Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1859-09-28
TUT HI' ''I'0"6"H s'V"''
Aurora BoTealia.

This beautiful phenomenon, 10 rarely ever vi
sible in Southern skies, But last night, Augus'
2Sth, We were favored with fine display Of th'
Meteor.
AS early as twilight closed, tho Northern sky
was slightly lurid, aud at times lighter than 9th
or portions OF tho heavens. At 7h Som. a few
streams showed themselves. leaving no doubt ol
the nature Of the light. We repaired at once q
the observatory Major Timmons, Prof. Thorn.
ton and myselD to observe more satisfactorily.
The whole sky, from ursa Major to the Zodia Q
In tho East, was occupied by the streams, or
spiral columns that rose from the horizon
Spread over the same extent, was IN exquisite ro-
slate tint, which faded and returned, and moved
from one extreme to the other Of the panorama.
Stately columns of light reaching up about 45 Q
from the horizon, moved in grave dignity west
ward, about one degree every ninety seconds OF
time. Some OF the groups Of towers preserved
their forms sufficiently to be identified, in their
march from the Milky Way to Ursa Major, OF
some forty degrees.
At o, =. NJ. the whole of the streaking had
faded, leaving only sort of twilight over the
Northern sky. We ceased observation.
1t 10 proper to romark that there were frequent
flashes of tightening, apparently from distant
clouds not less than u hundred miles, along the
whole extent Of the Aurora, out no clouds were
visible, except single streak near the horizon,
which ut first nistook for the arch on which the
pyramids Of aurora light usually rest 1t is not
probable, however, that tho atmospheric disturb
anees, and general rains along the northern sky
had anything to do with the production Of the
Aurora. On the contrary, mention it merely to
show that the meteor was not cut oil or impaired
by the interyen ion of Storm but had such an
altitude, and was u part Of 10 extended pheno-
menon, us not to be disturbed by local atmospher-
ic movements.
At 3 A. NJ. (29th) awoko and porceving that
1t was very light outside, rose, and found the
whole northern heavens again on fire. Ascend
irg to the Observatory, was repaid by display
have never seen cqualed since the memorable
Aurora of Sept l 1889. The whole distance
before named was tinted with the roseate hue
darker, nearly crimsoned, at the two TANKS. In
thu centre, near the Meoidian, stood Stupendous
pyramid, of white light. with its apex near the
Zenith. On either side ut some twenty degrees,
stood pyramid Of rosy light, each about sixty
degrees in height, and in exactly symetrical po-
sitions. ''The Palace of the Sylphid Queen"
described by Drake, must have seemed like this
sublime architecture.
ats lofty columns cleaning bright.
Were steamers OF the Northern light"
Scarcely had sketched the outline Of this
noble spectacle. when it faded, and suddenly
rent the Columns ino small spires, Us if by magic.
All dritted westward and faded, returned, and
faded again and again
"Till morninw spread her rosy wings
And rolled her chariot wheels OF light"
c. G. FORSIEY.
P. S.-The needle was agitated, trembled and
danced during the display-showing it's well es
tablishcd magnetic or electric character.