8
METEORS!
Great Shower of Falling Stars
Cxpected Next Tuesday or
Wednesday Horning.
The Night to be Turned into Day,
"The Heavens on Fiery Flames T
The Ilistory of Shooting Stars and
Metoono Stones.
Tiery Dragons, Blazing Beams, and
Glowing Torches The Terror
Which They Inspired n
Times of Old.
Tli Science ot Celestial
Iyiotecliuiiw.
Kit
, Etc., Ktc, Ktc, Etc., Ktc.
There are still liviug many persons who re
member distinctly the grand display ot meteors
r falling stars which occurred on the morning
f November 13, 1833. Between the years A. D.
903 and 1833 not less tnan thirteen displays of
the Bame character have beeu recorded, and,
rom the fact that they have been separated
from each other by the third part of a cen
tury, or by some multiple of that period,
it has been generally supposed that we would
this year be treated to a star-shower of the most
extraordinary magnitude. The great shower of
November, 1833, was preceded by displays of a
minor character during the month of Novem
ber of the two previous years. On the 13th of
November last, a similar premonitory shower
occurred, first-class meteors having been seen ut
the Greenwich Observatory, at the late of two
Hundred and fifty per hour.
The (ireat Meteoric Shower Ktpecletl
Xtxt Week.
Professor Newton, of Yale College, has sriven
the-subject careful attention dining several
years past, ana trom his scieuliac calculation
he has confidently predicted that "the next pas
sage of the earth through the centre of the
meteoric group will take place two hours after
sunrise at Greenwich, on the morning of the
14th ol November, 1SGG."
It bus been recommended, however, that u
watch bo kept on the morning of the 13th, as it
is possible that the moment of their greatest
brightness muy hupp?n one day before the time
predicted.
Scientific men throughout the world appear
to have accepted the deduction of Professor
Newton as so conclusive, that preparations have
been generally made throughout Europe and
the United States to make careful observations
on the phenomenon, in cae it should occur. Iu
order that our readers may be prepared for thin
great event, we herewith present to them a
careful compilation of tiie hi-fory ot meteoric
phenomena of the past.
Meteoric Record qf tiie Old Chronicle.
Prom a curious old work, in two volumes,
published in London, by T. Longman and A.
Millar, in the year 1719. and having tor its title
A General Chronological riustory of the Air,
Weather, Seasons, Meteors, Etc.," we extract
the following catalogue of meteoric displays of
various kinds:
Fiery Meteors, as Trabes Iarmfa (Fiery
Beams), Dragons, Lanovs, Lantpn, JSHts, etc.
a. D.
119. Several Nights a Pillar of Fire from N. to B.
418. Heavens on Fiery Flames, and other
Meteors.
65Ti. Like a Spear from N. to W.
679. A Fire run thro' the Heavens.
738. A naked Sword, 30 Night toother.
Palestine.
788. England; strange Fiery Meteors seen, and
fell to the Earth.
793. England; Fiery Draeous in the a'r, soon
after followed a severe famine.
820. Twinkling Fires line Stars ruu in the Sky.
1000. 2 Balls of Fire fell.
1012. Like a huge Tower of Fire, fell with a
great Noise.,
1039. Strange Beams of Fire fell.
1070. Feb. Two golden-coloured Pillar ro e a
good wav with the Sun.
1088. Fiery Dragons, Igni Sacer (Sacred
1094. Flashes of Fire fell from the Skv.
Fire).
1099. Fiery Dragons.
1101. Fire flying.
HOG. Flying Fire aud new Stars seen.
1143. Balls of Fire glanced and shined.
1177. Nov. Dec. Beams, Dragons, Ac.
1216. Whte Crosses, green Comets, Ac.
1219. Dragons and a Hurricaue, St, Luke's Day.
1222. Dragons.
1228. Meteor, Thunder, aud Lightning all Sum
mer. 1233. Dragons in June; a rainy Summer.
1347. Pillar of Fire at Avignon.
1350. Meteor aud stormy, theu Drought.
1300. Many Fiery Meteors.
1389. April. Fiery Dragous.
1395. Apr. Many Dragons; all Nov. and Dee.
lm FiUuuh (Will o' the Wisp).
1510. Heavens on Fiery Flame, and Meteors;
rained stones froru ho to 120 lb. each.
1520. Sept. 4. Far Arden (A Blazing Torch).
1621. June 15. Billay. Balls of Fire.
1626. Apr. 24. Globes of Fire and a Prodi" v.
1547. Dec. 15. Bull of Fire.
1548. Feb. 10. Fiery Meteor.
1551. Jan. 19. Geimany, Globe of Fire.
1554. June 13. Balls of Fire; Feb. 1. Trau
Ignea (A Fiery Beam).
165C. Apr. Lam pas Aniens.
1560. Feb. 10. Jan. 30. Traue Inueie abroad.
1674. Sept. 14, 15, or Nov. Many meteors, no
Wind nor Thunder.
