George Singleton discusses 'tales and superstitions' regarding famous Halley's Comet in 1985

Sir Edmond Halley

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Tales accompany comet” was originally published in the July 4, 1985 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Before too long, all eyes will be looking skyward to get the first glimpse of Halley’s Comet. Soon to appear on the horizon, this most-interesting of all comets, from a historical standpoint, will bring with it many, many tales and legends.

It derived its name from Sir Edmond Halley because he was the first to prove that the comet that had been seen in 1531 and 1607, and then again in 1682, were one and the same. Sir Edmond did not live to see this comet return again on Christmas night in 1758, but he had established enough proof that his predictions of it returning on this date satisfied his critics. Thus, upon this return voyage, Halley’s Comet was so named.

As this amazing spectacle approaches and the many tales and superstitions gain strength on the evening winds, we wait with anticipation and wonder the sight of the heavenly visitor, which makes its appearance four times every three centuries.

Its coming in 66 A.D. presaged the destruction of Jerusalem five years later, according to Josephus. Its sighting in 451 A.D. coincided with the Battle of Chalons, when Attila, King of the Huns, was defeated. Many more tales associated with the coming of the comet dot the pages of our history books. Even here in our own country, the great Shawnee war chief Tecumseh told of “The Fire in the Sky.”

Astronomer’s tipoff

On his journey southward, as he was seeking support from the local Creek nation to help the British Army in the war against the settlers, he told that on a given night, he would stamp his foot and a great trail of fire would race across the heavens. He didn’t bother to tell the local inhabitants, however, that he wasn’t divinely inspired but had received his information from a French astronomer, who told him of the comet’s appearance on that given date.

Other tales tell of the comet being a great fire demon from the far reaches of space. They tell of the great demon that travels with the speed of light – so fast that it catches up with itself and then eats itself up.

Then there is another: the comet as a great fire cat. It begins to chase its tail, then faster and faster it goes until it breaks up into thousands upon thousands of small stars, only to form again in the vast reaches of outer space. The great cat sleeps until it has rested; then the performance is repeated over once more.

Billions of miles

If it were possible for the human mind to grasp the vastness of space, we would imagine the great comet traveling at the speed of light into the great beyond. Farther out than the reaches of our imagination, into a great void, covering billions of miles and then returning along the same exact path as it had traveled 75 years earlier.

We are told that all things have a purpose. Maybe this time, the great fiery traveler will bring with it hope and love, and maybe peace and understanding. And maybe the great God who holds all the universe in the palm of his hands will reach down and touch this troubled planet and make things well again. And the lines of the poet will not have been in vain:

Then have pity, ye proud ones; be gentle, ye great.
Oh remember how mercy beseemeth your state;
For the rust that consumeth the sword of the brave
Eats, too, at the chain of the manacled slave;
And the conqueror’s frowns and his victim’s tears
Will all be the same in a hundred years.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)