The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-10


There are still living many persons who re-
member distinctly the grand display of meteors
or falling stars which occurred on the morning
of November Is, 1885, Between the years A. d.
SOS and 1888 not less than thirteen displays of
the same character have been recorded, and
rom the TACT that they have been separated
from each other by the third part of a cen.
tury, or by some multiple of that period
it has been generally supposed that we would
this year be treated to q star.shower of the most
extraordinary magnitude. The great shower of
November, 1888, was preceded by displays of a
minor character during the month of Noyem
ber of the two previous years. On the 18th of
November last similar premonitory shower
occurred, frst-class meteors having been seen at
the Greenwich Observatory, at the rate of two
hundred and fifty per hour.
The Great Meteoric shower Eynec,.5
Next Week.
Professor Newton, of Yale College has yiveo
the subject careful attention during several
years past, and from his scientific calculations
he mas confidently predicted that "the next pas
sage OF the earth through the centre of the
meteoric group will take place two hours after
sunrise at Greenwich, on the morning of the
l4th OF November, 1866"
III has been recommended. however that -
watch be kept on the morning of the 18th. as it
rs possible that the moment of their greatest
brightness may happen one day before the time
predicted.
Scientific men throughout the world appear
to have accepted the deductions of Professor
Newton as so conclusive, that reparations have
been generally made throughout Europe and
the United States TO make careful observations
on the phenomenon, in case it should occur. In
order that our readers may be prepared for this
great event, we herewith present to them a
careful compilation of tbe history OF meteoric
phenomena of the past
MeteOric Record Of the old Chrouieles.
From a curious old work, in two volumes,
published in London, by T. Lougmau and A.
Milar, in the year l749, aud having for its title
"a General Chronological History OF the Air,
Weather Seasons, Meteors, Etc. we extract
the following catalogue of meteoric displays of
various kinds:-
Fiery MeteorS, as TRADES Ignita (Fiery
Beamsl, Dragons, LdnceS, Lamps BIkS, etc.
A.D.
49, Several Nights Pillar of Fire from N. to f.
49, Heavens on Fiery Flames, and other
555. Like Spear from N. TO w.
579. Fire run thro the Heavens.
7Ss. naked Sword, 80 Nights together.
Palestine
7ss. England; strange Fiery Meteors seen, and
fell to the Earth.
1885, England; Fiery DRAGONS in the air, soon |
after followed a severe famine.
1923. TWinkling Fires like Stars run IN the Sky /
1000. Balls of Fire fell.
1Ol2. Like huge Tower of Fire. fell with
great Noise.
1039. Strange Beams of Fire fell.
1070. Feb. Two golden-coloured Pillar, rose a |
good way with the Sun.
1888. Fiery Dragons, Lgais Sdcer Sacred Fire) |
1904. Flashes OF Fire fell from the Sky.
1903. Fiery Dragons.
110l. Fire flying.
HOG. Flying Fire and new Stars seen.
1l43. Balls of Fire glanced and shined.
ll77. Nov. Dec Beams, Dragons &c.
1915. White Crosses, green Comets, &c.
1918. Dragons and Hurricane, st. Luke's Day.
1929. Dragons.
1928. Meteors Thunder, and Lightning all Sum
mer.
1888. Dragons in June; rainy Summer
l347. Pillar of Fire at AvignOn.
1850. Meteors and stormy, then Drought.
1860. Many Fiery Meteors.
1889. April. Fiery Dragons.
1895. Apr. Many Dragons; all Nov. and Dec.
49,, Iqots Fatuus lwill o the Wisp).
1910. Heavens on Fiery Flames, and Meteors;
rained stones from go TO l2O 10. each.
1920 Sept. A. Far Ardens "a Blazing TorchJ.
1921. June 10. Bllay, Balls of Fire.
1926. Apr. "a. Globes of Fire and Prodigy.
l547. Dec. Is. Ball of Fire.
1548. Feb. 10. Fiery Meteor.
1861. Jan. l9. Germany, Globe of Fire
1854. June 49, Balls of Fire; Feb. 10. Trabs
Ignea "a Fiery Beam).
1856. Apr. Lampas Ardens.
l56O Feb. 10. Jan. 30. TRADES Ignee abroad.
1874. Sept. IA, Is, or Nov. Many meteors, no
Wind nor Thunder.
1917 Feb. z. black Balls, with clear Rays.
1915 March IL. Paris. Many Meteors this year.
1923. May 81. Trabs lgnea Aug. s. Nov. 7.
1866 July l9. Trabs Ignivoma "a Torch vomt-
ing Fire); Apr, II. Balls; May 8. Oct
13. Chasms.
1889. Jan. 80. Chasm, Nuremberg.
l643. Oct. Fiery Meteors, Breslau.
1860. Oct 8. Sheets OF Fire near Hull.
Although many of the phenomena recorded in
the above table we're undoubtedly nothing more
than displays of the Aurora Borealis and
ZOdiacal Light, still the greater part were pro-
badly of strictly meteoric character; and as ii
is now impossible to distinguish one from the
other, we have printed the entire table verbatim.
How the Chroniclers Have Described
Meteortc Showers.
Owing TO the ignorance and superstition of
the early chroniclers, all these unusual pheno-
uaena were hooked upon in the light of prodi-
Eies, and some of the accounts which they have
given Of them are as ludicrous as they are
candid,