117. Feb. 7. black Balls, with clear Rays.
1618. March 17. Paris. Mirny Meteors this year.
1623. May 31. Trans Ignea; Aug. 8. Nov. 7.
1060. July 19. Trabs Ignivoma (A Torch vomit
ing Fire); Apr, 17. Balls; May M. Oct.
13. Chasms.
1639. Jan. 30. Chasm, Noremberg.
1643. Oct. Fiery Meteors, Breslau.
1600. Oct. 3. Sheets ot Fire near Hull.
Although many of the phenomena recorded in
the above table were undoubtedly nothing more
than displays of the Aurora Borealis and
Zodiacal Light, still the greater part were pro
bably of a strictly meteoric character; and a it
is now impossible to distinguish one from the
other, we have printed the entire table verbatim.
How tit Chroniclers Have Describe!
Meteoric Shower.
Owing to the ignorance and superstition of
the early chroniclers, mi these unusual pheno
anena were looked upon in the light of prodi
gies, and some of the account which they have
given of them ftre m ludicrous as they are
candid.
TI11L KVKN 1NG TELKGlUra-milXK SI1HET.
rT'B.kinc of one of the earliest displays re
eorut i that ot A. D. 768 it ts said that
mange ijpry meteor were seen in the air,"
in England, and we are gravely assured that
fhey were "followed by sore famine and
Danish invasion." In these early days, this was
a manifest connection between cause and effect.
Again, we are told that in 823, for several
days together, "very many little twinkling
fires, like stars, run up and down in the air,"
and that "great tempests of wind followed,
This was without doubt a regular display of
meteors or falling star.
As another instance of the superstitious man
ner in which these meteoric showers were
looked upon by our ancestors, we take from the
Id work quoted from above ths folio wiug
description of celestial events In the year A. D.
ioiiu: -inis year had many rroaigies, an
Earthquake, a Comet with a long and terrible
Tail like Lightning. On the 19th of the Oatctulx
of January, it fell on the E.irth with o great a
Light, that not only these in the Fields, but
People in Houses were smitten by it; for the
Fissure of the neavens sensibly vanishing, the
Serpent above appeared: The two Halls of Fire
which fell, one fell upon Mantlelntra, and the
other beyond the Ablia.''
" Fiery Drtgoua"
appear to have been quite a lavorite title for
these meteoric displays. Between the year A.
D. 793 and 1395 these monsters appeared on no
less than eight different occasions. One of the
earliest apparitions of the kind recorded hap
pened in 1088, when the "Fiery Dragon" was
seen flying through the air, casting forth
flames out oi his mouth. Great thunder
and lightning accompanied the monster in his
course through the heavens, and a fearful epi
demic followed soon alter. One-half of all the
people of England are said to have beeu seized
with a violent burning fever, which proved fatal
to multitudes. The rinderpest likewise made
its apK'arance, as we are told that a fatal
murrain made ssd havoc with the cattle. From
this last scourge, however, the "tame fowl, such
as hen, geese, etc,," escaped by fleeing to the
woods Nor were these, the only dire effects
of the "Fiery Dragon'" visit, us "most of the
great building" in England were consumed by
devouring flames; and ail sorts ot niisfortaues
ensued, including a gcseral famine aud a fatal
earthquake." It would appear that St. Goorzc,
the Slaver of Dragon': and tho Patron Saint of
England, was not in the tlrfh in fho-e diys. else
he Mould surely have re-unied h's old aud
lavorite pastime, and thereby saved his a Imiffis
irom .-ut'U. tore aistrese-.
Among these ancient recoid-, however, then1 i
lire many accounts to which we . an attach some
credence. Such is that given of
The threat Meteoric Shower of llOfi, nud
the Comet Which Presaged It.
Still the scene, according to the chronicler,
was oneot frightful horror-, which have beeu
thus vividly portrayed:
"In JwJmi, this Comet wa een 50 days de
creasing, ub alt-o three Suiu, one on each stile
the true; but the niock Suus were smaller, mid
cast less light than the true. Thev had a great
white circle environing them, anil in it a rain
bow of lour colors; the bow towr.rds tbe un
und reaching to the oilier 1 wo Suns. Skortif
atltrtlte tar$ seemed to rain down from hvuwii.
The heavens seemed all on flro, Sun and Moon
often uncommonly deficient. Besides the fall
ing or Slur?, burning fasces (or bundles;), tiery
darts, aud flying fire were often seen in the air:
new Stars appeared; camps of butterflies small
unknown fiery wovuls flew through the uir,
and damned the Sun. Men, cattle, Ian Is,
and buildings sneered much bv thunder, lifhi-
ning, hail, nigh winds, and tempesU; grain and
fruits were beat down and broken. Fiery bat
tles, companies ol horses, cohorts of foot, cities,
swords, and bloody arms were aeen iu the air.
Barrenness of laud lrom inundation, dearth
from scarcity, plague from famine all pre
vailed." t
The Of re fleets of Meteors uil Other
Celestial I'rodlgle,
as is eident from the extracts which wa have
just quoted, was an article of faith with our
ancestors. In tbe dark age it would have been
more than one's lite wa worth to have case a
doubt, upon this pet theory of ignorance and
superstition. Not only would the doubter's
body have beeu consigned to the flame, but
his soul would have been given over to eternal
p.rdition by the fiat of the Church.
