The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1860-09-06
RTANBURG, S. c., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6. 1860.

surface. Its velocity We. about three miles
per second. An explosion took place over
Weston, and masses of stone fell, weighing
about half n ton. This could have been
buta very small part Of the original, which
must have continued on its course: and the
observation at Weston, Of its gradual dis
appearance, favors the idea. As its course
was soulberly, and nearly in the meridian
OF that place, the other fragments, if it de-
sceEded, must have fallen into the ocean.
The next aerolte WAS seen all over New
England on the evening Of September 80,
1850, and is in some respects the most re-
markable OF any on record. II is sometimes
known as the Jenny Lind Meteor" on nc
count of its exisieOce. within the great
dome o. the Cambridge Observatory, being
first made known by the illustrious vocal
list turning suddenly ard excitingly away
from the great telescope, where she was
viewing the planet Saturn, near which the
aeroliteeSploded. The sudden illumination
Of the field of the telescope, by the aerolite,
was the cause OF her surprise. The writer
will never forget the startling effect Of the
sudden concentration Of great light in the
field of The comet.seeker with which Le WAS
w ''O e'"C, ttStOu VI Tue Uety-
ems, quite remote from that in which the
aeroli'e exploded. The astronomers Of the
observatory noted very exactly the place of
explosion among the stars, and executed
drawings 1T the wonderful radiance il left be-
hind, which remained ,is;l lie planet in differ
ent forms for more than an hour. Its course.
IN ihe east, was in a northerly direction.
The Cambridge and Nantucket observations
ma'le lis distance from the former place AT
the time of its explosion about one hundred
miles, aud fifty miles above the ocean.
Ihe duration OF It's ligh, renders this aero
lite memorable.
The third, and probably much the largest,
was that which appeared on the evening of
July 20, 1860. Its appearance in the early
part OF the evening was favorable for gen.
eraI observation; and it appears to have
been seen from Montreal to Norfolk, Va.
and from Detroit TO Portland. Me- Its phy
steal appearance in this vicinity was that
OF two separate nuclei, side by side, throw
ing oil sparks which made bright train
OF several degrees in length. II is somewhat
remarkable that the usual phenomena Of
explosion was nowhere seen. This is sus.
tanned by the fact that as yet no nose was
heard emana,ing from the aerolite. In all
probability it passed on its planetary career.
The approximate calculations OF Prof Bond,
OF Cambridge, and DR.. Perkins, of Newbu-
Typmt, apparently based on different o5
se'va''ons, concur in making its course
nearly over the northern part Of Pennsyl.
van'a and New Jersey. and Long Island
Sound, with velocity Of about 25 miles
per second, at an elevation Of % miles above
the eaith. The magnitude, velocity, and the
course of this body will. undoubtedly, be
very exactly ascertained from the great
number OF observations made on it during
lis visibility.
The phenomenon is usually 40 sudden
aud so startling, ,la, it is gone before the OBJ
server thinks TO note lis place among the
stars when first and last seen, and the
time aud duration Of its appearance, which
wuu!d furnish data for the calculation OF the
clements of It's path, in connection with
another distant place. Persons observing
these bodies would greatly aid scientific
men in their investigation Of aeroli,es. If
they would attend To tie nothing vf the
above few simple facts