Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1833-11-21
THE ENQUIRER.
LITCHFIELD, NOV. 81, 1879.


made flew brief remarks upon the wonderful phenO-
menOn in the air which appeared Wednesday,
morning the 18th inst. The account was prepared in
haste, and without conversng with but few persons;
yet it cOrresponded generally with what was Observ-
ed in other places. II might have been remarked
that the shooting meteors first as early as
9 o'clock, and continued until daylight, but we're The
most brilliant between the hours Of and o'clock.
We have since heard from many other Places-as Tar
sOu, as Washington city, and cas-. as FAR Boston
nj which Cities and all intermediate places Proba-
bv was as brilliant as here, excep, that in most places
,he atmosphere was unclouded. As it has been for
week past, and still is the subject Of much conversa-
ton and many sage remarks, in all circles Of the CON-
muni,y, we annex few accounts from other places:
From the N. Y. Jour. Of Commerce Of "Wednesday.
S;nc,,kar Phenomenon. Shos0er Of AeteOrs.-A
neighIor disturbed sumbers this morning AT day
light TO tell that something was going on aoi''
which we as editors, ought To behold On going 10
1he window what should see bat n shower oil me
,eors dropping the skies, like the big scattering
drops before a thunder-shower. Probably from IN to
il me,eors fell per minute, in The vista afforded by
Ainee window; and on going TO The other side OF the
house. it was found they were equally numerous IN that
direction They were mostly small, n"' some 1aage
bright light as well audible report. Their dI-
reciion was from East West making an angle oil a
houf 75 degrees with the ealth iO"S
they continued to fall have no means OF knowing
but az the time we were called they had been falling
for several minutes and continued to TALL i II was too
light TO see them. The atmosphere at the tune was
neriec,ly clear with beautiful Starlight wind west
Not cloud to he SEEM In the course OF the preVl-
Gus day the wind had changed from the Eastward al
which, for several hours IL o'e" VII" co"S'oe'"'
BILE violence. =.
r. s. A gentleman connected with this office, who
went home between and o'clock. informs that he
saw meteors falling in every direction. Consequently
aE,a hal e
The wind was blowing fresh from the westward
From the CatskM Recorder.
Remarkable Phenomenon. who were out OF
their beds between 3 and S O'Clock on "Wednesday
morning the 18Th inst. had opportunity oil wit
messing most brilliant ana singular .e% III,
wind from the N. w. We were on board steam.
boat preparing to land, and leaving the cabin and
reaching the deck, were n, once surprised win the
beauty and briancy Of the meteorc appearances
which are usually called shooting stars These, va
ryng in brightness and apparent magnitude, were
every instant cleaning through almost every Quarter
of The heavens. Sometimes one, then ano!her, ana
another, in quick successon, would ne see" s'innS
noiseessy but swiftly down the steep vault and for
the instant filing the inag nation with an apprehen-
sion ,ha, the stars Of heaven falling to leave the
armament desolae. Then a larger ana brighter me-
teor might he seen shooting the track oil these
smaller lights, and leaving behind 1t long iraih OF
l;ghi VARYING as il faded away like the trail OF rock
et from blaze oflurid red, TO stream oil pale sVe
nv brightness. In few moments we counted ihiry
Of these COrTuRcatiOnS ana even VIM" u''S Wv
number was evidently greater, but the scene was one
IN which the mind seemed TO lose consciousness OF lis
identity and take no note OF time. .
That these appearances were induced ny Amos
heric causes Of pcculiar and rare occurrence there
can be no doubt. What connection they may have
with electricity. with the character OF The weather,
leave for the philosopher and time 20
We however would remark that while those br ill'an'
eorrlscaons which sometimes sIgH mp ire Nor'h' e''
Their shoot up towards the zenith or more horlzon'ay'
all these evidently under the influence OF grasa-
Al ana IA al
constantly increased velocity:
singular phenome exh%rd in the heaVcns,
on "Wednesday morning, which excied the admira.
ton Of all who Witnessed ITS extraordinary appearance
and il ell worth the inves,ignOn of scientific 'nqul-
rers. Abont clock in the morning large meie"rc
body resembling globe Of fire. ploded in the zenith
Of the heavens, and poured continuous stream OF
flaming particles the sky beneath The increasing
eciptaijons from this luminous gobulir body were
showered down like drops Of falling rain, Illuminating
the whole visible horzOn aud scattering rich rays OF
light on each airy path they fell Aerthis Eeteofc
shower of fiery rain had some time descended, iu-
minous serpentine figure formed in the sky which,
on its explosion, produced shower Of nfe eqoa'y
brilliant and incessant. The iniammabie particles
then appnrenily cohering in one ignned mass, rolled
I'M in a ball to the zenith; and from this lofty ee-
walton burg, aud shot streams "f electric ife from It's
luminous orb, which continued TO fall until The hour
oi six in the laorning whe" !he dawni"g gay pst az
end 10 their glory aud their fight. The catsse vt this
epIendid and unique appearance OF The heavens ana
the magnificent phenomenon, with which we have
been visited, 10 teit 10 TIVE WISE ="
them we invite solution Of this wonderful VISITATION
Nep. York Daily Advertiser.
Brilliant Msteoric PheMorrend.-~This morning, be-
tween 10 mas, 3 AND half past O'Clock, there WAS
war Of shooting STARS in the northwest For an hour
meteor succeeded meteor 10 such rapid succession that
il was impossible 10 count them at times the sky
seemed full OF them and the earth was illuminated rs
with morning light. They shot in each d'recti" o..
principally however from the 8. f. towards the N. w.
and four appeared lower than 20 degrees
from the horizon They were many thousands III "um-
her, and they shot from one part OF the heavens 20
the other they would burst like rockets dscharg'ng
balls Of FIRE ia all directions. The morning was dark
and the atmosphere clear and cold. Ihose VINO
were 80 fr,unaie as witness the scene describe
az brilliant beyond conception, and lar snrpass'ng the
most costly artificial freworks.-Bos Trans.
Professor Olms,ed Of Yale College, gives the FOL
lowing account: A.. .I.
..To form some idea Of the phenomenon, the reader
NAV imapine a constant succession oil nreoal!s re-
semino tx ra,iiaDg ia all drections rom
ront im the heavens the zenith, and following the
arch Of the sky towards the horizon Ihey proceeds"
10 various distances from the rad'ang point leaving
afer them vivid stream of light and usually expl"d-
ed before they disappeared The balls were OF sar-
oms sixes and degrees Of spIendOr: some were mere
non,s hut others W ere larger and brighter than Jup
Ter ,r Venus and one seen by credible witness, be-
fore the writer was called was judged TO he nearly as
large ms the moon. The flashes oi light, though Tess
intense than lightning were so bright as TO awaken
neople in ther beds. Que ball that shot oil IN the
northwest direction and exploded near the star Capf
ia left lust behind the place OF exposoR phospho-
.n.cont tra;n ar peculiar beauty. This line was al