The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-12-10
NO. 81.
Natures Convulsions--Meteors and
EARTHQUAKES.

The following extract from sn Austral-
ION paper deserves full attention from the
wise men who seek to know the secret of
earthquakes TO those who have watch :
ed and studied the extraordinary shakes
on the west coast Of South America, tbs
facts contained in the following extracs
will prove invaluable, for they are unsolie-
ted, frank and spontaneous, as all such
scientific notes should be. The facts al
ready given in connection with the famous
earth quakes of August 1916, 1868, in
South America seemed full ennugh and
clear; but the corroborating evidence
contained in this simple recital, deserve
attention from those who give more than
passing notice to earthquakes and theis
probable cause, meteors
The Brisbane Courier Of the 25th OF
August states that several Of the vessels
just arrived froas the south ward reported
that there was q great deal of electrical
atmospheric disturbance on Monday and
Tuesday nights, but whether it was the
effect or simply coincident with the eclipse
our informant could not say In one case
it was attended with fatal results, and
man was killed on board the schooner
Urauia by the explosion of an electric
meteor. The vessel was off Crowdy Head;
on Monday, August II, about midnight,
when heavy southcrly squall came on,
and all hands were called to shorten sail.
A seaman named Ii. g. Sales was steer
ing, and at half past II A. NJ, on Tues.
day the 10th, meteor, like ball of FIRE,
fall inn fol 1,o Of.
sci and exploded with loud report, re-
sembling that of heavy piece Of ordn-
ance. Sparks of fire were scattered all
all about the deck, and the steersman was
killed by the shock Every one on board
felt violent shock like that of galvan-
ic battery but none of the crew were In
jured except Sales. His body showed
no marks, but appeared to be blackened,
and some six Or seven hours after decom.
position set in and the poor fellow was
buried over the side. He was a young,
man, about twenty-three and smart sea-
man. The freball apparently travelled
with the wind, which was from the SOUTH
west, and when it burst, the fash was so
intensely brilliant that the steward, who
was lying in his berth below, declared
that he saw the fire thro' the seams of the
deck The cabin at the same moment
was filled with smoke, which blackened
papers lying about. Captain Johnstone
says that the discoloraton of the paint
was like that produced by smoking the
ship with charcoal. A peculiar and in
dcscribable smell was perceived for some
time after the explosion, and a quantity,
OF flakes like scattered about, Captain,
Millman states that on his last trip to
Sydney ireball was observed passing
ahead of his ship, about l A. NJ, on
Monday, the 18th. 1t travelled in horiz,
ontal direction from northwest to south
west. Apparently it was so near that the
the officer of the watch alteredher course
to avoid it, when it burst, and for the
moment the whole heavens seemed to be
in blaze of light, and terrific thunder
also. Lightning and thunder continued
at intervals throught the night and next
day (Tues lay) until about half pasteight
o clock, when the weather cleared up.