Ignorance and superstition in the last genera
tion even were not sufficiently extinct in our
own country to prevent anticipations of the
most disastrous consequences, as the result of
the great meteoric shower of 133. A planter
ot South Carolina ha given the following de
scription of the manner iu which it was regarded
by the negro slaves:
"I was suddenly awakened by the mot dis
tressing cries that ever fell on my ears. Shriek
of horror and cries lor mercy I could hear from
most of the negroes of three plantations
amounting in all to about six or eight hundred.
While earnestly listening for the cause, I beard
a taint voice near tbe door calling my name. I
arose, and, talcing my sword, stood at the door.
At this moraeut 1 heard the pame voice still be
seeching me to rise, and saving, 'O ! my Cod.
the world is on fire!'
and it is difficult to say which excited me ino3t!
i men opcna me (loor,
tne awlulness of the scene or the distressed
cries of the negroes. Upwards of one hundred
lay prostrate on the ground some speechless,
and .-onie with the bitterest cries, but with their
bands raised, imploring God to save the world
and them. The scene," this writer adds, "was
truly awful, tor never did rain fall much thicker
.him the meteors tell towards the earth. East
wet, north, and south, it was the same." '
The anonymous author of the "Chronological
History of the Air. eto., from which tbe above
table is taken, notwithstanding the faith which
be appears to have placed in the narration of
his predecessors, thus gravely discharge the
"fiery meteors" from all responsibility for any
disastrous effects, a fr as the human race is
concerned :-"From about 104 instances In the
table of fiery meteors, I cannot discover them
to be any forerunners or presages of -em-r .l or
particular calamities to nations or people wba'.
ever indication they may be hereafter ol the
general conflagration."
Authentic Accounts of Meteoric Shower. .
Independently ot the extravagant accounts of
tbese celestial phenomena which we have thus
lar given, there are on record many which wero
written in a much more sober vein, and which
are therefore entitled to entire belief. Inter
spersed with these are the accounts of showers
of stones, and of masses of iron, and other
mineral substhnces, phenomena which belong
to tbe sa ne general class and arise from the
same causes. The most notable and best au
thenticated Instances we have collected and ar
ranged in the table which appears e!ewbere in
this article. We now proceed to the descrip
tion of tome of tit most remarkable fcftheiw,
THE GREAT METEORIC SHOWER OF 1833,
As it appeared at
TABLE OF AUTIIETI(3
CHABACtK.R.
J'LACE.
t he wrr of Mone
' Lowf r ol Btoiie
At ftomp..
At ltonif..
Shower ol Iron , InLncanla
Phowcr of Morcnrv
I tn Ita'y
I ifr the ri ver iitgon,
, ' 1 - " - ,,' -.- 'MJttH&JYj&1
lhrace.
Large Hioue leil...,
Three large Btonts tell j n Thracn
Mass of lroo (14 quintals) icll
At Abakauk, Siberia
Showor of Stars
At Conttantlnople.
In L'nplani und France
A t nsibeiw,'pier jthinij.'
Vcnr l'aiiiia. ltalv
On .Mount Vasier, J'rovenve
At l'oneiihai!ii
in tbe Duuu of tluUHllnlil
In Ir-laLd
enr .;, .Macedonia
At QuMnoy
In i lie Atlantic
t Hrmiz-wlik
At Mori Morinamlv
Jlrailr..:hlnn. iu the coinitut ol Agra,.
At Hnon. Bohemia
AtLluona-i m l-rensc
Jiour V'.'Toiic
At Ln e. in T.e Maine
At Aiie.tn Artols
In Le.iJoteiHin
t Ouito. t enitdnr
Hunger of iar
showerol Stars
Shower oi Slim
HUower of Stum
Pliowcr of .Stars
Shower, ol Stars
La ire Stone -2M) Ins.) loll
About 12UU Stones le.l (one of
1iMliH. hihI another oitlu Urn i
Stone tfilllus.) lell
Ml ptinrooi Haln
Sulphurous Hum
Shower oi t'ukrown Matter.
Mime tin His Hell
Shower of Klre
shower ot Sand lor 11 hours..
fchowtrol !-aii.hur
A stony i" ret iv
Tito laige I'h(B ol iron tell.
Shower of Sioncs
two Stone fin ll ) fell i
Two SionisCitiOisaonibn.) tell
A tone7 lbs ) toil
A Stone fell
A stone nil....
Shower of stars
A Urill ant Meteor
v noma i
r.im thA N (IP ti Nn.
t bower or .-Mam,
I.MWMil. vlaililu In k r. ..
Shower oi oioues , At liarbou an, near Kouneiort nSB-July .O'Arcet, Lomot. and
ahowerol Stonen..... j In tne environa of agen ! 17tiO-July24 'h Armund. Baudin.
Twelve Stones fell
A Stone (- l"a.J fell
a Kiniin 10 lha ) i el I
. I At Sienna. Tncn
I At Wold Cottage, TorkHhire....
