The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-02-12
PEMBINA, MIN. Jan. I'd, 1852.

PEMBINA, MIN. Jan. I'd, 1852.
FRIEND BoND:-After wishing you happy
Newyear, &c., submit for your consideration
my report Of the weather for the month Of De.
cember.
You will perceive it requires a sharp lookout
TO keep it in check, and fear should Kittson's
testimony be taken, he would state that the depu-
ty had been asleep some four or fte days. But
l assure you he was only e1perim enting a lit
tic.
During the month there were but entire cea,
days and generally clear; entire cloudy and
4 generally cloudy. The rest variable.
There was but one day Of perfect calm between
sun rise and sun set; but cams generally prevail
ing through the night, and such nights too, the
most beautiful imaginable.
The prevailing winds, N. w. and 5. e., the
most dissgreeable are from the n. E., T.. and S.
those being damp and chilly North Westers are
cold and dry, while those from the w. and s. w
are pleasant and bring fine weather.
On the night :of the 18th and 10Th it blew a
regular stampede from the N. w. tearing the logs
from the roof of my shanty and carrying the
shingles (bark) st. Paui-ward. Such things as
caroles, bark canoes, loose plank &c, were
pricked down, next day, as absent without leave.
Between 7 and s inches snow fell, sprinkle
or two of rain and enc sleet.
curry standing at 2 p M. 33deg. above zero.
The I4th and 18th were the coolest, the ther-
mometsr at sun set on the l4th being 81 degrees
below zero, and at sunrise on the 18th 3S.
Always trying to avoid that which is mean,
have left the column Of mean temperature out OF
my table, which the Chief Clerk ifhe sees fit can
add himself
There were Auroras, and are cIassed from
the tables Of the Smithsonian institute But two
of them were in any ways striking. The peeu-
iarity Of that of ihe 22d, being in the Z. and N.
E, brightest due f. light red and fiery.
That of the %. was very pretty affair com
mencing at l-2 p. NJ. Sky clear and a silvery
bright moon and star light night. First appear
shows her face, then rapidly assuming class ex-
tending from the N. w. horizon to the N. f.
arch, bright white, and segment very dark.
But the fantasies of the outsiders constituted the
main beauty of the scene, some times taking the
form of the rainbow and numbering from one to
three above the arch showed most grandly. Then
rays, beams and patches Of light would flash up
in the E. running west almost as quick as the
eye. The outsiders made their exit about 10, but
the arch continued bright at III , when retired
and further deponent sayeth not.
Dec. 18th, 8 p. NJ, observed large and spen.
did meteor slowly traversing the ~ E. sky frcn
Z. to W., appeared like large ball or globe o.
fire, brigh white light, travelling very slow, leaving
no light in its track; was i'll sight as much as
minute and exploded without leaving spark.
The first mirage of the season on the even
ing of the 23d at sun set, showing plainly tho
whole course of the River Marais, the timber or
its banks appearing but few miles distant. The
houses to the north that can hardly be seer
through a common atmosphere, were raised high
showing plainly their houses and things lying abOu
on the ground.
The I'd and last of the month, was on the morn
ing Of the 29th from sunrise until 10 o'clock, anG
was grand exhibition. Not only the course o
the Marais could be traced, but Oak Island IL
miles distant was clear to the view, and the noun
tain about 30 miles off was dimly seen in the dis
tance.
They are the first ,nirages ever witnessed
and it is novel thing to be butted in the face b,
things you know to be so many miles off,
The phenomena Of the Aurora, the Mirage, thu
beautifully frosting Of trees and vegetation, with
the changes of the atmosphere SC, will pay fol
wntering in this climate, and if for nothing else
shall never regret having spent one winter or
49deg of North Latitude in these Nerth Westerr
wds.
know Of no point in Uncle Sans domain.
better situated for an observatory than this. L
being on his most northern boundary, near mid
way between the Atlnntic and Pacific Oceans
and in the range Of the great plains that exten
from the North Pole in a southerly direction along
the base Of the Rocky Mountains, and South Eas
terly through Minnesota Wisconsin and Illinois
Perfectly free from the influence Of winds
from the Oceans or Northern Lakes, we are sur
rounded by an atmosphere purely our own.
1 regret my inability to do justice to it ard pc
ti,ion that the Chief Clerk dePutise a more com
pctent person and forward him on by the first do.
train telegraph.
With good health and clear conscience re
main ., s.-4. ,.s la.-
Your Friend, f'
CIfAS. CAVILEER. r.
Dep. Clerk, Weather,
..el1... Pembina Dist,
,f ef rs sf. ..-s. Minnesota.
w RoND Head r. Ci,k Neafher