Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-08-28
The Dark Day Of 1850.

The I'm ol May, lIoO, was d tetD3lh-
able one in the annals OF New England
on account Of the thick darkness that
overspread the land. like . funeral pail.
II was q day long to be remembered and
talked of by those who witnessed tho
strange, and Of that time, fearful phenom.
enon. There was much writing upon
and discussion OF the subject q, the nmc
and sfterward, bui believe no ssisisc-
tory conclusion was ever arrived at Is 10
lie cause. There were some who thought
,ha, j, mus, have proceeded from total
eclipse Of the sun, ,ha, had from some
cause escaped the calculations Of maihe-
ma,icisns and astronomers, but that was
easily shown 10 bo impossible by facts
and figures.
Ii was then the DARKEST and most hope
less period OF the war Of the Revolution.
and il was thought by many of the dos.
ponding and discouraged to be significant
Of the end Of that which then appeared -
them o hopeless struggle. Some OF tho
moro ssngune insisted that as the hour
before the dawn was always the darkest.
so this strange and portenious gloom was
but the prelude 10 the bright dawn OF
Liberty and Independence that was soon
10 follow.
The father OF tho writer was then boy
OF thirteen years. and was at work with
his father and brother. planting or prepoI-
ing the ground. 1t was dull, lazy morn
ing, and as the time passed il gradually
thickened. and by 10 o'clock the incfcss.
ing darkness began TO be quito spPar,n'.
They KEEP, on with their work, and as tho
gloom increased they observed that lie
would pause once in a whio and look in
iently ell around The horizon and over
head, but made no remark until he direct
ed The oldest boy 10 60 to the barn and
turn The horse and all the cattle that were
inside out into The open loi, aud 10 close
and secure every door and window. II
appeared that he was spprebenslye tina,
some sudden and furious gus, or squslI
would soon maniies, itself. and that the
animals would be in lees danger out in Tho
field than inside the building.
Sill The darkness grew ,hicker end
deeper ill presently he said shey might as
well quI, work for .be present. On
reaching the house the mother and sister
wero sbou, their usual duties, pale and
silent. Little was said eIcep, an occs.
sionsl remark or direction 10 low ione.
No one seemed inclined 10 conversation
OF demonstration OF any kind. Soon din
ner was ready, with candles lighted the
same as al night, bot no. morsel VIA
eaten. A dead silence seemed 10 perva1s
oil nature. broken only by occasional
blesiing OF lamb. or ibs distant loving
OF the kline, which wandered sboU, rtst-
less ard uneasy. The domestic for,s
seemed 10 be inclined 10 como 20 ne con.
clusIon that il il was not night, they cOU!i
put no other construction upon Il so. sl
, Ter c!ucking over the matter for while.
they went 10 roos,. And ibus the long
and dIesry hours passed away. Elong IN
the afternoon the veil was lifted IN some
degree. and al the tine OF sunIei u vas
about the same ss On ordinary doll end
cloudy day.
The night Which followed was, it is
said, as dark proporiionsiely as was the
day. II was the perfec, "blscknsss and
dsrkness." Mott the fsiniesi outline Of
any object could be discerDsd sesinr ibn
sky. 4 light would penetrate II bat liz.
tie way, sDd then seem 10 disclose bot a
solid wall Of blsckDess around.