Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-09-25
Strange Phenomenon in Cariboo,

.cttcrs and papers from Cariboo describe
an extraordinary phenomenon as having
occurred on William Creek on the Goth
of July, which filled all minds with conjec-
turc, mingled in some sense with solemn
awe, and others with CONSERVATION. Dur
ing the the day dense smoke clouds had
gathering about the hills, apparently the
!, fee, of distant fires. At 2.40 P. NJ. the
sun looked Ike an amber ball floating in
lake of smoke. At 1 o'clock all had the
appearance of night close at hand At
4.30 it was night in earnest, all out of
door business abandoned, and store and
cabin lit up as in the darkest night, and
that Of deepest darkness, for it was an
impcrvious impcnctrabe gloom, oppres-
sivc to all senses. The line from . Young's
Night Thoughts would float in the men,
ory's darkness, how deep! Silence, how
profound. And the great Creators state
mcnt made in relation to the Egyptian
plague was realized, Even darkness
which may BE felt" for truly and most
painfully it was felt" and in a way none
can describe, or any one who felt it ever
forget.
Its effects upon humanity were very
marked. The face was indicative of SOL
emn thought; not unmixcd with anxiety
and care. The suppressed tone of voice
and the half whispered question, " What
can it be. how will it cnd?' The gloom
was doubtless dccpcncd by dense electric
clouds, and the fccling of awe heightened
by a thunderstorm Of no usual order. Yet
even the lightning and thunder seemed to
struggle in the grasp of difficulty, and to
be oppressed hy some power unknown be-
fore Tho lightning could only pierce a
few feet Of the ''thck darkness" and that
only with a pale and sickly flicker, whilst
the thunder seemed to be giant power
suirocating in attempts to be heard. It's
impressions on the mind was that of the
midnight funeral of crcation-thc light
ming becoming funeral lamps in the pro-
cc,son to the scpulchrc; AMI the thunder
the :. mnfllcd drum" of the ;'dcad march,"
At about 6:30 rain fell, or rather 4 shower
of muddy water, having the appearance
(whcn light came back of strong lye from
lccchcl ashes. and so copious was the fall
that men, and trees and housetops were
piastcrcl with it, With the rain came
Il current of air, and with the subsiding of
the rain came the strange, but welcome
dawn of evening and at "cvcning time
there was light :" And beautiful was the
breaking of the day at seven in the even
inr. The whole heavens became clothed
in softcst yellow drapery, tinted with am
Der. and subsiding gradually at 40 into
our lovely, soft and long northern twilight,
the prelude of pleasant mountain ight.
And now came the congratulations of
friends and the joyous greetings of those
who had not seen the face of nature or the
human face, except in the house of some
dwelling for three hours and half of ter
rife darkness in the day time. Men had
graSpcd hands and held each other on the
road but could not see each other and some
sat down in utter confusion when darkness
overlook them. How CHEEKY then, with
returning light, came the ringing, musi-
cal good morning." at evcntidc, each one
feeling that painful and distressing night
was passed, and were ready to subscribe to
the philosophy that Light is life and
darkness is DEATH" And now, what was
the cause of this strange and deep dark
ness? The answer to this l will leave
with others, only recording few concom-
itants of the dark affair both in relation to
its approach and disappearance. First
There was a still atmosphere. Second
Heavy smoke clouds. Third-The air was
loaded with dust, wood ashes and leaves of
trees, such as pine, spruce, fir. maple, and
many punches oftreo moss with parts OF
tree branches, attached, fell in the street.
Fourth-An unusual accumulation OF cleo
tric clouds, asif piled layer upon layer,
and all the heavens covered at the same
time, and laundering from five orsiX points
of the compass in rapid succession. Then
came a change. A breeze sprung up, the
thunder clouds passed away, the rain
brought down the dust and ashes and then
light came And here l leave the dark
subject to the illuminating process OF the
philosopher | luay add that the creek
was visited by many during the evening,
drawn thiiher by its strange appearance,
that of soap-suds and strong lye, with aslip-
perry, noiscess glide of soap and water.
rather than the dashing, ringing sound of
creek We do not desire repetition OF
night in day time. And men have been
taught their powerlcssness in the grasp OF
even secondary causes. Who, then, shall
contend with the GREAT FIRST cause.