The national Republican., 1867-11-15
LOCAL DEPARTING ENT.

TnE MErEontc DISPLAY YESTERDAY Monk.
kG.-As carly as eleven o'clock on Wednesday
night, few meteors were distinguished In the
eastern sky, but none worth mentioning appeared
until about O'Clock Of yesterday morning.
A full corps Of Astronomers were on hand at the
National Observatory, under the direction Of d.
II. Sands, esq., Commodore and Superintendent.
Tho following 10 the Commodore's report to the
Secretary of the Navy, which will bc read with
interest:
U. S. NAVAL OBSERVATORY, wAsuryorox,
Nov. H. ls67-sm: I have the honor to submit
the following preliminary report of tho meteorlc
shower Of this morning.
The display of msteors was the most brilliant
seen 10 this country since the great shower of
1888
A. Newton, observations in the northern heavens
for parallax woro made between the hours Of II
and O'Clock; very few, however, were seen Till
o'clock. These observations were made, and
the tracks Of tho motcors, BY Messrs. Main,
Lindenkahl. Turnbrock, and Fltman. a party Of
assistants Of tho United States Coast Survey,
who kindly volunteered their services Forty.
six meteor tracks were mapped down by tbcm.
Observations In conjunction with Prof. Hark.
ness, OF this Observatory, at Richmond, for
parallax, wero commenced shortly after
O'Clock by the Observatory party, Messrs. Now.
comb, Eastman, Harrison, Doo'ittle, and Gard
ner. Arrangements had been made by the
graph to exchange telegraphis signals with Prof.
harkness, on the appearing Of each meteor;
but through some disarrangemont Of the wires,
communication could not be established 0ne
hundred and twenty-five meteor tracks were
mapped down before half pat four O'Clock
whom the meteors few so thick that identidca-
tion Of those seen from our two stations became
hopeless, and simple counting was resorted to-
One thousand meteors were counted in the
twenty-ono minutes between 4:i4 and 4:35.
AheIward successive hundreds were counted in
the following itperyals: Am. o.; 5m 80; ON.
sSs'i ON AL 9m. O3si On. SIS; lcm. 3lsi
Ism. 20s.
The frat thousand being partly counted while
mapping was still going on, II is probable that
one half were not seen, SO that 1t may be esti.
mated that two thousand really foil In the course
Of twenty. one minutes. The time of maximum
thickness Of the shower was about 4:2s. This is
two hours later than that given by the European
observations Of last year, showing slight change
in position Of the stream.
Many were remarkable for their briliancy and
for leaving brilliant greenish train, which usu-
ally vanished In q few seconds, but 10 one or two
cases lasted several minutes.
The radiant point was very we'll defined, being
In Right Ascension l0h. In; Deelination % deg.
80 mia.
Neat year tho shower, II there bo any, will not
begin until 10 O'Clock, q. m, Washington time,
and will therefore be seen only In the Pacific
ocean.
have the honor to bo, respectfully, your obe.
dent servant, D. T. SANDS,
Commodore, sup't.
Hon GIDEON WKLLEs, sso'y Of the Navy.
DEATH ~ TEXAS OF A WAsusGroSIAS-In-
formation has boon received in this city olDkhe
death Of JameI W. Wilson, late of Washington,
whose death occurred ht Brownsville, Texas, on
the 18th October. Mr. Wilson was sent last May
by the Treasury Department to Brownsville, with
several Others, as q mounted inspector. Mr..
Wilson was formerly In the United States army,
and had been severely wounded In battle. He
was the first victim to that terrible malsdy, the
yellow fever, In Brownsville, having incurred the
disease In the faithful discharge of his duty at
that point.
Announcing his death to tho Commissioner Of
Customs, tho Collector, Mr.. Robertson, who also
died nino days after, says: "His death was con-
sequent upon exposure and endeavors on that
night Qho night Of the tornndo) to save Govern
ment property at the custom. house In this city
He had been on continuous duty for over "a
hours, and that evening 18th Of 0ctober) was at
tucked with fever. / had learned the noble
qualities OF Mr.. Wilson. aud became attached to
him, and his death has very much afflicted me.
He was a man Of undaunted courage, and thor
oughly honest. He did his duty nobly through
out. You bad a just appreciation Of his char.
acteri but have seen 1t tested.n
Mr.. Wilson was much respected by q large
eir,e Of friends In this city and elsewhere, who
will deeply mourn his loss He leaves an aged
father and several sisters and it will bo a conso.
lation to them to know that every possible care
and attention was bestowed upon him during his
late illness
MEETING OF THE JouRSEYMEs oAcnNAKgRs.
"A meetin Of tho journeymen coochmakers
was held last evening at German Hall on Eleventh
street, between + and @ streets.
John Hips, ESQ.,, president in the chair and
J. j. Reynolds, esq, acting as secretary.
Mr. Whalsy, president Of the National Union
Labor College being present, was called upon to
sddre" tho meeting. He spoke of the groat
labor movement now going on throughout the
length and breadth of tho land
Mr. Whaley spoke at length, and with much
feeling In regard to tho dignity OF labor and the
benefit that will accrue to those who avail them.
selves Of its great and glorious resources.
He cited many instances where union was
strength, and enjoined upon those within the
sound Of his voice to band themselves together
and go on with the good work, hand in hand,
and success would be sure to follow.
Mr. Whaley was listened to with profound at.
tentiou, and at the close of his remarks was
loudly applauded.
Mr. Mathews, of tho Book. binders Associa-
tion, was the next speaker, and he talked ear
nestly to those present. telling them to band
themselves together and to stick by their respec.
tive unions.
Several other gentlemen made brief remarks,
and tho meeting adjourned.
It is tho intention Of the Workingmen of the
District, on the evening of Tuesday next, to |
tender to Gen Cary, who Is in the city, the com.
pliment Of a serenade.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GRASD LoDGE, l. 0.
Q. F.-This lodge, OF the District of Columbia,
met In annual session, at Odd Fellows Hall, on
Wednesday evening, to receive reports from sub.
ordinate lodges, and to elect officers for the
Grand Lodge, to servo during the ensuing year
Tho reports from the thirteen lodges were most
satisfactory and encouraging, and showed that
the various lodges we're in an improved condi-
tion. The following membersw were elected
officers of tho Grand Lodge, to wit Byron A.
Kidder, Grand Master George II Maftin Dep.
uty Grand Master; VIM. Kettler, Grand Wardenj
Parker Ii. Sweet, Grand Secretary Samuel Wise,
Grand Treasurer. John +, Hayenner was elected
Representative to tho Grand Lodge Of the United
States, and John Thaw a Delegate to the Library
Association.
CENSUS RETURSs.-Tho returns como In
slowly, but within week It Is expected they
will be complete. Another wiseacre refused to |
hll blank and returned 1t to oficer Sprague,
OF the Seventh precinct, who had left IL Our