The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-09-22

mated to be several hundred pounds. 1t first
became visible about thirty miles west OF
Albany, at an elevation of about eighty
miles and sweeping to the southeast, pass
ing over more than a hundred mile in about
seven seconds, exploded but short distance
from Long Island Sound, at an elevation Of
only eight miles above the earths surface
1t was mainly composed OF silex and oxyd
Of iron. with little sprinkling of maRnesia.
nickel, and sulphur. One of the larger frag
ments weighing about thirty pounds, may
now be seen in the Cabinet OF Yale College.
Early in the morning Of the 14th Of July,
1s47, two tremendous explosions were heard
in the heavens over Brannan, In Bohemia
and It the came instant two vivid streams
of fire were seen to descend to the earth like
immense flashes of lightning. Upon exam
lining the spot where they struck fresh hole
was discovered in the ground, and buried at
the bottom was a mass of iron weighing
forty-two pounds, which for six hours after
ward remained so hot that it could not be
held in the hand. 1t was placed In the cabi-
net at Vienna. The other portion fell upon
the roof of a building some distance away,
aud broke through several large pieces of
timber, filing the minds of the people near
by with terror and dismay.
Herschel tells us that four instances are re-
corded of persons being killed by the fall OF
these bodies. In the year ass B. c., mete-
oric stone fell at EgOs, Patmos, as large as
two mflIstones; and another fell In the river
st Narni, in the year 621, which was Of such
size that It projected like huge rock four
feet above the surface Of the water. These,
however, are small in comparison with the
immense masses that have been found In
more recent times. In 17ss a vast body OF
meteoric iron weighing nearly thirteen tons
was discovered half buried in the earth on
the great plain near Buenos Ayres. in South
America. How long it had lain there was
unknown. A stupendOus aerolite weighing
twenty-five tons was found on the west coast
of Greenland. by Swedish expedition to
the Polar regions, and fragment taken to
the Royal Academy of Stockholm. The Mu-
scum of the Jardin des Plantes, at Paris,
contains among other scientific curiosIties
an iron meteor weighing twelve hundred
pounds. It was found at La CaIlle, in 1928
The British Museum has an aerolite weigh
ing over four tons, found a few years since
near Melbourne, Australia. 1t Is said to be
the largest meteoric mass possessed by auv
scientific institution. Here, also, may be
seen a fragment of the famous Otumpa, ae-
rolite, weighing fourteen hundred pounds,
found in South America, in.1784. The entire
mass from which it was taken was estimated
TO weigh over sixteen tons.
4 wonderful meteor, estimated by some to
be half mile in diameter, passed over the
whole Of Europe, from Shetland to Rome, on
the 18th OF August, 1888. It's altitude was
| thought to be about fifty miles above the
earth's surface, and its velocity thirty miles
a second. Its light far exceeded that OF the
full moon and as it was very brilliant OBJ
servers might easily have been deceived in
regard to the magnitude OF the actual BODY.
Notwithstanding its great size, its form was
observed to change as it passed rapidly along
and dividing quietly into several separate
bodies, each flew on in parallel courses, fol
| lowed by long trails of silvery light
Erolites are generally Of a pyramidal
form, and coated with melted shining sub
stance Of dark color, somewhat resembling
the glazing of half-melted brick. They are
different from any known natural compost
tlon OF the earth, and usually contain con-
siderable iron and nickel. Shooting stars
appear entirely different from the class of
| meteors we have been describing. being much
less brilliant, and never heard to explode.
But this may be all on account Of their great
! distance. They can occasionally be seen
/ during almost any clear night, but are COM
1 monty more abundant in August and No
/ vember. The most remarkable meteoric dis
piav on record was the celebrated shower of
stars OF the 18th Of November, 1893 Some
OF your older readers may we'll remember it.
All the stars in the blue concave of heaven
| seemed falling. Millions Of fire balls and
| streaks or light darted do vnward, almost as
/ thick as snow-hakes in a snOw-storm Thou
| sands arose from their beds to witness the
most magnificent display Of Natures fire.
works ever beheld by man. The commenced
about two O'Clock in the morning, and con-
tinued until the superior light of the rising
sun rendered them invisible. MANY natu-
rally timid and nervous persons who had
never heard of such thing before believed
the Judgment day was at hand, and God was
raining fire from heaven to burn nm the
world. Intelligent people looked upon the
Wondrous phenomenon with awe and amaze.
ment, while the frightened In some instances
| huddled together, trembling with fear, ex.
pecting every moment to see the heavens
part and roll away, and to hear the sound of
Che ArcbangePs trump calling the dead tn
Judgment But the morning came as usual
and when the evening came again the phe-
nomenon had passed away. Scores of differ
ent theories were advanced by different sci
entlsts to account for it, most of which were
but mere speculations devoid of actual
proof. Some supposed they were electric
sparks and the dampness of the atmo.phere
dissipated them before they reached the
ground. Others thought the Earth was pass-
ing through the tail of the comet and f,ic-
ton of the atmosphere aided in producino
the phenomenon while another theory was
that there was a vast concourse of meteors
passing around the sun in a regular orbit
which crossed the track of the earth at a
certain point, and when they happen to cross
near together. which occurs once in about
tnlrty-three years, shower of stars Is the
result. Similar showers have occurred in
1899, 1928, and 1866
The larger meteors are sometimes seen in
the daytime. A few years since. I saw a very
brilliant one, when the sun was shining
brightly 1t was beautiful morning in An
gust, and not cloud was visible. The sun |
was about quarter of an hour above the |
horizon not breath of air was stirring. All |
at once became sensible that new blaze |
of light, which appeared to be in motion. |
was shining. Turning my gaze to the north, |
L beheld dazzling meteor resembling a /
orlght ball of fame, in appearance nearly /
MI id l.