Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-11-19
MeteOric shOwe>

u liz h'N WIN y ~
ID, 1888, was 6y vrry far the most re
markable natural phenomenon | have
ever Witnessed Learning that some
thing of the kind is predicted to take
place on the 18Th inst these lines arc
written for the purpose OF calling the
attention of your readers to the sub
ject. The former event came unher-
aided, and took us all by surprise
was residing at the time in Mellon
ough. Henry county. Suffering al
the time from an iuh med eye. and be
ing unable to sleep, l rose about !
o'clock on the night in question, and
went out to my kitchen tor the pur-
pose Of lighting lamp (luclier match
IS had not then been invented, or had
not at least come into use in that sec
tion) In passing 10 the kitchen did
not happen to lJok up.
But as soon as our couk (old Aut Ma
ry) opened tue door she drew back ii
alarm, cxclaimiug, "Lord, master, tn,
world is coming 10 an end . Just
look at The stars hey are al. ial ing.
Ny faith in the Scriptures (such as
Matthew xiv, II, and others Of the
same import precluded the idea Of
its being the end OF worl and | was
no; alarmed RETURNING to my room,
| prepared my siie for viewing tn
phenomenon, which she did without
undue excitement then sailed forth
to arouse some of neighbors, that thcJ
also might ouioy the wonderful display
The two I. Arrest were lawyer aud q
preacher, both Of VIII m we're terribly
alarme and, despite ny exposlulations
greatly al,rmel their wives, Without
gong further, l had nay tauds full il
endeayoring to restore them to some
degree o. cemposure.
From one o'clock until daylight
witnessed the grand displ'y. Looking
upward, il seemed IS if the mele Is al
started from Common centre, and Tel
n curying lines to he very earth, and
there were th usands, if not millions
OF them in sight at the same moment
and every moment, uriil day
light put an eudlo the scene. 1t literal
" raiued fire. some times the show
would slacSen for a moment or So, IA {
then it would be renewed, until th'
very heavens seemed to be atlaze
Some were Brighter, some of paIei
hue but they were i'll f'e So neC
TO be SOY, AID I'll Neie pouring down
toward The earth. But | am attempt
ing to do what promised SIT
would not undertake; TO describe
scene which no imagination can con
ceiye. nor tongue OF pen portray. /
was as clear night as | ever saw.
would fix my eyes on given star.Sn'
in few n, menls it would seem to tai
owing, | suppose, TO the fact that
was obs ued by a passing meteor
The llu ion was perfect.
FIR two or three days after tie &C
currcnce the atmosphere WAS so smob,
as to prevent the stars from beng seen
at night. and to csuse the sun to looI
like ball Of fire in the day time,upol
which one might gaze with the naAe'
eye without pain.
\ Jew occurrences connected VIII
the event n y interest yonr readers
! In Coviugton, Newton county, at
o'clock, the church bell was rung, an
the While population vas arous'o,"h
repaired to the meeting house an'
spct the remainder Of The night Ia de
votional exercises.
The gold mines in Paulding an'
adjacent counties bad drawn logeibe
many adventures miners and gam
bleTs. \ gentleman direct from tia
section inform, q me that soon aft
midul.s ht guus were ir, d,horns blown
and the sleeper for miles were aroused
The gamblers threw their cards in The
fire. enemies made friends, and Their
was such praying as was rcyer hearC
liz lh.t section before, and PERKINS, ha
never been heard since
Only few days after the phcname
non was passing from McDonougl
TO Zrbulou, aud stopped t. spend tn
night with a friend, He had TIVE
northern men employed in erecting
mil on a small stream near his resi-
dence. the elder one OF whom hal
hem q scalming man. As soon az
arrived the "faling Of the stars be
came the subject Of conversation. See
ing the northern men coming mp ID
hill, my friend said Engage tho,
men especially .he elder one-in con
versation on the subject Suppe
oyer, managed TO draw them out
The oller oue said: Il have spen
most Of my lie on DE sea, and hay
passed through mary dangers. But
never had to look death and eternit
so souarely il face b tore. You know
palson. that sailors believe in lh
North star. We'll; ! saw that the 9th
or stars were falling, but I though
that as long as the North star kept it
place al was safe. So | went cut Their
: and sat on The ground, with my bac
aaanst the chimney Git was a roc
chimney AID th'n | watched tina
Star, trying not even to wink In
few minut, ii cut loose, AID here
cane And then, parson, Il fell on IN
knees aud did some OF the taliest pray
ling you ever heard. and | have nc
sworn an oath since lie bad bee
dreadtulIy prrfaue | have seen man
people since who have waited for 'h
North STAR to fall Lciore they woul
pray.
]. II. CAMPBELL
columbus Ga, Enquirer.
Z. ,,,,,,f ia form IA