The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-12-20
THE SHOWER or mnrEoRs IN ENG.
LAND.


The leading editorial article o.
the London Times, Of November Is
says:
Looking where we would it was the
same in the far west, and throughout
the entire north, there was either the
bright glancing speck of light, or the
long train. or what seemed an actual
ball of light, That illuminated the coun-
try, and was slow to die away. As
the night advanced these meteors
chased one another across the sky,
following in one another's track, or
running side by side. The heavens
seemed olive with this unwonted host.
There were times whom IL seemed as if
mighty winG had caught the old
stars, loosed then from their holdings,
and swept them across the armament.
The Olympian himself might have
been Supposed 90 the throne launch
ing his,bolts against al offending or
foryetful world. There he was all but
visible. for at that one place there
were meteors that appeared only az
spots to disappear, or TO traverse only
Just as much space as would show mo-
tion. That, in fact, was The very path
way of all this artillery, which was
thus foreshortened, like a column oi
soldiers, as seen by those that have
to bear the brunt. In the course oi
two or three hours there must have
been many thousands of these visitors
usually so rare. Even when the sky
became partially overcast they still
showed themselves at every opening
and shone. through the vail of clouds
I Few, indeed, VINO saw II had. eve
seen the like, or could expect ever t.
see it,.
= 4 X "These stones enter ou
atmosphere with velocity Of fort,
miles per second, and destroy them
selves, as it we're, by their own vic
lence, for, when once arrested by ou
grosser air, they are instantly melted
and dIssipated in the air. That pro
cess however, is only possible will
very small stones, estimated by grains
for an aerolite OF only few pound
could only have its surface affected b,
such a momentary operation. Is
quite impossible that some day tn
earth, may have to encounter NOR
bulky metal, more comparable to ou
mundane artillery? Showers ofstone
there have been; and there evidcntl.
is no limit to their size, either in his
tory or in science, for the laws whic
govern the movement Of every bod
, in our solar system apply equally t
all sizes and all substances, from TIL
earth to a grain of dust, from a mas
of metal to vapor. Here is show
: er of missiles, of unknown weight an
b inconceivable velocity, always in MI
! ton from some unknown battery. an
/. every human generation has to ru
: the gal ntlet. Will this atmosphere
+; ours always prove an absolute prote'
ton. and turn off these bolts, as mer
Q is said to do the shafts of envy an
| detraction? That is question at lea'
f to be thought of.
AT SOUTHAMPTON.
; Tho ''shower" began at Sonthaml
!. ton at half past eleven on Tuesda
night, and did not entirely cease unit
f six O'clock Wednesday morning
n The direction of the meteors was fro
the east to west. The fight of son
n of them lasted FIVE or six second
Q some appeared as big as cricket-ba
/. They were of blueish coloT u
smaller meteors we're of yellowi
: red color. A great humber of the i
q habitants witnessed the phenomen
v At times the meteors shooting athwa
!, the sky from, their number rapid
e and brilliancy, formed a maguifce
8, spectacle.
n