The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-22

The Aurora Rorealis.


Would that words might describe the glory
held me spell-bound 1t seemed as l stood
looking down upoa sleeping city that the
bells should ring to rouse the people TO behold
the wonder of the heavens in the midst of the
tremendous electric storm which ragged over
them.
The storm seemed to gather strength contin-
ually from point in the extreme north, from
which point also blew cuttingy cold wind.
brilliant whtish glow seemed here concentrated
from which Opaque pencils of light of dazzling
brilliancy would occasionally shoot, and with
incredible rapidity, great waves and columns
of flashing, quivering darting light would rush
east, west and south, and from all points shoot
in straight lines or waving masses to the
zenith. where ever and anon, they would gath
or sometimes forming perfect cone, changing
the apparent arch of the heavens, then divid-
ing, form corona from which the rays reach
ed to the horizon on every side. Then the
masses would waver and break and float in
varying shapes for while as though 10th to
part, then fade away, or being reinforced from
the laboratory in the north, again combine in
Now anu LlOIo dludLlDS UOduty' <AAWdyo Adcb-
ing up, came those pencils of areenish white
light, from which the great columns spread
like films and smoke over the sky, SO hlmy
as to form no bar to the luster of the stars, and
vet so brilliant as to pale the light of the moon
which sailed in placid beauty on her course to
the west,
In the northwest appeared suddenly glori-
GUS mass of brilliant rose color which gradual
ly spread to the zenith, and for time hoped
to behold again the wonders of the aurora of
1858; but the pink light faded without forming
the perfect corona of red which characterized
the phenomenon of that year. Later the red
light and rays spread much over the east and
toward the zenith.
All seemed now to have passed away, for the
brilliant spot of light was obscured by cloud
of dense blackness which gradually assumed
an arch-like form across the northern sky.
When wonder of wonders-again those darting
pencils of dazzling light spreading into glori-
ous columns broad and firm, long line of
them ranged one behind the other above the
black arch which they thus more clearly de-
fined. Through these too, would pass from
time to time the wonderful pencils of emerald
tinted light. About these columns there was
firmuass and grandeur that added awe to the
scene.
These passed and again the flashing, waving
light found it's way to the zenith; the black
ness cleared from the north revealing ne bril-
liant spot still there with lines OF clouds float
ing like islands over its surface; and 30, with
| the clock on the stroke of one, reluctantly
! closed my skylight and retired with another OF
natures glorious pictures ineffaceably painted
| and hung in memorys hall.
Later.-The electrical agitation is fearful:
| From all points great columns and waves OF
| light flash and go rushing up to the zenith
where they gather in masses, recede, dash
bither and thither in the widest agitation,
while every instant, fash fash, flash, added
| strength comes from advancing columns from
below. 1t is grand bat fearful spectacle.
Nov. 20, 1892 o'clock a. m.