Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-24
A METEOR ON THE RAMPAGE.
IL Dazzles Nashville by Starlight, and
Bursts 90 the NOrfhward - Earth
quakes, Hurricanes and all Sorts
of Wonders Predicted

IL DazzIes Nashville by Starlight, and
Bursts 90 the NOrfhward - Earth
quakes, Hurricanes and all Sorts
of Wonders Predicted.
The philosophizing local of the Press
and Times, in lonely tramp up Church
street one night last week, was astonished
at finding himself suddenly in blaze OF
light, which appeared to come from the
solemn, stsrlit sky, and the next morning be
had a paragraph stating his experience
and inviting information on the subject.
He says:
"The sky was clear, and not cloud was
to be seen, while the stars shown down
with peculiar brilliancy. Suddenly the
city was Illuminated with broad glare of
light which lasted but one instant. lis en-
tire duration was probably three quarters
Of a second-much longer than a simple
flash of lightning. We were a witness Of
the phenomena, which seemed to us like
that Of a calcium light for briLliancy, and
which We conjectured might have been
caused by an immense moteor."
In response, a soldier at Ash Barracks
writes:
Editors Press and Times: The phe-
nomenon which you mentioned as having
occurred Friday night, shortly after 10
o'clock, was not caused by meteor. The
light was visible to us in camp as wildly
SIS to those in the CITY. With two COM
panions, | was standing on a little emf
hence, with clear ard unobstructed view
OF the heavens. | had just remarked the
wonderful briliancy of the stars and the
clearness Of the sky, and was looking, at
the moment, toward the city, when the
whole landscape was illuminated by a
strange, unearthly glare. Everything was
even more vivid and distinct than in broad
daylight. / saw the church spires, the
Capitol building the markethouse towers,
and other prominent points 80 plainly that
it seemed as if | could follow the most
minute outlines of their conformation.
The light seemed to me to be of the phos-
phorescent sort. Whatever may have
caused the phenomenon, | know that a
strange awe came over myself and COM
panions. We watched an hour or more for
its recurrence, but we're disappointed.
The next note is from gentleman who
was crossing the suspension bridge at the
time
Editor Press and Times: The strange
light which you witnessed Friday night,
also attracted my attention, and | must
confess surprised me very much. was
crossing the suspension bridge at the time,
ard was leaning over the railing for amo
ment looking up the river, when the entire
scene was lighted up by a most strange and
peculiar light. l can liken it to nothing
ever saw. 1t cast no shadow, but seemed
to pervade the entire landscape. Iremem-
Der seeing the waterworks very distinctly
by its glare, which faded out instantly,
leaving everything dark as before.
/ should like to have scientific expla'
nation of the occurrence.
Another:
Mr.. EDITOR: | saw the strange light
which you mentioned in Saturdays paper.
| have witnessed the same thing in other
countries, and in each instance it has been
followed by shocks of earthquakes. | was
in France in 1850 when similar phenom-
enon occurred. Several weeks after there
was a very perceptible quaking of the
earth, which was severe further SOUTH |
have noticed the same thing in Portugal
and Cuba. Philosophers and astronomers
predict that the present year will be one
of unusual terrestrial disturbances, prolific
in hurricanes, earthquakes, signs and won
ders generally; perhaps the phenomenon
in question may be ascribed to the same
general causes, conjunction of certain inn
portant planets.
With all due Difference to the opin-
ions of the correspondents of our CO.
temporary, We counot believe the
beautiful phenomenon was anything
more than a meteor. A gentleman con-
nected with the Nashville and Northwest
ern railroad, who saw the whole rumpus in |
the sky, states positively that it was large
meteor of pale blue, which, starting from |
a sOutherly direction rose. rapidly toward
the zenith, passing over the city and food |
ing it with light, then sweeping northward |
bursted in its descent. In its passage it /
cast shadows of the buildings upon which |
its powerful rays we're thrown.
1t is not at all probable that its appear
ance indicates anything extraordinary to |
come, or that it was signal Of the Grand
Cyclops TO infant Northern branches of the |
Ku-Klux. 1t has created a sensation,
though, and had it come in old Roman |
days, would have been hailed as an omen of |
fearful import, and might have influenced
the destiuies of nations.