Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-11
THE EVENING STAR.
TUESDAY.......... November IL, 1873
METEORIC SHOWERS.
AN EYE-wrTNEssEs's ACCOUNT OF THE DISPLAY IN
NOVEMBER, 1898.

AN EYE-wrTNESSEs'S ACCOUNT OF THE DISPLAY IN
NOVEMBER, 1888.
The meteoric display of November IS, 1888, was
nomenon have ever witnessed. Learning that
something OF the kind is predicted to take place
on the 18th inst, these lines are written for the
ers to the subject. The former result came Gun I'm
heraided, and took us all by surprise. / was
residing at the time In McDonough, Henry
county. suffering at the time from an in
famed eye, and being unable to sleep. / rose
about O'Clock on the night in question and
went out to my kitchen for the purpose Of
lighting lamp, Qucifer matches had not then
been invented, or had not at least come into
use In that section.l In passing to the kitchen
did not happen to look up. But as soon as our
drew back in alarm, exclaiming, Lord master tel:
the world Is coming to an endl Just look at the
stars. They are all falling!" My faith In the
of the same tmport,l precluded the idea OF its
being the end OF the world, and I was not
alarmed. Returning to my room, prepared
my wife for viewing the phenomenon, which
she did without undue excitement l then sal
lied forth to arouse some OF my neighborS that
they also might enjoy the wonderful display.
both OF whom were terribly alarmed, and. de-
spite my approximations, greatly alarmed their
wives Without going further, had my hands
full In endeavoring to restore them to some de
gree OF compOSure.
From one O'Clock until daylight 1 witnessed
the grand display. Looking upward it seemed
do IL tllt utttOIS dill SldTteu from common CEN
ter, and fell in curving lines to the very earth,
and there were thousands, If not millions. of
them in sight at the same moment, and every
moment until daylight put an end to the scene.
1t literally rained fire. Sometimes the shower
would slacken for moment or so, and then it
would be renewed until the very heavens seemed
10 be ablaZe. Some were brighter. some of paler
hue-but they were all fire, (or seemed to be SOY
and all were pouring down toward the earth.
But am attempting to do what promised my
self would not undertake. to describe a scene
or pen portray. 1t was as clear night as ever
saw. would fix my eyes on given STAR and
in a few moments it would seem TO fall, owngI
suppose, to the fact that 1t was obscured by
passing meteor. The illusion was perfect.
For two or three days after the occurrence the
atmosphere was so smoky as to prevent the
stars from being seen at night, and to cause the
sun to look like ball of fire In the daytime,
upon which one might gaze with the naked eye
without pain.
few occurrences connected with the event
may interest your readers. In Covington, New
ton county, at O'Clock, the church-bell was
Tung and the whole population was aroused,
the remainder of the night in devotional eNer-
ciSeS.
The gold mines in Paulding and adjacent
counties had drawn together many adventurerS
miners and gamblers. A gentleman direct
from that section informed me that soon after
| midnight guns were fired, horns blown, and the
SleeperS for miles were aroused The gamblers
threw their cards in the fire, enemies made
friends, and there was such praying as was
never nearQ In tnat section before, ana perhaps
has never been heard since.
Only few days after the phenomenon was
passing from McDonough to Zebulon, and
stopped to spend the night with a friend. He
had two northern men employed in erecting a
mill on a small stream near his residence, the
elder one of whom had been a seafaring man.
AS soon as arrived, the failing OF the stars"
became the subject of conversation. Seeing the
northern men coming up the hill, my friend
said: Engage those men-eSpecially the elder
one-in conversation on the subject Supper
over managed to draw them out. The older
one said: 81 have spent most Of my life on the
sea- and have passed through many dangers,
but l never had to look death and eternity so
squarely in the face before. You know, parson,
that sailors believe in the North Star. Well,
saw that the other stars were falling. but
thought that as long as the North Star kept its
place all was safe. SO went out there and sat
on the ground, with my back against the Chin
ney, Ut was rock chimney and then watched
that star, trying not even to wink. In few
minutes it cut loose, and here it came. And
then, parson, l fell on my knees and did some Of
the tallest praying you ever heard, and have
not sworn an oath since" He had been dread
fully profane. l have seen many people since
who have waited for the North Star to fall be-
fore they would pray. j. II. CAMPBELL.
--(COlll7IlbllS (Gd.) enquirer.