Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-11-14
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

there was a very brilliant display, the me.eors
falling so fast that they could not be counted
AT the L. S. Naval Observatory the full corps
of astronomers and Commodore b. f. Sands.
the Superintendent, were on duty taking OBJ
servations Of the course and size OF the meteors
The greatest number radiated from the con-
stellston Lee, which made its appearance
above the eastern horizon between one
and two O'Clock, and shortly thereafter the me.
teors began to fall Their course principally
was 10 the North and East. but at four O'Clock
they were darling in every direction across
the heavens. The number increased until As
this morning when they fell so fast that 1t was
utterly impossible TO count them. At that time
they were shooting in every direction, and
many of them were very large, leaving bril-.
liant trains of a greenish hue AT thrse
O'Clock this mernlng the constellation Leo was
about so degrees above the horizon, aud a. tina,
time the grand display commenced. The con
stellation was on our meridian at 49, the time
Of the finest display. As will be seen by the
official report of Commodore Sands, fully 1000
fell from 4-li to 4-35 this morning A few ra-
dated from the consultations CAMS Minor
and Coma Berenice. At the Observatory the
corps VIII be on the watch again to night as
II Is possible that the display may be yet
greater han on last night. All observations are
made with the naked eye by the astronomers,
Il being impossible to use the telescopes. A
full chart of the course of the meteors, their
magnitude, &c, will shortly be published by
the Observatory:
Nov. IA, lc67-Sir: have the honor 70 submit
the following preliminary report of the mete-
ORC shower of this morning
The display of meteors was the most brill
liant seen in this country since the great show
eT Of 1888
In accordance with a request of Professor
A pHz
heavens Tor parallax were made between the
hours OF IL and O'Clock; very few. however
were seen tll one O'Clock. These observations
Were made, and the tracks of the rnatAors nv
MessFs. Main, Lindeukahl, Turnbrock and
trman- a parry Of assistants of the II - Coast
survey, who kindly volunteered their services
fOI.N-sI& meteor tracks were mapped down
by them.
Observations IN conjunction with Prof
t1aiALess, OF ms Observatory. az Richmond,
iSr peIa4IaN. were commenced shortly after
Ihree o'clock BY the Observatory party
MsssrS- NewcomO, Eastman. Harrison, Doc
little, and Gardner. Arrangements had hear
INSIDE D the courtesy OF the manager of the
American telegraph TO exchange telsgraph3c
signals with Prof. Hardness, on the appear
dnCe OF each meteor, but through some disar-
Iahetuehl OF lne wires communication could
rot be established One hundred ana twenty
I'VE meteor tracks were mapped down before
nan ast four o clock when the meteors flew
so thick tha- Identification Of those seen from
our two stations became hopeless, and simple
counting was resOrted to.
OIe thousand meteOrs were counted in the
twenty CLe miLUtes De weel n and 4 Is
AfisTward. successive hundreds were cOunf.d
II me following intervals TN. IS 5-a 3Is
IN. IS; On. rs; ON. IS; On. SIS; ION. Sis
Ism Us 49,
The first thousand being partly eoupted
NIIls n4APplng vas sun gong on, II Is prob
4oIe tnat Cne-naf were not seen. so that il NAV
he esunated that 200 really fell in the course
OitWenjy- one N inu.es. The time Of maximum
thickness Of the shower was about IS rms
i two hours later than that given nv ,na -
rCpean observations of last wear showing
slsnt change In position OF the stream
Many were remarkable for their brillianrv
ana for leaving brilliant greenish train
which usually vanished in a few seconds, mi
an one or two cases lasted several minutes
lie radiant point was very well defined
being il Right Ascension 10 b. m: Deci,ns
ton - deg 81 min.
Next year. the shower, If there be any. will
not begin until 10 o'clock a. m. Washin gton
time, and viii therefore be seen only in the
Pacifc ocean.
have the honor to be, respectfully, your
b T. SANDS, Commodore Sup't
Hon GIDEON WELLEs, Secy of the Navy.
TIE CESsUs--D-. Hough, OF the Educationa,
Bureau, Is yet busily employed at Police
headquarters in receiving the returns of the
Ofheers a. to the census. Those for the Fourth
Ward were first in, which fools up Is47O, of
winch li,l6i are white and 1896 colored The
Seyentn ward returns show a total OF I7i15
Il,Zb- white, and GILT coIored The last four
suo-clstriets in Georgetown were returned 70
Ut Hough this morning. completing the 70.
turns from thar city and the county OF Wash.
IRston west OF Rock Creek but the computs-
uons nave rot yet been made. II is estimated.
however that the returns Will show the pop
Ulation of Georgetown to De s,4-2 whites and
5'2lO eoIored-making a total Of 1859 and the
population OF the county west OF Rock Creax
including Georgetown College, I,5l3 white
and SIS eolored, making s.O5s and a total far
me entire District, west OF Rock Creek Of
Inc First Ward is in complete and foo,s m
100 whites, 6,li5 eolored; total, l5,7O7. Third
"ard' south of street, (sixth police pre-
clheI) e,t43 whites, 2,Js2 colored: total. IO.625
second ara, south OF n street, (hnn 20 ice
PresInct.) 7,1o2 whites, 3,023 coIored. rotsl.
lO,'o5. The total approximation thus far with
me county, except that par, Yves, of Rock
creek and the Fifth and Sixth Wards a. aIso
mat part OF the Second and Third Wards
north OF street. ID hear from, us about IS OOp,
u which over 25,OOO are coIored wasbipgton
mus Tar reports over 1900 inhabitanrs n,
which there are over 22,COO eoIored. All OF
these figures are approximate, and NAV ba
changed somewhat, bur II Is thought there will
De butE slight difference
ARRIVAL OF MIR. STEvESs.-Hon. Tnad
deus Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, arrived hare
last evening, IN the train due al $50 accom-,
MED by several members OF his family ana i'm.
medlaiely proceeded 10 his quarters on sou,h
B street, near New Jersey avenue which be
mas occupied every winter since be has been
IN Congress. He left his home Yesterday
morning IN car placed 81 III. disposal by the
Pennsylvania Central railroad and on mis- Ar
nEal IN Philadelpnia II was attached to the
train OF the Philadelphia, Wilmington ann
BaIurore railroad, tan officer OF which ac
compsnied Mr.. Stevens here) Mr.. Stevens
looks very feeble. but the journey seemsd 70
revive him and he appeared 70 grow stronger
win each mile travelled, although be TOOK .
slight cold He slept remarkably we'll last
night, and ate heartier meal this morning
than be has done for some time past Quite
number Of his Pennsylvania friends have
Gained on him this morning, with whom he
has been busIIy engaged.
iAlD UPON TIE PENSION OPFICR-In-
ioImaton has been received at the Pension
once OF me arrest at Santa Fe New Nsr,co
OF william breden and John W. Dunn. ON a
ehnse OF forgery and perjury These par,is.
are charged with presenting to the Pa,sior
Agent at Santa Pc a forged pover-of. attornav
upon which they received about Ave hnndrss