The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-09-18

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
formed, and the ministers and old
church m embers prayed long prayers,
mentioning 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
orgive them, cheer them again by the
light of the sun and give victory to
their armies.
1t is said that the Connecticut legis-
lature being in session, the members
became terrified when they could not
see each others faces, and motion was
made to adjourn, when Mr.. Davenport
arose and said:
"Mr. Speaker, it is either the day of
Judgment or it is not. If it is not,
there is no need OF adjourning. If it
is, desire to be found doing my duty.
l move that candles be brought, and
that we proceed to business"
All the shivering. frightened people
began 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 and see her, grew very
sleepy, their strained eyes were not
rewarded by her beautiful beams, for
at eight in the evening the darkness
was total; one could not distinguish
between the earth and the heavens, and
it was impossible to see hand before
ones face.
Then all the weary children were
sent to bed after the most honest pray
ers that they had ever prayed, and the
older people sat up to watch for the
light that never before had appeared
so glorious.
And never dawned fairer morning
than the Goth 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 filled
every heart with confidence.
The birds sang joyously, the cattle
returned to their pastures, the places
VI DuSlueSS WcIc OJcuCu, duU cNCl cuC
went about his work more gentle to-
ward man and more grateful toward
God.
After the darkness was passed several
persons travelled about to gather all
possible information concerning this
memorable day, and DR.. Tenny wrote
an account of what he learned while on
journey from the east to Pennsyl-
vania. 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 peculiar clouds
were observed. but the darkness was
not uncommon, and in the lower parts
of Pennsylvania nothing unusual was
observed.
1t extended as far north as the Amer
lean settlements and westward to AL
bany, but its exact limits could not be
ascertained.
In Boston the darkness continued
fourteen or fifteen hours, varying in
duration at other places.
As it was impossible to attribute the
darkness to an eclipse, the wise people
formed many theories respecting it,;
being convinced that it was due to i'm
mense fires in the woods, winds blow
ing in opposite directions, and to the
condition of the vapors; but Herschel
says: The dark day in northern Amer
lea was one of those wonderful phe
nomena of nature which will always be
read of with interest, but which phil
osophy IS at loss to explain. Fila A.
Drin k'rater, ia 81. Nicholas.