Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1833-11-21
A SHOWER OF FIRE.

While most of our fellow citizens
were comfortably wrapt in the arms
of Somnus, we beheld one of the most
sublime and awful spectacles which
nature can present.-At five o'clock
this morning the sky was perfectly
serene, and not cloud was to be seen.
On sudden the heavens became illu-
minated by thousands Of shooting stars
going in the direction of the n. w.
The phenomenon lasted with ,ut inter.
F! mission for nearly thirty minutes. The
meteors were of various sizes, some
larger, some smaller, some forming
long trains, which remained for seye
raj seconds in the Heavens. They
were observed not in one part OF the
sky only, but the North, the South,
the East and the West, were equally
spangled. At twenty minutes past five
a meteor, we would suppose, about six
, inches in diameter, exploded with con-
siderable noise, almost perpendicularly
over the N. w. part ofthe city. The
blaze was splendid, so as to give the
sky the appearance sunrise. 1t shot
in the direction of the N. W., leaving
a stream Of light, which assumed a
serpentine form, apparently Of 80 feet
in length, and lasted more than one
| minute.
We were amused at the different
effects produced upon the few behold
ers,--some in dreadful alright, pre-
dicted the end of the world, others of
more stern souls were sure that it at
least prognosticated some dreadful war;
whilst the Philosopher, smiling at their
simplicity, calmly viewed the phenome-
non, wonderful as it was.
The sight Of the Heavens this morn
ing, would, we think, convert even
Prof. Clap from his theory, that me-
teors are TERRESTRIAL, comets, revolv-
ing round the earth, as the Solar Com
cts revolve around the Sun.
We are indebted to highly intelli-
gent friend for the following theory
respecting the phenomenon
at has been generally recognized
by philosophers, that these meteorie
appearances are produced by solid bo-
dies, passing through the higher re-
gions of the atmosphere with prodigi-
Gus velocity, and producing light by
/ the electricity they excite. This APP
t pears to be incontestably proved by
, the fact of these bodies frequently fall
ling to the surface of the earth--which
can only happen, however, when their
velocity becomes so much retarded
that the centripetal force Of the earth'>
| attraction becomes greater than then
own centrifugal force. This retarda
I ton is matter Of National calcula
ton and may be occasioned either by
G the increased resistance OF the densel
). regions Of the atmosphere, or by thu
d bodies themselves, by any cause, burst
;. ing, and thus offering greater sur
n face to the air through which the,
c pass.
e philosophers, however, do not a
0 gree as to the origin of these bodies
Some attribute them to the stones e
iected by the VOLCANOES of the moon t
o q. sufficient distance to come within tn
ID earth's attractions; others believe Their
n to be thrown up by our volcano
,r to sufficient height to give ther
le centrifugal force strong enough t
,e make them revolve round the eartl
- until, from accidental causes, the
o. fall within its atmosphere, and occas
Id onally to its surface.
g. "The theory, however, first propC
x sed by Professor Clap of Yale Colleg'
ge appears to have the most advocates
al He supposes that there are larg
to number of solid substances revolvin
to continually round the earth, probabl
as the product of the destruction of SON
at Of the smaller planets, such as Vest
Juno, Ceres or Pallas, and forced b
&c. accidental combination of power, wit
,r. in the sphere of the earth's attraction
Of These are entirely invisible, until,
ID. before mentioned, coming within Il
les earth's atmosphere, they give bril-
ra. ant hight by the vivid electricity tn
the excite.
re. "The appearance this morning seer
18th to confirm this theory. The contlnu
hat train of meteors, all proceeding in t
er- same direction, is difficult to be q
My counted for, on any other supposltic
can We hope the most minute deta
ries will be collected throughout the cot
pom try, regarding this most INTEREST,"
our phenomenon.-Bdh. Gar.