William Reed
From Kook Science
| William Reed | |
|---|---|
 As pictured in The Phantom of the Poles (1906) | |
| Born | c. 1840 Ohio |
| Died | c. 1910 (aged 69–70) New York |
| Occupation(s) | Fire insurance agent (adjuster) |
| Affiliations | Reed Hollow Earth Exploring Club |
| Known for | Hollow Earth theories |
| Noted work(s) | "Phantom of the Poles" (1906) |
| Spouse(s) | Etta [Napier] (m. 1867) |
| Children | Lena [Reed] Smith (1868-1942) |
William Reed (1840 - 1910) was an American insurance agent and author of a book that denied polar expeditions had reached the poles (as, Reed argued, there are no such poles), that the Earth is Hollow, and the aurorae are produced by light escaping the inner earth. In an effort to prove out his claims, Reed formed the William Reed Hollow Earth Exploring Club,[1] including supporters the likes of Bradley S. Osbon among the ranks,[2][3] and boasted of plans to spend up to one-and-a-half million dollars to prove his theories.[4]
Selected Bibliography
- Reed, William (1906), The Phantom of the Poles, New York: Walter S. Rockey Company, https://archive.org/details/phantompoles00reedgoog
CONTENTS: Introduction • General Summary • I. Flattening of the Earth at the Poles • II. Length of Polar Nights • III. Working of the Compass • IV. Around the Curve • V. Mysteries of the Polar Regions • VI. The Water-Sky; What It Is • VII. The Aurora: Its Wonderful Variations • VIII. Meteors of Volcanic Disturbances • IX. Finding of Rock In and On Ice • X. Dust in the Arctic • XI. Open Water At the Farthest Point North and South • XII. Why It Is Warmer Near the Poles • XIII. Driftwood — Whence It Came • XIV. Have Others than Eskimos Inhabited the Arctic Regions? • XV. What Produces Colored Snow in the Arctic? • XVI. Where and How are Icebergs Formed? • XVII. The Tidal Wave • XVIII. Clouds, Fogs, and Vapors • XIX. Arctic and Antarctic Winds • XX. The Centre of Gravity • XXI. Cannot Reach the Poles • XXII. What Is In the Interior of the Earth? • In Conclusion.
"The earth is hollow. The Poles so long sought are phantoms. There are openings at the northern and southern extremities. In the interior are vast continents, oceans, mountains and rivers. Vegetable and animal life are evident in this New World, and it is probably peopled by races unknown to dwellers on the earth's surface." — from General Summary, p. 27
Reading
- Zapato, Lyle (1 Nov. 2015), The Reed Hollow Earth Exploring Club, zapatopi.net, http://zapatopi.net/blog/?post=201501116510.the_reed_hollow_earth_exploring_club — overview of Reed's theory, the Club, from various news outlets of the time
References
- ↑ Dickenson, Herbert (2 May 1908), Harvey, George, ed., "The Hollowness of the Earth", Harper's Weekly (New York City: Harper & Brothers) 52 (2680): 30, https://books.google.com/books?id=kLFCAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA222
- ↑ "Register of Public Institutions in the Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx", Trow's General Directory, City of New York, 123, 1909, p. 49, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015009230445;view=1up;seq=1723, "Reed Hollow Earth Exploring. 132 E. 23rd — Franklin M. Ashley, Pres.; Bradley S. Osbon, Sec.; Francis S. Millard, Treas."
- ↑ "GOING TO LOOK FOR A BIG HOLE AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD", Marion Daily Mirror 16 (229): 9, 23 April 1908, http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88077573/1908-04-25/ed-1/seq-9/, retrieved 2016-12-08, "The officers of the William Reed Hollow Earth Club for New York are Frank M. Ashley, president; Dr. Roswell O. Stebbins, first vice president; Frank R. Millard, second vice president; Albert Operti, treasurer; Capt. Bradley S. Osbon, secretary; William Reed, Walter S. Rockey and Titus K. Smith, Executive Committee. Several of these men are old hands at Arctic exploration."
- ↑ "HERE'S WHAT THEY EXPECT TO FIND AT THE NORTH POLE; HOW THEY EXPECT TO GET INTO THE HOLLOW EARTH", Spokane Press (Spokane, Washington) 6 (134): 4, 13 April 1908, http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085947/1908-04-13/ed-1/seq-4/, retrieved 2016-12-08, "Wm. Reed, the former insurance man who heads the club, says it is prepared to spend $1,500,000. 'It's time for action now — not a time for mere talking,' said Reed when seen at his home. 'But the earth is hollow and our investigations will soon prove it. The poles so long sought are but phantoms.'"