- la FortilifAl
A StonoCiUlbs) It II
j- stone CM I If ) le.l
Fhower of "nrs
S low er of Stone
Grand Shower oi Stars
At Miles uear Yl le KrauoUe.'...'
At Sale, on the I.bone
At HeiiarcS. Kaist Indies
. and s. iiniencaand I'.h.ok-..
.Vusol Iron (78 enMc t lie 1; In Americn
Several stones (truui iu to l.
lbs.) tell
Shower oi Ma'S
Shower oi star"
Shower of Stars
Shower ol stars
' Ner I.'Aig'e, Noruianilv
i In t'anaila
tin the North Sea
In Canada 1
Ort the coasts of spam and in the-
region oi the Ohio river
From Ked sea to ' tlantlc, and train
swiuer.ainl to .heMuuriiiui
Throughout tbe t'nlted Suites '
Shower UStftK...
Crand S Loner of Mart.
Shower oi star
Shower oi StarH
A Stone fell
Two sto'e fe 1
show er ot Mars
. ' In America and f'urope
.In Knrooe...
. I Jiear the t'aiieot Hood liopo
. At l!ruunau. Kohenua
. At Ureenwlch, Knglaud
first pivinc, in tbe following table, tbe dates of
the most brilliant meteoric showers:
Time
K. ... 044
B. t'.;i"4
B.C. 4:r
H. C. 21
B. C. HIS
A. I. 1
. . 2114
A. I) !)02
A. D. 176
A. 1 lHta
A. 1 lliNS
A I) 171ft
A. 1. 17S3
fUce Heli'ht.
rhina ml e
.... China
Greece
Rome.
ihina.
China
Knrope.
ure.
Italy.
Germany.
Pooavan.
London.
mi In
! mile
SI milet
miie
miles
Hfl't miles
I.O'l Ulll'l
.is ini'es
11 miles
fri miles
70 miles
t-'J'. iuile9
40 miles
Ireland.
A. 1). 17H7 l-uron
A. 1. 181H Knulaud
VOX mile4
A. 1. IS1 mshshcI Uitetts. 22
miles
miles
A. li. lS'tf Porxdam. 40
A. 1. lsas r nlted statss. 60' miles
The Meteoric Shower of November, Hit,
is one of the earliest of which we have any reli
able account. Theophtines, one of the old By
zantine historians, reports that on this occasion
the entire heavens immediately over the city of
Constantinople appeared as if on tire with the
coruscations of flvinp meteors. Next in' order
wehave an account of
The Meteoric Shower of October, :Oi.
Conde, in his history of the Arabian dominion,
states that on the night of the death of Kine
Ibrahim ben Ahmed, which occurred in October
of the year 002 of our era, an immense number
of fttllinc or fhootiue stars spread themselves
like rain over the heavens fiom right to lett.
In commemoration of this event this year was
subsequently known as "The Year ot .Stats."
The Meteoric Shower of April 4, lo5,
as witncfscd in Enelaad and trance, is said to
have been a very remarkable one. tine ot the
old writers states I hat tho star seemed to fall
"like a shower of rain from heaven upon the
earth." A mass of stone, or u-rolit, was
precipitated to th- earth du-inp the s-hower, and
on this, bv way of experiment, an observer
"cast water, which wa4. raised in team. with a
rrreat noii?e of boilinc."'
The same shower is described hy the "Chroni
cle of Hheim," its appearance being "as if 8n
the stars iu heaven were driven, like dust, before
tbe wind."
In England, in accordance with the extract
given in the former part of this article, ail such
phenomena were looked upon aB pioaigieg por
tending evil to ome one. Toe shower of lciu
yh supposed to have been especially directed
by the AJiniehty against the shortcoDiingg ami
transgressions of Kinir WillUm Bufus. "V,j the
reporte of The common people iu this kyuae's
time," says Itastel, ' divers frreat wonders were
sene and therefore the kyng wiis told by divei s
of his familiars, thai God was not content with
bislyvyng, but he was so wilful and proude of
minde, that he regarded little their saying."
According to an old Eastern annual of Cairo,
"In this jcar (A. D. 1029), in the month Redjeh
(August), many stars passed,witb a great noise,
and brilliant light" In the sfaiLe docvaiect we
lave fan bttcuM ot the juaeb fTatdtr
rn ILADELPII 1 A , SATURDAY,' NOVEMBER
the Falls of Niagara.
V'!;,'
METEORIC DISPLAYS.
I'EBIOD.
ATJTHORlrV.
Llvy. . if
J. Obscqnnns
P!lny.
lion.
rilny.
p!thS-u,,"d1"' nd
rheonhoncs.
Coude.
lTndcr 'I n'lui Ilostillus.
Con-nlaieoi C. Martiun
and M. Torqoa.u....
Year before tho defeat
of Craxsup ..
