The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-10-02
.oCT0BSR 2. 1853.
FRIDAY MORNING
A Re m l. a bic rhenomenOn..-i
Chapter of similar Ones.

writer in the Staunion Spectator,
dating at Lewisbufg. HreeHbrer comfy,
Va. Sept 18th, writes to that paper a
description of remarkable atmospheric
phenomenon witnessed in that town. 1t
vas seen by our pickets few miles from
the town. The same Scene has been de
scribed in several respectable papers, the
editors Of which all vouch ior the relia
hility OF their infofmants. The writer
says,
A remarkable phenomenon was witnessed
. i,w miles west OF this place, At the house
,,i Mrs rearcy, Oh the first day OF this
month, at about > O'Clock Z. Nj, by Mr.
Moses Dwyer, her neighbor, who happened
10 be seated in her porch at the time, as well
"a 10y others at Or near the house.
The weather Was quite hot aud dry, not a
cloud could be seeu, no wind even ruf1'eu the
foliage ON the surrounding trees. All th'hB'
h,ipV propitioits the grand panorama began
To move .Iuat over and fhfongfffhe tops ui
tine trees Oh The adj accent bills ON the Son'h,
immense Numbers of rolls resembling cotton
orsmoke, apparently of the size and shape
nf door, seemed to be passing rapidly
through the air, yet III beautiful order aud
regularity The rolls seemed 10 be tinged on
,h, edre with light green, so as TO resemble
g, border on deep fringe. There were apta
re,1;iy thousands ofthein, and were, perhaps,
nm hour in getting by. Alter these had passed
over and ont OF eixht the scene was changed
from the air above to the earth beneath
ana became more intensely interesting to
thr eprci.fors who were Witnessing the
p.uorlma from different stand points. In
The deep valley beneath, thousands upon
thousands OF (apparontlyI human beings
iurnl came III view travelling in the sa ne
direction Of the rolis, marching in good or
der. some thirty or forty in DEPTH moving
,,niti,- .ioubie-quick' '-snd commenced
ascending the sides ot the almost inenr-
mountahle hilla opposite. and had the stoop
,ecuiiar 10 men when they ascend a steep
,nonntan There seemed to be great yarie.
r. in the size ot the men, some were very
l.rgs whilst others were quite small Their
arms. leps, and heads could be distinctly
seen in motion They seemed to observe
strict military discipline, and there were no
sl'Lyglers.
there was uniformity of dress, loose white
houses or shirts, with white pants, wolc
hats, aud were without guns, swords, or any
thing that Indicated "men of war" On
lhey came through the valley and over the
steep hill crossing the road, and finally pass
ing out of sight, in direction due north
lr0m those who were looking on.
The gentleman who Witnessed this is
man with whom you were once acquaiIted,
bIr Editor, and as truthful man as we have
in this county, aud as little liable to be car
RED away bg "fanciful specuations" ms any
man living. Four others respectable ladies'
and "A servant girl Wit messed this strange
phenomenon. W.
T. Son the 1ith inst. the same scene,
almost identical, was seen by eight or ten OF
our pickets at Burgers Mil and by many of
The citizens in that neighborhood; this il
about four miles eust OF Pearcy's. II was
about one hour passing.
A writer in the Spectator argues that
the phenomenon described above was
mirage, and gives the following similar
Instances.
lst GA july !6th, 1I97, about r. NJ, al
Hastings, Oh the south coast of England, u
large portion OF the coast of France appear
ci to Ii number OF observers so distinctly, +.
that sailors, who were spectators OF the !
eerue, pointed ont to the narrator and wit
uess Of the phenomenon number OF places
easily recognized with tie naked eye, but
iulthrr Increased III disslnc'ness 10y the use
Of the telescope PAGES known as the Bay,
tie Old Head, and Dover Cili3, even the
French fishing boats, aud portions OF the
french coast at a distance from 50 to 80
Iule- all appearing as near rs II they were
sailing at i small distance from the coast.
"a Ia the highlands OF Scotland, il l,,i,
Nj Wren and Others observed upon au eX-
ifeuiely pIecipitous hill the figure OF 4 man,
with 4 dog, pursuing several horses, all run
hing al a most rapid rate, until they finally
disappeared, ali ui which proved to be a
mere scene similar to others oi the kind -
Some time atterward, ia the same locality,
as observed by the inhabitants for nits
4rVuud, there was seen u troop OF horScmen
Advancing in close ranks aud at u brisk pace.
The various eyoutions through which the
troops passed were distinctly visible, aud
observed by all These appearances were
SUPPOSED 10 be the images OF a body OF ,
rebels drilling themselves previous To the
rebellion OF iIi5. !
"a. The Spectre OF the roCkcn' IN the .
nirtz Mountains III Germany, which is OF
frequent occurrence, representing often
lines a magniHtd image OF the observer,
aud 0bcyiDE all of his inOtions, is too well
kUUwu 10 alllde to more definitely
4th On Sunday, the 18th December, 1896,
the clergy in the vicinity "i Polctiers, III
France, were engaged Ia the exercises OF the
jubilee which preceded the iestival OF ChIist-
mas Three thousand spectators were pres
ent They had planted, 0s part OF the cere-
inouy, large cross, IS feet high and painted
red, III the open air before the church. /
About . in the afternoon similar celestial .
cross suddenly appeared in the heavens,
about 2OO feet above the horizon, and appa-
rcntly about 40 feet in length, OF bright
silver color tinged with red.
The causes OF certain phenomena, similar
h those above mentioned, have been Illus
tlated IN an interesting manner 10y the eX-
perments Of DIR. NOilaston upon different
gefractiug media.