The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-24

MORE ABOUT THE MErEoR.-As our ex-
changes and correspondence from different
parts Of the country reach this Office, We
learn something about the extent over which
the beautiful meteor of Friday night was seen.
We find that 1t was observed as far west as Buf
falo. some four hundred miles from this city; as
far east as Boston and Newport, R. l.; as far
south as Norfolk, Va, and up In the Blue
Ridge Mountains of Pike county, Pa. Our cores
pondent from the latter point relates that when
this strange visitant had passed about half
mile at his place Of observation, 1t dropped
off with terrific explosion that he had the curl
osity to proceed to the place where he imagined
1t fell, and actually discovered "a round hole In
the ground" resembling what might be made
by the fall of cannon ball. The hole, he
says, was about foot in depth aud nine inches
in diameter, "and the place about 1t was unusu
ally hot" Our correspondent evidently be-
lieves that this meteor, which was seen as far
west as Buffalo, and as far south as Washington,
never got beyond the range Of bis vision In
Pike county, and had buried itself In that iden-
teal hole. OF the same character Is the state
ment made in Bridgeport paper, that zone Of
the stones passed through the window of q
house in East Bridgeport It was about two
inches square"
The captain of vessel, just arrived In port,
reported at this Office yesterday that he had
seen the meteor from his vessel two hundred
miles out at sea. His account generally coin
cides with all the others, except that he calcu.
lates that it remained in sight for twelve mi
nutes
There is come little discrepancy as to the
precise time of its appearance. In Washington,
Philadelphia and Buffalo, the time Is Fixed at
about halfpast nine. 1t may have been cor
rectly fxed at Buffalo. because New York time
Is twenty minutes faster than Buffalo time. If,
therefore, the meteor was seen at Buffalo at half
past nine o'clock precisely, and In this city at
quarter before ten precisely, then Its rate of
speed would be determinately ascertained to
have been at the rate of eighty miles per hour.
A line drawn from Buffalo to New York would
approximate the course taken by the meteor,
and II would therefore follow that, allowing for
the difference In time between the two cities,
II occupied just five minutes In trsversing the
intervening distance, about four hundred miles.
1t is very remarkable how universal was the
impression among all spectators In regard to
the Insignificant altitude Of the meteor. II has
been estimated at from one hundred to Eve hun
dred yards-none placing It at higher than
halfs mile. At Wilmington, Del, 1t seemed 80
low that it threatened to brush the tree tops
over which 1t sped. But the extent Of
territory over which 1t was visible,
and Its nearly vertical position to all specta-
tors. prove thai these estimates were absurdly
below the mark and set at fault all speculations
as to Its altitude.
II il deserving of notice In connection With
this phenomenon, and with the recent display
Of the aurora boreals, that the weather for the
pas< few days has become comparatively cool.
Ii may be recollected that the brilliant suroral
exhibitions that took place on the 26th of Al
gust last were followed by low degree Of the
temperature and by great storms at sea, psrticu-
larry on the British coast, where immense do
mage w@ done to shipping. 1t was In one Of
those gales that the terrible wreck Of the Royal
Charter took place of the leland of Anglesea.
These celestial phenomena, as we'll as the
comet which is now visible In California, are
sure to receive the earnest and critical attention
of scientific bodies and individuals In the United
States and Europe which will probably result
in giving to the world some more definite idea
of the causes and effects Of those wonders of the
heavens. In the meantime they form the great
staple Of conversation In all circles
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