2d yearol the 76th Olym
piad It. C. l')2
,
A. I). 172-Kovember..
Mi Oetober
1 IM' 5 April 4
I l.'O Ocober in
. 1210 October 10
1 l aim Octoner 21
; 14C2 ovcnibiT 7
1M0
1OT November 2
lt;4o
lts
US
I7iC Jnnnai-v ,
1717 Janun 4.... ,
171') Anril s
1T'1-Uctubcr
VM
mi-.May 2
17,)3-Ju. S
17M Senteinbcr
17ti2
1768 Suutember 13
17BH
1708
About LOT
171 AuiriiHt 18
Ch ofRhelim.
I Untenechof ii.
:"len. VuTiTt.
:'" Vormlu..
'oaiiitenburKh
Muwhenbroook
f" l.ucaa.
OeotTre. le. adot.
Hero lo Ful lee.
8ie;eHba;r.
Lnlaude.
15 da Rom.
Lalumla
Acad deBonrd.
lluQneUy.
ltoyaval.
Moraud.
tn Mi.itif
17S7 Novembor 9, 10.
and nrliAra
KW-Jtilr
' niij-Ueceinbur 13.. ..
n Oruar.v VI
17!S March II
lilts March 17
17!S "ecctnbertl, 7....
I7"K Iitoeuiber i9
I7i'9 ovcuibtr ia
1 W0-April 5 ,
lW-April 26
1H1
IhlS Auiuiun
JblD
lS1l-'eveinber 13
1M2 -November 13 ,
1833 November IS ,
lt"4 vovcmr?r 11
1h:i Sovtiubor 1, 111.,
ls-rn
IW7-dmy 14
ibtifj November 13
. Earl oi Hrls ol.
.U antnin Toyhara.
. Sonthev
. Jo Orae.
, 1lUlevro & De Ureo.
, Krandos
J l.loyd Willi ms.
Uiimlio'dt und many
others.
rhiiosophical May.
Fourcroy.
Caiit HiiiSinond and
i others
iFrof. O.mstntd and
I
niuiir ntbe.
rRO and other,
llersohui
Meteoric Shower of October 10, 120i,
j in the following language: "In the year 63!),
on Saturday nigbr, in the last Moharrem (Octo
ber 19. A. D. 1202), the stars appeared like waves
upon the sky, towards the east and west; they
flew about like grasshoppers, and were dispersed
from left to risrhi; this lasted till daybreak; the
people were alarmed." The nextnoticableeveut
was the
Kail of the Aerojite of November 7, 113
This occurrence took place at Cnsisheim, on
the Rhine. The stone was secured, and de
posited in tbe church at that place, together
with the following quaint narrative of the whole
affair, drawn up at the time by order ot tha
Emperor Maximilian:
"In the year ot the Lord 1492, on Wednosday,
which was Martinmas eve, the 7th of November,
a siuaular miracle occurred; lor between eleven
o'clock and noon there was a loud clan of
thunder, and a prolonged, contused noise which
was nearu ni a great; Distance, ana a stone lell
lrom tne air, in tne lurisaiction ot Knsisheira,
which weighed two hundred ttnd sixtv pounds.
aud thecoulused noise was besidca much louder
thttii here. There a child saw it strike on a tield in
the upper jurisdiction, towards the tthine and
Jut), m ar me Uiotrict ot tjiscano, which was
sown with wheat, and u did no harm, escent
that it made a hole there; and then they con-
veveu iw iiuiu mm spot, ana many pieces were
broken uoin it. wbich tne laudvoci forbade,
They, therefore, caused it to oe placed in the
CDiircu, wnn tue intennon ot suspending it as a
miracle; and there came here many .people to
see iui eiuut."
This narrative is confirmed by the account
of contemporary writers. Tuken in con
nection with the fuel that the chemical compo-
MtU n of the stone is Identical with that of other
meteoric stones, there would seem to be no
doubt about its character and origin. The stone
remained suspended in the choir of the Church
at Ensishcim lor three centuries. Duriue: the
French revolution it was carried off to Coltiar,
but il ha since been restored to Its old quar.
ten. and there still remains.
The next event of the kind, of which a relia
ble account i-t recorded, was the
pall of the Aerolite of November 87, 1(147,
fiassendi witnessed this, and it is therefore
removed beyond the regions of doubt. On this
dny. bciug in the neighborhood of Nice, he saw
a burning stone fdllinir towards theearih. When
in the air it appeared to bj about four feet in
diaini'tr, and was surrounded by a luminous
and variously colored circle, resembling a rain
how. Its lull wsh accompanied by a great noise
like tbe discbarge ot artillory. On inspecting
the fallen mass, as"endi found it to be ex-tir-n.ely
bard, of a dull metallic color, and with
a specific gravity muchigreater than thatof ordi
oiiry inaible. Its weight was fitty-nine pounds.
Following the table , the next noteworthy
phenomenon was the
Oreat Meteoric Shower at Quito, About
JlfcU.
On this occasion so yrtut was the number of
faKiLg fcturs which were ten immediatel. over
10, I860.
the volcano H Cayambaro, that for a time the
mountain was believer) to be on Are. From th
pla'n of Kxlda a magniflceut view ot the highest
summits of the Andes was presented, and thero
the people of the city assembled. Just as a
procession of monks was about starting out
from the Convent of Paint Francis, it was dis
covered that tho blaze which lighted up the
wbob heavens was caused by mvriads of
i )ti ors which darted hither and thither, at an
altitude of twelve or thirteen degrees.
