The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-10-15

sal and wondering remark. On exam
lining the water there was found ilghS
scum upon it. which on being rubbed
between the thumb and finger seemed
to resemble the ashes of burnt leaves
the water also gave the same strong,
sooty smell which characterized the
air. A similar appearance IN this re-
spect was especially exhibited on the
Merrimac River, large quantities OF
black scum being seen floating upon
the surface of that stream during the
day. In the night the wind veered
round to the northeast and drove this
substance toward the south shore. the
width of the deposit being some four
or five inches. Professor Williams
states that he put out several sheets OF
clean paper in the air and rain. When
they had been-out four or five hours he
dried them by the fire. They were
much sullied and became dark in their
color, and felt as if they had been rub
bed with oil or grease; but in burning
them there could not be detected any
sulphurous or nitrous particles.
twas noted that while the darkness
continued, the clouds were in quick
motion, interrupted, skirted one over
another, so as to formal least to the
eve of the beholder-a considerable
number of strata, the lower stratum
being of uniform height as far as Wis
ible; but this height was conceived to
be very slight from the small extent of
the horizon that could be seen. And it
was generally remarked that the
hn of N
some directions, while the intermediate
spaces were greatly obscured or dark
ened. To this may be added that during
the darkness objects seemingly cast
shade in every direction, and in many in
stances there were various appearances
or corruscations in the atmosphere
not unlike the aurora borealis, though
it is not stated that any uncommon ex-
hibitions of electricity were witnessed
during the day. In some accounts,
however, it is mentioned that number
of small birds were found suffocated
by the vapor; some were found dead,
and some flew aftrighted or stupefed
into the houses.
The darkness appeared to be most
gross in Essex County, Mass, the lower
part of the State of New Hampshire,
and in portions of what was then the
province of Maine. 1t was not so great
in Rhode Island and Connecticut, and
still less in New York; in New Jersey
the second stratum of clouds was OBJ
served, but it was not of any great
thickness, nor was the darkness very
uncommon; in the lower parts of Penn
sylvania no extraordinary scene was
noticed. Through the whole extent of
country referred to, the lower cloud
stratum had an uncommon brassy hue,
while the earth and trees were adorned
with so enchanting verdure as could
not escape notice, even amidst the I'M
usual atmospheric gloom that accom-
panied it. The darkness of the follow
ing evening was probably as deep and
dense as ever had been observed since
the Almighty fiat gave birth to light.
IT wanted only palpablity to render it
as extraordinary as that which over
spread the land of Egypt in the DAYS of
Moses. If every luminous body in the
universe had been shrouded in impene-
trable shades or struck out of existence,
it was Thought the darkness could not
have been more complete. A sheet of
white paper held within few inches of
the eyes was equally invisible with the
blacklist velvet.
In view of all the information con-
tanned in the various accounts of the
day, it appears very certain that the
atmosphere was charged with an I'M
precedented quantity of vapor-from
what primary cause has never been sat
isfactorily determined-an as the
weather had been clear, the air heavy
and the winds light and variable for
many days, the vapors instead of dis
persing must have been constantly ris-
ing and callecting in the air until the
atmosphere became highly charged
with them. 1t being thus evident that
the atmosphere was, from some peculiar
cause (perhaps great fires in distant
woods) charged in q high degree with
vapors, and that these vapors were of
different densities, and occupied differ
ent heights, the deduction is that by
this means the rays of light falling on
them must have suffered variety of
refractions and reflections, and thereby
became weakened, absorbed or SO re-
fiected as not to fall upon objects in the
usual manner. and as the different va.
pors were adapted by their nature, stu
alton or density to absorb or transmit
the different kinds of rays, so the colors
of objects would appear to be affected
by the mixture or prevalency of those
rays which were transmitted through
so uncommon medium. This was the
explanation suggested by Professor
Williams, though not to the exclusion
of other theories.
But large numbers conceived and held
the most strange opinions concerning
the cause of so marvellous an occurrence
BY some it was attributed to an eclipse
of the sun; by others to a transit of
Venus or Mercury upon the disk of the
sun; others imputed it to blazing.
star which they thought came be-
tween the earth and the sun; and the
vagaries of mans imaginings upon the
subject were almost endless. But ac-
cording to the most accurate calcula-
tions made by astronomers, there was
no planetary combinations or disturb
ances at that time that could have oc-
casioned the phenomenon; hence the
theories connecting it with the move
ments of the heavenly bodies fall to the