Prophecy

In 1901, Dr. Keeler wrote to the Danbury News predicting that the world would end in December 1901, based on an upcoming planetary alignment putting Earth on one side of the Sun and all the other known planets lined up on the other side of the Sun, drawing a comparison between this phenomenon and the sky in the `days of Noah'.

Signs in the sky. Planets Will Soon be in Same Position as in Days of Noah.
To the Editor of The News:
Will you permit me to call the attention of the people through your columns to the planets in the western sky about 6 p.m. and the significance of their arrangement. From the time that God said of the sun, moon and stars, ``let them be for signs,'' etc., astronomers, or watchers of the heavens, have observed the appearance of the heavens during great disturbances of the earth, especially in occurrences of great wars, earthquakes, floods, etc. It is a fact that remarkable astronomical phenomena attend all great events on the earth. The New Testament is the authority that points to remarkable manifestations in the heavens attending the event of dispensational change. Every prophecy of God is like an empty vessel waiting to be filled by the occurring of the events to which it refers. The great prophecies of the scripture have a most remarkable feature of ending as they began and this remarkable occurrence is the completion of the cycle, a series of events included in a special interval of time. The Lord Jesus Christ was the last prophet, and in connection with the dispensational change said: (Luke 17-26) ``As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man.'' And the heavens testified by precisely the same contiguity, or approximation of the planets as are now taking place  before our eyes, that the hour of His judgement is at hand. The account of the Noachian deluge is recorded on tablets exhumed from the ancient city of Nineveh and now in the British Museum, London. They state that Capricornus was the ruling sign of the Zodiac at the time of the deluge. Dr. Frank Close, ex-president of the Tacoma Academy of Science, says of the present arrangement ``Just now the planets are [note: the closing quotation mark to Dr. Close's quote is missing in the original] rapidly approaching that position in which the earth will be on one side and the sun and all the rest of the planets on the other, all ranged in nearly a straight line. Beginning on December 9, 1901, until the 26th of the month, the sun and all the planets will be in a direct line; only the earth will be alone at one side of the sun and the end of the line and the rest of the planets on the other side of the sun. The entire solar system, sun and planets, will occupy astronomically the Zodiacal Sign of Capricornus. Terrestrial disturbances, especially earthquakes, are perfectly normal results whenever such a powerful magnetic force as the combined planets is exerted in one single direction against the earth. Looking now any pleasant evening in the western sky about 6 o'clock, from below upward will be seen Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. Mars is just appearing above the horizon to join the company, all the planets approaching Capricornus. It is a sight that will never be witness again in the world's history. It will complete the Planetary Cycle as it was in the days of Noah. It will fulfill the great prophecy as spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ. It will also bear the same testimony as in the days of Noah---``the hour of His Judgement, is at hand;'' (Rev. 14:1-7) and is the most solemn warning to the whole world since the days of Noah. ``Never,'' adds another writer on the same subject, ``in the history of man, stood Adam's posterity on so ominous a threshold!''

Annie K. Bailey

Her prediction was widely reported in publications as far away as Idaho. Puck stated in their Thanksgiving 1901 issue:

The minority who are constitutionally unthankful may, perhaps, find comfort in a bit of news that comes opportunely from Danbury, Connecticut. According to a statement issued by Dr. Annie K. Bailey, one of the best-known women-physicians in that State, who has also delved deep into astronomy, nothing less than the Day of Judgment is coming to quell our worries. From December 9th to the 26th, says this erudite lady, the sun and all the planets will be in a direct line, as they were in the days of Noah and the flood; and ``the heavens testify by precisely the same contiguity or approximation of the planets as are now taking place before our eyes that the hour of His Judgment is at hand.'' Surely the most pessimistic of us may find some cause for joy in this. It is true that either Dr. Bailey's premises or conclusions may be mistaken. In fact we have decided to admit that we suspect they are; and that, on the confident assumption of her error, we shall continue to receive subscriptions to Puck for 1902 just as if nothing were going to happen to take the earth out of commission. But the news is important if true, and we give it in the hope that everybody may find cause of one sort or another to be thankful for on this Day of Thanks. 
---Puck, November 1901

Some people did take the prophecy seriously, and it spawned a practical joke in New Milford, as described in this newspaper article:

New Milford, Conn., Dec. 26---Great excitement prevails here over a practical joke which was perpetrated last night. The best part of the joke is that a large majority of the residents have not the explanation.

It is the general belief that a huge meteorite exploded over the town last night and some who are superstitious have been watching carefully for the end of the world as predicted by Dr. Annie K. Bailey, of Danbury, between December 9 and 26, are looking for more portentous signs.

The whole town was aroused last night by the explosion. It happened about 8:30 o'clock when most people had retired to their homes and all was quiet. Those who were on the street and those who rushed from the houses at the explosion saw a shower of sparks and fiery particles projected in every direction about 300 feet in the air.

The explosion was terrific. People, gathered in groups to discuss the matter and many slept with one eye open, expecting something more terrible to occur.

This morning the matter is still being discussed. But the Publishers' Press reporter, being on the inside, learned that A. L. Conkey, a music dealer, and a few friends knew something of the affair. Further investigation disclosed the fact that Mr. Conkey having a large skyrocket bomb left over from the Fourth of July, set it off in front of his house last night. He had no idea of creating so much excitement and is keeping very still about the matter.
---The [New Milford] Journal, December 28, 1901

Dr. Keeler acknowledged that her prediction had not come fully to pass, but pointed out that there were heavy floods in New Zealand. She stated `the present condition of the planets indicates a postponement of the final disappearance of the earth for at least 1,000 years.' She received mild jokes at her expense the next year.

 A new year has started and Dr Annie K. Bailey of Danbury is wondering how it could have happened, since she knew that the world would end the day after Christmas, 1901.
--Connecticut Western News, January 2, 1902

DNT 1901 Nov 13.pdf

Signs in the Sky

Annie Keeler. “Signs in the Sky. Planets will Soon be in Same Position as in Days of Noah.” In: Danbury News-Times (Nov. 1901).

Sources

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