1 "-sli.tr over several minor showers of both
star and atones, we come next to
Tl (ireat Shower of Sionei at Airen.
July iff, 17IMI.
Dftween 9 aud It) o'clock on the evoniusr of
this day, a ball ot Are was seen darting throuirh
tbe air wita gieut rapidity, leaving behind it
a train of light like the tail of a comet. Bv-and-by
a loud explosion was heard, when there fol
lowed a scattering of sparks in all directions,
and a shower ot stones of vnrious sizes, and ex
tending over condcrablc g.ouiul.
Thi-. event was so unusual in that locality
that the authorities determined to place oil
record an authentic account of all Hie ptien't
mena atlend.ng it. The tollowlua document
wus, thorelc-re, drawn np and slened not only
by the magistrates put by hundreds of people
residing iu the neichborhooJ:
July
there
24, 1730, between !) aud 10 o'clock,
passed a great tire, and after ft
ard in the air n von i..,i
we heard
uoie; ana aDout two minutes
after there leil atone from heaven: but lortu
nately there tell only a very few, f.nd they fell
about ten paces from ouo another In some
places, and In others nearer, and finally m
some other places farther; and lallmu'. uuist of
iui.iii, ui iuc weitfinur aooui nair-a-;iuurter of a
pound each; some others of about halt a pound
and on the borders ot tne parish oi Oreou they
were found of a pound witrht; and in tailing
they sctmed not to be inflamed, but very ham
and black without and withi
steel; most of ihem fell gently, and others fell
quickly with a hissing noise; and some were
found wbich had entered into tne north h
very few."
The Pall of an Aerolite In VorLlii.
Xlevcuiber 13, 17u.,
was suflici! nt to convince the Enlishmnn nf
modern days that there
a little truth mixed up with the poetical sur-
roilUUinitS Of the "Fierv Drnonn" nf wrhinl.
their unccstois had such a wholesome dre .d.
An explosion in the air, followed by a peculiar
hissing noise, was heard by several persons in
the neighborhood of Wold Cottage, Yorkshire.
A shork was subsequently felt, as it a heavy
body hail fullcn to tho ground at a short dis
tance. The actual fall of the aerolite was seen
u (jiuunuuiau. it entered tne ground out
eight or nine yards from wherp Im
in up the earth all mound. It penetrated en
tirely throiieh the so:l. and wan tinailo hmihi
to the cud of its carter, at the derta of fevcrnl
inches, in a rnck of solul chalk.
Al,er bejni cxbumed. the stone wn rnnnit t..
vmcb nfty-siv pounds. The noise of iw exulo-
biou was heard at a cousidcinble distanco.
ine next, instnucu ot this kind which we shall
noi ice was the
s'liowtr of Stonea at Bnuarci. neimir
1S, 170H.
The nvthority for this event, that of J. Llov.i
AVilliiiins, '. K. 8., is undisputed, nnf5 forever
set nt rest the OOllbts wbich had nrevimwlir
been ptvuleiit concerninfi the fall of aerolites.
at. eiaoi o ciocs on tne evening of D.fceniOer
19. 1798. a laree and luminous
ut lieuaies, and other noiuLs m th Rant. t,,,i.oa
A loud rumbl ne noise accomoanloti it. mm.I
rcBcniDiinz an irrrtruiar dischnr-'n nf miubnir.
About the sumo time, the people ot iCrakhu't,
wbich is fourteen mile3 from Benares, saw the
lisht o the meteor, and were startled by a loud
explosion, and immediately after by the noise
oi heavy boii;es militia to tho ground.
Xo one i-nw the xplosion, or the jail of the
Moues, but on the next inoruin the moist soil
in iniiuy rlaces was found penetrated, erencrallv
ioihe depth of about six inches, by stones of
various mz"S, and ot unusual but similar com
pos, tiou. We now coiue to
The Ureal .Meteoric Shower of November
13, 17 lit).
This vta-, the Hint grand celestial display of the
kind flhich attracted the attention ot scientific
men in modern times. It was observed over a
vuBt extent of territory, extending all the way
from Greenland to the equator, and as far oust
as wcimar, in Germany. On this occasion, the
Moravian n isionaries in Greenland were aatou-
ished by the magnificent spectacle, continuing
ii KHioi uuuiB, ui a eiuoweroi nery partfcles
which descen.lea on all sides as thick as hiil.'
with un unbounded expanse ot ice aud snow
for a background, the sight was undoubtedly
one ihatwas calculated to inspire the greatest
au.tu(.uki:u l duu awe.
