned, if not amused. At
the head of the table was the President of the United States; next to him Count von
Koenitz, the German Ambassador, representing the Imperial[1] German Commissioners,
who had taken over the reins of the German Government after the abdication of the
Kaiser; and, on the opposite side, Monsieur Emil Liban, Prince Rostoloff, and Sir John
Smith, the respective ambassadors of France, Russia, and Great Britain. The sixth person
was Thornton, the astronomer.
[Footnote 1: The Germans were unwilling to surrender the use of the words "Empire" and
"Imperial," even after they had adopted a republican form of government.]
The President had only succeeded in bringing this conference about after the greatest
effort and the most skilful diplomacy--in view of the extreme importance which, he
assured them all, he attached to the matters which he desired to lay before them. Only for
this reason had the ambassadors of warring nations consented to meet--unofficially as it
were.
"With great respect, your Excellency," said Count von Koenitz, "the matter is
preposterous--as much so as a fairy tale by Grimm! This wireless operator of whom you
speak is lying about these messages. If he received them at all--a fact which hangs solely

upon his word--he received them after and not before the phenomena recorded."
The President shook his head. "That might hold true of the first message--the one
received July 19th," said he, "but the second message, foretelling the lengthening of July
27th, was delivered on that day, and was in my hands before the disturbances occurred."
Von Koenitz fingered his moustache and shrugged his shoulders. It was clear that he
regarded the whole affair as absurd, undignified.
Monsieur Liban turned impatiently from him.
"Your Excellency," he said, addressing the