The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-11-07
The Dark Day.

great-grand-mother used to tell my moth
er when she was a girl, the most wonder
full was about the dark day in New Eng
land, Friday, May 10, 1880. This was
during our Revolution, you will remem-
Der, and the same year in which the trait
or, Benedict Arnold, attempted to betray
his country to its enemies.
the air was full Of vapors, as we often see
it when fires are raging in the woods near
Us, and the sun and moon appeared red,
and their usual clear light did not reach
us, especially when rising and setting.
The winds blew chiefly from the south
west and northeast, and the weather was
cool and clear, The morning Of the nine
teenth was cloudy and in many places
ed by thunder and lightning, but as the
sun arose it did not increase the light, and
the darkness deepened and deepened. I'M
clocks could not see to tell the time, and
were not able to distinguish the letters.
flew to their nests in the woods, the poul-
|
in the fields uttered strange cries and
and the sheep all huddled together tleat-
ing piteously.
Color, which you know depends upon
the light of the sun, filed many with as
constituent by its unusual appearance, for
the clouds were in some places of light
red, yellow and brown; the leaves on the
/ ~I tl,f
Of the deepest green, yerging on indigo.
the brightest silver seemed furnished, and
everything that is white in the sunlight
bore deep yellow hue.
the shadows, which before noon fell to
the westward and afternoon to the east
| ward. were observed during the darkness
to fall in every direction.
! The ram, also. was unlike any other
rain, and it set all the people to wonder,
ing as they dipped it from the tubs and
barrels; for a scum formed on it resem-
bling burnt leaves, emitting sooty smell,
and this same substance was seen on
streams and rivers, especially the Merri-
mac, where it lay four or FIVE inches thick.
for many miles along its shore.
Another popularity was the vapor; in
many localities it descended to the earth
from high in the atmosphere: but at one
point a gentleman saw the vapors, at nine
o'clock, rising from the springs and low
lands; one column he particularly noticed
rapidly ascending far above the highest
hills, then 1t spread into large white
cloud and sailed of to the westward, IA
second cloud formed in the same way from
the same springs. but did not rise as high
as the first, and third formed fifteen
minutes afterward. At quarter of ten
the uppermost cloud was of reddish hue.
the second %as green indigo and blue. and
the third was almost white.
So unwholesome was this vapor that
small birds were suffocated IN it. and
many of them were so frightened and
Supplied that they few into the houses,
adding to the fears of ignorant people,
who considered it bad sign for bird 10
enter dwelling.
The commencement Of the darkness was
between ten and eleven in the forenoon
when the men were busy in the fields
and offices and workshops, the women
spinning, weaving and preparing dinner,
and the children at school. or helping
their fathers and mothers at home), and
it continued until the middle of the fol-
lowing night; but the degree of darkness
varied; in some places the disk Of the sun
was seen when the darkness was the most
dense.
Lights were seen burning in all the
houses, and the people passing out-of
doors carried torches and lanterns. which
were curiously reflected on the overhang-
ing clouds.
Thousands of people were sure that the
end of the world had come. many dropped
their work and fell on their knees to
pray. Others confessed to their fellows the
wrongs they had done and endeavored to
make restitution.
The meeting-houses were crowded. and
neighborhood prayer-meetings were form
ed, and the ministers and old church
members prayed long prayers, mention
ing the nations and individuals Of Bible
times who had been destroyed on account
of their sins, and begging that as God
spared the great city Of Nineveh when it
repented. so he would forgive them, cheer
them again by the light of the sun and
give victory to their armies.
1t is said that the Connecticut legisla-
ture being in session. the members be-
came terrified when they could not see
each other faces. and IA motion was made
W Whcu VII silost stiu
said:
"Mr. Speaker, it is either the day of
Judgment or it is not. fit is not, there is
no need Of adjourning. If it is, / desire
to be found doing my duty. move that
candles be brought. and that we proceed
to business.
All the shivering, frightened people be-
gan now to look forward to evening,
hoping that as the moon rose full at nine
o'clock. her light would penetrate the
gloom: but all the children who coaxed to
sit up to see her. grew very sleepy, their
strained eyes were not rewarded by her
beautiful beams, for at eight in the even
ing the darkness was total; one could not
distinguish between the earth and the
heavens, and it was impossible to see a
hand before ones face
Then all the weary children were sent
to bed after the most honest prayers that
they had ever prayed, and the older peo-
pie sat up to watch for the light that new
er before had appeared so glorious.
And never dawned a fairer morning
than the twentieth of May, for the sun
that opened the flowers and mirrored
itself in the dew-drops. brought the color
again to the children's faces. and filed
every heart with confidence.
The birds sang joyously, the cattle re-
turned to their pastures, the places of
business were opened, and every one went
about his work more gentle toward man
and grateful toward God.
After the darkness was passed, several
persons travelled about to gather all pos
sible information concerning this memora-
die day, and DR.. Tenny wrote an account
of what he learned while on a journey
from the east to Pennsylvania. He says
the deepest darkness was in Essex County.
Massachusetts,, the lower part of New
Hampshire. and the eastern portion Of
Maine where my great-grandmothe
lived). In Rhode Island and Connecticut
it was not so great; in New jersey pecu-
liar clouds were observed, but the dark
ness was not uncommon, and in the lower
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