Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-06-17
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE NEW ORLEANS DELTA!
Extraordinary Natural Phenomenon A
hid with Telescope Powers of Vision.

EpIroRs DEITA-flavng Just returnedfrom
tour through Opeousas, hasten 10 lay be-
fore your readers brief account OF one of the
most extraordinary phenomena that human
nature perhaps, ever exhibited. AS | intend
10 return Immediately, with view 10 make
arrangements with the parents of this freak Of
Nature, so that the public may have oppor-
unity of witnessing one Of the most wonder
full objects ever contemplated. will not at
present. for obpious reasons disclose ''the local
habitaton and the name" of this accidental
revelation.
In travelling through section of the parish
above mentioned, not remote from the Sabine,
INV horse, from having lost a shoe, became
somewhat lame. Abouttw hours before sun
down pulled up (belng in light vehicln) at
a house having attached TO IT the sembIance OF
a smithy. Alighting, enquired OF a female
standing in the door. if my horse could be ac-
commodated with shoe; she replied thather
husband would be in shortly, and requested
me to walk in until his arrival. In few min
utes the brawny person of the smith darkened
the back door of the premises. and Simultane-
ously a little urchin who was entering the
front way struck his foot against the sui, and
was precipitated headlong and heavily upon
the floor. The wife Of the smith in an instant
raised the fallen boy and with mothers ten
derness wiped away his tears while the ia
ther uttered imprecatlons on the stubborn aWk-
wardnesS of the unfortunate child. After ex-
planning my visit, and requesting the smith TO
supply the loss my horse had sustained, he
Immediately led him away for that purp6se.-
Having observed in the eyes of the Little one a
popularity of formation, had an opportunity,
while he of the anvil was engaged, of indulg-
ing an awakened curiosity. Drawing the
child near me, found his eyes unusually
large, but not remarkably prominent The
IRIS, which was Of light hazel color. encroa-
ched more than ordinarily on the selerotlc coat.
and the widely dated pupil, on examination,
proved to have no contractlle energy. In con-
verSauon with the mother, she observed that
her son could discover objects at inconceivable
A distances, but when they We're within the
Iange OF ordinary vlsioG, he appeared as blind
as an owl at noontlde' This communication
gave a solution to the stubborn awkwardness
\ oithlS interesting child. AS had desire TO
test the acuteness of his sight by an observa-
non on the satellites OF Jupiter, YOU may Judge
Of my pleasure when received an invitation
A 10 remain for the night. Soon after supper,
4 hastened 10 make the experiment The 6rma-
nenl was studded with its starry gems--a
a westerly wind having rendered the atmosphere
as pellucld as possihle-and Jupiter and Sat
4 urn We're TO be seen floating in majestic splen
dor, without rival among the thousands Of
lhel Si'ttermg contemporaries. Having with
me small telescope, of power sufficient TO
observe the satellites o. Jupiter, | directed the
" boys attention to this planet at the same time
a requesting him TO inform me if he saw any
& small summaries IN lis vicinity, and to state how
ihey were situated with regard to the primary
body. In moment he asserted that he saw
three balls like golden marbles, one above
he planet. one on the right, and the other on
he left hand" then asked him their appa-
tent relative distances from the main body,
bad he answered that the upper one was the
post remote. and that on the left the least.
Immediately pointed the telescope 10 the spot
nd found, 10 my Undesirable astonishmenl
bat the boy was infinitely correct in every
frncular, HIS attention was next drawn to
planet Saturn, when he announced that he
re- olu plainly discern four small bodies similar
E& 'AoSe aulacent 10 jupiter, but of an interior
III ms instance was not prepared for
X#m investigation, the power Of nv instrument
pelng TOO limited, The next morning [ pur-
ped my journey. with the intention Of return.
Pc IN few days TO renew my inquiries. On
hy return instituted other experiments that
Proved TO a demonstrators, the telescopic vi.
Jon Of the child, but as have already writ.
tn more than intended, | shall not now At.
fmpt recapulation of them; | may men
on, however, that during my absence the rel.
4 hlye positions ofthe moons of Jupiter had
81 paterlally changed. we, this wonderful boy
gam fully convinced me that his unasssted
ght reached as Tar at least, as my telescope
| intend TO write YOU again, giving in de
several experiments made on the same sub
4 Fct, Shall close this article.
Very respectfully, yours,
T. b.
rankin. - Majy's Parish, La. Nav q