The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-09

POSED TO Be Identical Nth he one Seen "a NeD YorkE
is SEEN all Along the Ltne Of the 7segraph-Idai' q tN
Peope--7ae Appoarasce Of he Night-LesTs from Pr
ties Who Sac the Meteor, dc
Ihave read with great interest the numerous commup'
cations which you given place to in the Columns
the Herald describing the appearance OF tuc ''e''"
phenomenon Of Friday night, the 2Oth UT
The object OF my present communication is TO state that
nj ouarter before ten o'clock last night (the Pay, there
arose souheas, from city, apparently mile from our
public square meoyc mass OF rose color, encrcled
bv buish halo II advanced rapidly along an arc the
highest altitude q which about thirty degrees above
the horizon alter remaining in sight from twelve
fifteen seconds il descended abruptly in the north vest
In us progress IL ilanined the whole town and
rounding country ITS light VAS so intensely brilliant az
to pale the moonOeams, the being then full shining
with couaess radiance, about 65 degrees altitude The
difference Of time between here and New York would
make the hour "a quarter Of ten) when it here
a quarter to eleven with you.
The .eor, it reached It's highest elevation Ia the
cast 80 degrees, displayed disc fully equal 70 the dt'
meter OF the It's color like pearl, transparent
and dazzngy Illuminated. II seemed twice TO explode
in is passage, dis'haTging its Brilliant pearilSe
light ia two successive flashes OF wonderful bright
uess During its progress 1t threw OF stars Of DIRE,
which falling behind, created glowing train OF light
from ten TO twelve degrees extent In this train
derry coma several explosions TO the eye not TO the ear,
took place followed by showers Of corruscaons that
lighted up the whole country to the horizon with bril-
Iancy far exceeding that of moonlight
It's passage attended by kissing sound, If the
testimony OF great number Of persons who witnessed
this magnificent object is to be received
My purpose in writing to you to furnish data an
facts added TO others from other pens by which the
suppositon that the great meteor when in New
York and simultaneously between the ATTITUDES OF Nor
a.. l..
verified.
The latitude of this place Is "a degrees is minutes,
Longitude IL degrees 10 minutes.
This morning the whole engaged in discussin,
the wonderful visiter From several gentlemen I ob
tanned accounts of their personal observations in writing
From all the descriptions either this is iienti
Cal with that seen In New York, reappearng with
southern declnation after making circuit OF the GLOBE
or similar in all respects, save the double disc
Although citizens sure they 1t fan beyond
the not far north Of 81 Thomas Hall, suspectiug
its true character went this morning TO tue telegraph
operator M A p. Purnen, who kindly voiunteerei to
make inquiries for along the line. From Grand Junc
toa twenty miles north Of this place tue
eyes, 1t Il passed directly over oar place aud
exploded, and this morning everybody s out looking for
From Memphis, Nashville, Cairo Illinois New Orleans
and other cities the reply was that 1t hal been Smut
tsaeOlsy passing over those places.
These answers determine the great altitude and vast
size OF the body, wh;h could be seen at the saus
ment at points Que thousand miles apart aud which III
the same time illumined with its splendor many dc
grecs OF latitude. The size Of such body OF light 10 BE-
visible SO far aud with such Illuminating power, could
he les than a league In diameter, nor less than six
hundred miles high. An amateur astronomer OF great
pcence near me insists tha. II large a staten
Island aud twelve hundred miles high aud was an aeroe
belonging 70 the muuiinoas group OF asteroids which
has nte5 sected the earths orbit and been
the nnueEce OF its gravta,ion aad made TO revolve
around IT, or course all sorts OF theories viii be sug
gested. but science will be furnished by this exraord
nary meteor with its Of ng1t, with solution Of
the problem Of the indus ornHdt os comets, OF which
this Is one in miniature, Illustrating N It's action ana
tha
OF 1855, and which Professor Bond has 50 admirably
represented to his readers In the Hl'hrniicH Monthly
One Of the observers last night compared ths meteor
ookipg Ike train OF all abaze, with train OF
sparks streaming behind. lie remarked thai maze MIN
iremble
Another said he thought the world TO be set hre
from the heavens
child beautifully said perhaps it is great angel
I menton these TO give an idea Of the spendor aud
beauty Of the spectacle BY some II WAS spoken OF as
Nearly every one Is sure that explosions attended its
transit and all speak Of The rismaie glory Of The balls "
ere which composed IS tfain.
would add tina, the night was perfectly calm AMI
coudless That flashes Of ghaing vcry vivid followed
its disappearance while tinted light continued Cor
several minutes in the northeast In sas drecii OF ITS
dsappearanee.
The merclry properly protected Fahrenheit thermo
meter marked 50 degrees al nine oeosk and fell ao1aI
two degrees by quarter before ten when the meteor 40
peHed. The night was very snyy aud without any
breeze bat directly after the DISAPPEARANCE Of the meteor
cool wind which set All the trees is lively motioa.
To day the ssy has been Bet With cumuli, and Ia the
nfiernoon thunder was heard from dark cloud 10 tbs
southeast, and several Aprilke shower clouds pissed
over the city without rain, while the horizon hazy
and autumna IN its aspect 10 every case Il vas visible
oriy from windows oa the east side OF houses.
Tue above particulars recorded as 10 combnat,n
with other facts which may be furnished from other qaa
tiers tney may furnish data for the scientific egcdSt5n
OF this mystery OF the skies All scientific men, csp cly
those connected with Astronomical observations cannot
but be under OBLIGATIONS 70 yonr Journal Tor providing
them with so great number OF particulars connected
If the one we bcheld last night the same seen Ia Nes
aha vat hear ma NJ hrf vfs IN
our earth J. III iNGRAHAA
APPEARANCE OF THE AsFEos.
When rst visible IL directly IN the southeast, All
moving very mAjesoaly towards the Invest, having
the appearance a, nrs OF large rocket graiuAly making
Its way towards the earth. AZ II Approached nearer
increased rapidly In size until supposed the head 10 BE-
about the bgness Of large barrel and the body era
dusy dwndng down to about the length Of twenty feet
all having the appearance Of solid mas Of moving IRE,
frcm the earth Il exploded, ,mpanied by Kissing
noise. Immediately the whole heavens and earth seemed
70 be consumed In great cash OF Ore, intermingi
with various coored lgh ne forth from the meteor
the whole then disappeared. and seemed TO drop In
about the middle OF the town. W. c. KNAPP.
On the evening OF the "a August went 10 bed about
quarter ten O'Clock; before falling asleep my
tiOn attracted BY sudden light in my room similar
10 vivid aAsh OF lightning. AZ there but few
clouds TO be before retired fastened winloS
oo the east side o he house. and lumn BODY
appearance two feet In diameter, passing from The sDath
grcee above the horizon, followed by train OF xht from
seventy avc TO one hundred Zee, length rus na,sgs
Of bright red hue. Tue train In part sts ~ IN,
same color, with occasional explosions giving the ag
peArance Of fame. Tue time u wai in uAasga sup
pose WA about dfteon seconds.
J. u. " LTTcHFIELD, IN.
FROM LIEUTENANT CHARLES L. BRACKfN.
HoIr srNScs, Miss, August .. 1880.
REv. Mr.. NoRAHAN.-
DxsE SR--A your request viii attempt b gige yo1
brief account q the phenomenon Which perceived Al
nbou, ten O'Clock r " yesterday. TIE evening vac
rccdingiy sury, thermometer ranging from So g. o.
degrees, not cloud visible a breath u air as,ir