At the time of this ereat meteoric rlmninv
Alexander von Humboldt was prosecuting his
Buiuubiuo inquiries in souiu America, in connec
tion with il. Bonpland. The latter writer, woo
was the historian of this celebrated expedition.
uuo BJtnoo ui ma auuwer oi iuuing stars:
"Towards the morning of November 13. 1799.
we witnessed a most extraordinary scene ot
shooting meteors. Thousands ot bodies and
tailing stars succeeded each other during four
uvuia. men unnuuu wits very regular lrom
uwu v muiiJi rxuiii me ucKmuinv or tne
phenomenon there was not a space in the firma
ment equal in extent to three diameters of the
moon wnicn was not nnea every instant with
ooaies or laiung stars. All tho meteors left
luminous traces or phosphorescent bauds behind
mem, wnicn lastea seven or eight seconds."
Mr. Ellicott, an agent of our Government, who
at the time happened to be at sea in the neigh
borhood of the Florida Capes, has also given a
graphic description of this "m-and and awful
phenomenon," as he styles it. "In tnia locality
the shower lirst attracted attention about 3
o'clock in the morning, when every one on
shipboard was aroused to witness the grand
spectacle. The entire heavens appeared as if
niuuiiuatea oy a general amply or sky-rockets.
Purine tbe display, which did not cease until
ine greater light ol the sun made it invisible,
me inning meteors were as numerous as the
nxeu stars.
iney appeared to traverse the heavens in all
pos-ible directions exceut troiu thp i-nrtn
towards which, owing to the attraction of giuvi-
ituuu, iui-ir pu'.nwa.vs an inclined more or less.
This shower appeared also to affect the wmpora-
luie Benmuiy, u .wr. r.nicou's taermometer,
which bad averaced 80 decrees. Fahrenheit, for
jour aays previously, suddenly lell to 6G decrees.
a cuiiuire wan noticeanie in too wind lure wise,
which siiified liom the south to the northwest,
tiom which direction it blew almost a eale for
mreo aays in succession.
The Shower of Stone In Normandy,
April xo, JBUJ,
was a convlucine proof of the thcorlt'9 concern
ine meteoric stones which at tuat time were
becoming prevalent among scientific men.
About one o'clock on the afternoon of that
day, th3 Inhabitants ol the environs of L'Algle,
Not trendy, observed moving with arent laptdity
through the air a fiery globe of ereat billiiancy.
A few moments aiterwards there was heard
throughout a olrcle ot thirty leaeues or more, a
violent ex olosion, which lusted some tivn or siv
minuies. The noise of the explosion was very
peculiar. It began wiih three Or lillir rnnnpla
like those of a cannon; then followed a
rattling sound, resemliline the rl isrh it rir a
ol musxetry; and the last of all came a loud
rumldine, like the roll of drums. All this
uproar proceeded from a cloud rectangular in
form, and apparently motionless durinor tho
continuance of the nhennmAnnn. Th vaDory
suostance oi me cloud was projected in an
directions at, each successive explosion. Th"t
this cloud was nt n. or..of nioviuinn lrom the
earth, was evident from the fact that at two
places, distant one lnapue from each other, it
appeared directly over head. The explosions
were accompanied by a hlssln: noise, like that
marl hv a at SMI a intian 1lAhfl nred from a sllne.
The result of tbe explosion was the precipita
tion to the earth of about three thousand
ineteortr affwioa. the lareest of which weiehed
sevtLtten &nd half pounds, Tt! composition
! ?Lthfp,. ow.pn nnnlvs. was found to "he.
hnd
pre-
J.mm.i PC,fo enMarrv" showers of 1614. isisr
and iHl'.i, we now come to the
"""'.t i hi it u iteuares.
Cirand
Meteoric
13.
f.hwr of November
This was properly heialdc-1 by showcr of
conridetablo extent, wh.rh !j0Wir' V1
, in.i.i,
cisely the rame dav
. . . v.,,, i .... ,i, rirfi.
Of the month In lh.,n,n
years previous ' Tbe limit. of th tad ft
oi stars were the oreat lite of a"? D0cr
North, the sixty-tlrst decree ol loniritude on th
a. the West Indies on the BouuT anTtim
hundredth decree of loumtudo on tho wt
Throcghout this vast extent of termor o
land and oca alike, the heavens were lllumi
nifnnlcd for about nine hours In succession bv
f multitude of sbootins stars of daz.linc bnf.
lumcv. Their whole number has been
computed at about 240.0tiO. rn. Dre
monition of the shower was a red
dish vapor which appeared In the south
ern horizon at 7 o'clock in the even
ing, and then gradually ascended until it
had reached it zenith. This vapor appeared to
be very transparent, and vet it was sufficiently
dense to conccs.l ihe sniallt st stars. At 9 o'clock
the Phowcr of meteon commenced, iaehinsr
i smiiximurn In point of numbers aud biil
ufh'Ju10 ?" tbon'mn? of the
da break disPly I'J not ceaso until
The shower assumed three distinct forms-
1. Most abundant were phosphorescent liues
consis'ting. apparently, of u successiou 0f
points, which parsed along the sky wuh im
mcue velocity.
