The Crack of Doom

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!


On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


Shall we confess it ? We have been badly frightened. Mr. D. T. Taylor, of Rouse's Point, is the man who has done it. The means employed is a small pamphlet, entitled the "Coming Earthquake and its Approach." This pamphlet quotes from the following sources: the Bible, the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, Mungo Ponton's "History of Earthquakes," Herodotus, Mallet, Ansti'd, M. Ah xis Perey, Professor Merriam, Humboldt, " The American Naturalist," the New York Tribune, the Sun, Dr. Burnet, Harpers? Magazine, Chambers' Journal, " Pollock's Course ot Time," Darwin, " Wells' Geology," the hymns of Thomas of Celano, Luther, Wesley, and many others. Nearly all the religious periodicals and papers of the day are also quoted with some dozens of "eye witnesses" of earthquakes in different parts of the world. In so small a pamphlet these quotationsdeave little room for much original remark ; but we gather that the writer expects the world to be brought to judgment very shortly, and that the day of judgment is to bo ushered in by an earthquake of rather unprecedented extent and power. We did not feel at all terrified while penning the numerous passages quoted from our pages by Mr. Taylor, but we confess that their reperusal has caused us much trepidation. It does not detract from this fear, that the world has been so near its end many times before, and has always failed, as yet, to " come to time." If no quotation had been made from our own uritings, we should have remained unperturbed; but it seems we have committed ourselves to the " coming earthquake," and we cannot " go back " on our own statements. We are bound to be scared, and we are scared accordingly. The " coming man" is debarred from putting in an'appearance. The coming earthquake will get here before him, and Parton will turn out a false prophet. How this announcement will affect t"ie price of gold we cannot predict, but those not in the ring had better stand from under.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 21 Issue 21This article was published with the title “The Crack of Doom” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 21 No. 21 (), p. 330
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican11201869-330

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe