Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-09-10
antfrEstina faets.


An inch of water expanded into steam
fills the space OF ], ,694 inches.
A few feet below the earthly surface,
the temperature is nearly equal all over
the world.
The Scientific Convention of Chicago,
is discussing the antiquity of man, dated
him back 5000 years.
THE japanese have discovered that a
few seconds previous TO an earthquake
the magnet Temporarily losses its power.
They have inge9ioasly constructed a
light frame, supporting horseshoe
magnet, beneath which Is cup OF bell
metal; to the armature is attached a
weight, SO that upon the magnet becom-
ing paralyZed the weight drops, and,
striking the cup, gives the alarm. Every
one in the house seeks the open air for
safety.
A COMMUNICATIONS is published in the
Utica New York; Morning Herald from
DR.. o. II. +. Peters, of Litchfield Observ-
atory. of Hamilton College, Clinton, New
York, dated August "a, i'll which he says
that new planet, of the groupe of As
teroids, was discovered by him on Satur-
day night, and its position and motion
verified by him on this Monday morn
ing. 1t is in constellation Pisces, and
had at three o'clock this morning eight
cen degees thirty-eight minutes of right
ascension, and twelve degrees fifty-four
minutes declination, moving slowly to
the East. 1t is now equal to a star OF
about the eleventh magnitude.
WHAT accuracy the astronomers show
in calculation. 1t is said that the fourth
eclipse of the sun will occur in the fore
noon of May 2S, 1880. 1t will be total in
Virginia and North Carolina, but the du-
ration. of totality will hardly exceed a
minute, as the apparent diameter of the
moon will be greater than the SUMS by a
few seconds only. Indeed at the return
of this eclipse of April 26, 1916, it was to-
tai only where the moon had great al
titude lin the island of Cuba. but annu-
lar where it was low. The eclipse, al
though not total in our Atlantic cities
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York,
Boston, &C., will be very large, and
eleven-twelfths of I'll sun will be obscur-
ed. At Norfolk, Virginia, the eclipse
will be yet more nearly total.
THE SPANISH FEVER, which now pre-
walls so fatally among the cattle brought
on to the north from Texas, it is asserted
was observed fourteen years ago. In the
spring and summer of 1854, when Texas
cattle were first brought into Illinois, it
started, resembling yellow fever in the
human race, and proved so contagious
that all along the track where they trav-
eled the farmers lost a great portion of
their stock in a few days. So serious
was the damage that the people of South
hnI OOfs, Toe r.
to forcibly prevent the passing
of any more Texas cattle through the
1t is not stated when or how
this particular epidemic of 1854 disap
peared, but the circumstances attending
it hove created general impression at
the West that the existing disease is also
imported from Texas.
How TO READ THE CLOUDS.-Soft-
looking or delicate clouds foretell fine
weather, with moderate or light breezes;
hard-edged, oily-looking clouds, wind
A dark, gloomy blue sky is windy; but
a light, bright blue sky indicates fine
weather. Generally the softer clouds
lock the less wind, but perhaps more
rain may be expected; and the harder,
more greasy" rolled, tufted, or rugged,
the stronger the coming wind will prove.
Also, bright yellow sky at sunset pres
ages wind; pale yellow, wet; and a
greenish, sickly-looking color, wind and
rain. Thus, by the prevalence of red,
yellow, or other tints, the coming wealth
er may be fOretold very nearly; indeed,
if aided by instruments, almost exactly.
Small, inky-looking clouds foretell rain
light scud clouds, driving across heavy
masses, show wind and rain; but it alone,
may indicate wind only.
EXTENT AND CHARACTER OF THE
GREAT INDIAN REsERvATIoN.--The
Territory of Wyoming, stretching twen-
ty-eight miles North and South, and
four hundred and twenty East and West,
contains within its boundaries an area or
country almost equal to three such States
as Ohio. 1t is not generally known that,
this immense extent of
territory is said to be the territorial or
ganization of Wyoming, nevertheless
the United States Peace Commissioners
have set apart nearly one-half by treaty
with the Indians fer a reservation for
them and their children while one of
their tribes continue to exist. Yet such
is the case. Nearly the whole of the
territory has been set apart as the hunt
ing grounds OF the wild Indians. In
this half is comprised a portion of Sweet
water country, known to be full of aurif-
erous quartz; the Wild River Valley;
the valleys of the Big Horn Powder Riv-
er, and the Northern Black Hills, which
are the very finest of our agricultural
lands. The finest body of pine timber
in the West is now growing in the
Northeast part of our territory. Instead
Of f1ourishing settlements and manufac-
tories which should utilize these munifi-
cent bounties of ofnature, our Government
has compassionately put bonds to the
onward march of civilization, and given
our new acknowledgements Star.
WHALES.-Some very interesting in
formation upon the habits of this fish
was communicated at recent meeting
Of the Boston Society of Natural History.
Capt n. E. Atwood presented a buoy or
foet made of the inflated stomach of a
black fish; it was attached to line, and
used in harpooning whales. He also
stated that whales differ greatly in the
quantity of oil which they contain fe-
males yield from eight to twelve barrels,
while seventy-five barrels, and even a
greater number are taken from the males;
one fish is known TO have yielded 146
barrels. About one-thlrd of the oil of
the sperm whale is in the upper part of
the head; the oil found there and in the
fukes, all of which is termed dead oil,
differs from that obtained in other parts
Of the body, and was formerly considered
more valuable; since the Introduction of
petroleum, both kinds have been raised
alike. From the East to the Grand
Banks toward the Azores, the whales
are mostly males, while near the West
Indies the females abound. Unlike the
whale, the affection of the
cow sperm whale for the calf is not very
strong, for if the calf is harpooned, the
mother takes flight. Whalers believe
that whales know when one of their
species is harpooned, even if it is miles
away, for they are at once seized with a
panic. Whales are comparatively easy
to kill just after they have reached the
surface to spout. On one occasion, Cap
80, I, Ia I<>x