2. Large tire-balls likewise darted aloun the
heavens at intervals, dcfcribing iu the course
otalew seconds an arc of SO or 40 decrees
The pathway- of thiso lire-bulls wero marked bv
liin inous trains, which were usually white
Biuiougn i cciisionnuy an the colors of the
prism appeared with grear vividuss. These
trmns were vlsib for some minutes after the
fire-balls in which they originated ha 1 burst
into small clouds of vapor.' and in ome in
stances they were discernible for a full half
hour. Some of the balls were of enormous
size. One was seen in North Carolina, and the
same, or anotber, In Connecticut, which was as
laree as the full moon at the horizon.
3. The third class consisted, of luminous bodies
of irrecular form, which appeared stationary
for a considerable time. One of the largst of
these remained for some lime near tho zenith
directly over Niagara Falls, emittinir strenms of
light, as shown in the accompanying cut.
Tho meteors, of whatever form, all originated
from a point a little to the southeast of the
zeni.b. Altboueh none of thtn stuted im
mediately from this point, their pathways when
produced all conversed, without a single excep
tion, towards this common locus. Its potion
was near the star "Sutuina," in the constella
tion "Leo," the point towards which the earth
is directed inlis annum revolution round the
sun. ArouLd this radiant point, no meteors
whatever were visible. Another peculiarity of
tho shower was the fact that tbe ra liant point
remained perfectly stationary during its entire
continuance, accompanying the stars in their
appurent movement towards the west. This
established the lact lhat the source or the
meteors was exterior to our atmosphere. At
coroine to the calculations of the late Proiessor
Olnsteud, who v. a9 nn attentive observer of the
shower, their source was at an elevation from
the surface of the earth of not less than 223k
miles.
Althoueh the spectable presented by tins, the
grandest display of meteors on record, was, at
ull tho points where it was viable, one of the
most imposing and awe-lnsplrinar character, it
appealed to the best advantage iu the neighbor
hood of Aiasrara Falls. The ascending mist of
the great cataract, and the thundering voice or
its turbulent waters, imparted to the tiery aspect
of the heavens an additional beauty, aud in
spired the hearts of those who there witnesoed
it with the most unbounded awe. The scene, as
viewed from this point, is vividly and triuhfuliy
portrayed in the large cut which accompanies
this article. It is unnecessary to go into the
details of the various
Theories to Account for the Mcleoile
Dlilay
which have from time to time been advanced
and. discarded by scientific men. It is now gene
rally admitted that all the phenomena ot this
class, whether in the form of shooting stars r,r of
meteoric stones, are of the same genaral char
acter, and have a common origin. What
that particular origin is has not yet
been settled to the satisfaction of all
who have investigated the subject. But
it is no longer believed, as wa3 at one lime
seriously maintained by Laplace, and others as
Illustrious in the world of sdcuce, thai the
meteors which have fallen upon the earth pro
ceed from our own vo.canoes, or from those of
the moon. Toeir occasional appearance within
the limits of our atmosphere, where they are
necessarily sub)ecied to its power of resistance,
as well as to the attraction of tbe earth, is most
satisfactorily accounted for by tho theory ad
vanced by Profr s-or Oluistead, to which Arago
has lent the weight of bis ereat name. It may
be briefly summed up as follows:
Independently of the visible planetary bodies
which crowd the siolar System, there are vast,
numbers ot small and invisible bodies which
circle around tbe sun, either singly or in nebu
lous croups. The nebulous body from whlcb
the meteors of 1833 emanated, makes a r 'volu
tion around the sun in nearly six mouths; its
orbit being elliptical, and but "little inclined to
the plane of the ecliptic. Its perihelion, or the
point in its orbit which U nearest to the sun.
is jut within the orbit of Mercury; while its
I'Phellon. or point of greatest distance from the
sun, is very near the orbit ot the earth.
The distance of ihe former from the sun is
estimated at 24,000,000 of miles; that ol th-i-
latier at 96.000.000. The orbit of the o'her ,
waudeiina little nlanets of course vary from
this somewhat. Rut when the wandering body
happens to be at its aphelion, jusi at tbe time
that thp pm-rh hn reached the neighboring
point in its own oimr, the smaller body is sub
jected to the attraction of the earth, and enters
Its atmosphere. . .
The igneous ttute of the meteors is easily
nnrtfiiinre.1 for. A velocity through the air nf
th,x i.nnsH(iil feet per second ia hiiHW
raise a meteorio body to the temperature ot 1800
degrees Fahrenheit, or to a vivid red heat. The
uuorurfl velocity Of meteors hoino- ho ..a .nf.. i
calculation, full thirty or forty times as great
thlr temperature would of nntAnai.l
to a corresponding deeree. k
it dissipated in surrounding space. That
The Shower of Next Week
will take nlace.
laid down bv Prnfprtnp NrAn u ...-;i..
involved in e0me doubt, which the parage of
time alone can determine. Its occurrence is as
certain, however, as anything so far removed
from experiment and observation can be made
in anticipation. It the meteors do blaze forth,
such observations will be noted as will enable
the savant to elear up many of the doubts
Which at present embarrass the whole u blent.
And whether they do blaze forth or not, it can
do no possible harm
TO SB 0H t&S WATCH WK JV$U,