The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-12
TEE WEATHER YESTERDAY was clear and
. y arc ~ -.
MeleOrIc showers.
AN EYE. WITNESSES ACCOUNT OF THE DISPLAY

s.-. MeGeOrIc showers.
AN EYE. WITNESSES ACCOUNT OF THE DISPLAY
s.u. IN NOVEMBER, 1888.
from the Columbus (Ga.) EpQuirer.] -;.
The meteoric display OF November 13,
| 1883. was by very far the most remarkable
Learning that something OF the kind is
predicted to take place on the 18th instant,
these lines are written for the purpose OF
calling the attention OF your readers to the
subject. The former event came unher-
aided, and took us all by surprise. I 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 nightin question, and
went out to my kitchen for the purpose OF
| lighting n lamp Qucifer matches had not
then been invented, or bad not at least come
| into use in that Section). In passing to the
kitchen did not happen to look up. But
as soon as our cook (old Aunt Nary opened
| the door she drew back IN alarm, .eXclaim-
| ing, "Lord, master, the world is coming to
an end Just look at the stars. They are
| all falling!" My faith in the Scriptures
(such as Matthew XXiv., IA, and others Of
the same import) precIuded the idea OF its
being the end of the world, and l was not
alarmed. Returning to my room, I pre-
pared my wife for viewing the phenome-
non, which she did without undue excite
meut. then sailed forth to arouse some
OF my neighbors, that they also might en-
Joy the wonderful display. The two near
est were lawyer and preacher, both OF
whom were terribly alarmed, and, despite
my eXpoStnlations, greatly alarmed their
wives. Without going further, I had my
hands full in endeavoring to restore them
to some degree OF composure.
From ! O'Clock until daylight witnessed
the grand display. Looking upward, it
seemed as il the metcors all started from q
common centre, and fell in curving lines to
the very earth, and there were thousands,
il 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 Tor seemed
10 be SOY, and all were pouring down to-
ward the earth. But am attempting to do
what promised myself | would not under.
take 10 describe scene which no imagina-
| ton can conceive, nor tongue or pen por-
tray. 1t was as clear night as ever saw.
| would fix my eyes on given star, and in
few moments it would seem to fall, owing,
| I suppose, to the fact that 1t was Obscured
by a passing meteor. The Illusion was per-
feet. ........,.-r :.t.-
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 10 look like ball Of fire in the
daytime, upon which one might gaze with
the naked eye without pain.
| A few occurrences connected with the
| event may interest your readers. In Coylng-
| ton. Newton county. at 2 o'clock, the church
| bell was rung. and the whole population was
aroused, who repaired to the Westinghouse
and spent the remainder OF the night in de-
yotional exercises.
The gold mines in Pauldng and adjacent
counties had drawn together many adven-
turers-miners and gamblers. A gentleman
direct from that section informed me that
soon after midnight guns were fred, 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 heard in that
section before, and perhaps has never been
heard since. a~ .# "..r -.
Only few days after the phenomenon l
and stopped to spend the night with n
friend. He had two northern men en-
ployed in erecting mill on small stream
near his residence, the elder one of whom
had been a seafaring man. AS soon as ar
rived the falling OF the stars" became the
subject OF conversation. Seeing the north
ern men coming up the bill, my friend said !:
| &" Engage those men-especially the elder
one-in conversation on the subject"
Supper over, l 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 never bad to
look death and eternity so squarely In the
face before. You know, parson, that
sailors believe in the North star. We'll, |
saw that the other stars were falling, but l
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 chimney (It was a rock chimney, and
then I watched that star, trying not even to
wink. In few minutes it cut loose, and
here it came. And then, parson, l fell on
nv knees and did some OF the tallest pray
ing you ever heard, and have not sworn
an oath since." He had been dreafully
profane. | have seen many people since
who have waited for the North star to fall
before they would pray. ......
-. ..'s.s j. II. CAMPBELL.