Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-09-20
whole No. 1894.

brilliant display oflights in the norih,ris-
ing from the horizon to the zenith. like
successive and scarcely intermitting
flashes, and Illuminating the whole
country around as FROM n till after IL
o'clock. A gentleman who noticed il
assures us the light was so constant and
bright that almost any kind Of cut door
work might have heeb performed.
II Phil~Gdslphsa.-it began with Q
mild, clear lIght.in the northern horizons
precisely resembling the break Of days
above @hich. at unequal distances, there
shot forth numerous short hines or rays
OF light parallel to each other. or but
slightly radiaied, and forming n broken
arch from y. W. to N. T.. the highest
point being about so degrees above the
hosizon, changing at intervals Ia size.
and at times assuming a beautiful de-
gree Of brightness on the comparatively
dark ky: above these rays a vapoury
arch of light appeared, into which they
gradually merged, giving an additional
brightness: imperceptbly the Ugh, sunk
to a pom, a little norih of west, from
which il extended upward nearly TO the
zenith 10 great beauty aud eleaIness.
increasing ia breadth as il rose, and re-
%semblinga vast stream cf fire gushing
forth from the mouth Of some immense
and far disian: volcano. This immense
beam changed into two or three long
narrow rays or rods Of light. ineIinins
south, which in a short time died away,
leaving an atmosphere so clear, THAI
the dark vault ei heaven seemed to have !
doubled its innumerahle host of stars.
.furoya.
al Wheeling. Ia A regular lumin-
Gus arch appeared in the northern bemia.
phere, extending from east to west, tha
centre of which was elevated nearly ~
degrees above the horizon II consist
ed of a pale, white light. similar to the
brightest part of that zone which as
tronomeis call the galaxy Its western
limb was the most luminous, and 10
gradually berams paler as i approached
the eastern HORIZON. Bot the moss sim
gular part was a great number 81 lumiin.
Qua columns perpendicular to the hori.
zon, Immediately under the luminous
arch, following It's course, and extepd-
ing but a few degrees below il. Tha
columns were unequal In length. but e.
quidIstant and distinct from each other.
Continuing tbs movement fer probably
three or -four minutes, they disappeared.
leaving the arch still visible. In a lew
minutes more. the columns reappearsd.
though less bright, and uade the zane
movement, and again disappeared
shortly after this, the arch became brak-
en-, and the eastern limb invisible. Tho
other part OF the arch then extended
into the heavens, and moved towards
the south, dividing itself into two branch.
es, which again became consolidated
and appeared a single luminous column.
similar to the train Of an immense comet
II continued ~ move on 10 a souiherIy
direction until il gained the west. and
then gradually died away. AT 10 o.
clock, when these appearances com.
msnced or were FIRST noticed, the moon
had been down more than half an bours
the sky was free from clouds, except a
thin one which passed over The Western
limb of the luminous arch FROM tho
time these phenomena were first seen
until they disappeared, it was soma-
thing mere than half an hour Gag.
May not the Aurora Borealis be caus~
ed by the reiraction Of the suns rays
from the open sea a. the North, and the
corruscations be 10 proportion to tha
degree of a storm which agitaies the
surface of that ocean. And may hot
the pillars, bows, &c. which are some.
times seen in the heavens. be the loom.
ing of the ice or snow covered moun-
tains in the North, or tie reflection OF
them in a state of the atmosphere which
has the peculiarly Of a mirror
Boston Palladium.