Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-17
AURORA BoREALIs A MAGNIFICENT
SIGHT.

SxGaL.
| There was seen in the northern heavens lest
evening, from about to half-past o'clock,
magnificent exhibition of ''northern
! lights" Just above the horizon, and extend.
| ing quite from the northeast to the northwest,
was dusky belt, and above this band and
arc of pale blue light that was about ten de-
graes in width at the brightest part and
thence faded into and blended with the blue
of the sky above. Thus the belt of light was
| elevated at an angle of about forty degrees,
and was itself from ten TO twenty degrees in
| width This luminous band, which seemed
| to burn coldly in mid-slr. and through which
the stars shone with diminished luster, would
change from its pale tint of blue TO one
of faintest pink, and then brighter red. and
then again, by intermingliug of these eolors
its lower edge would take on purple and Law
ender tints, aud the iich gray.greens that
painters strive after, but seldom attain. Dc.
casioually from the arched band Of mystical
light long, family defined streamers of red
light would rise toward the zenith for some
moments, and then, fading from view, the
whole luminous band would glow with o
roseate hue, as If blushing at the effort to
reach out into the depths OF the heavens. At
II o'clock the light-which had not wholly
faded at any time, though its vividnees de-
parted an hour before-.renewed its burning,
having crept around, however, almost into
the northwest. At HIS it was brighter in
that direction than it had been before, and by
l1:2O six great broad bands of light, like
mighty fingers reaching into the uttermcst of
space, swept up almost to the zenith, glowing
| with rosy hue richer in its soft and inviting
color than it is possible for the most skilled in
the world of art to fix by the translation If
| the brush. In few moments these bands.
| holding steadily against the sky began to
broaden. and as they grew wider, and wider,
the pearly pink became deeper and richer in
| color. until flame tint was reached, and the
pencils of light united, and the whole north.
west, from horizon to zsnith, was shame with
| such wondreus glow, and such marvel of
color, as it is the fortune of jewellers in these
parts seldom to behold. 1t is impossible to
| convey by any description an adequate idea
Of the magnificent richness, and depth. and
awe-inspiring beauty Of this phenomenal illu.
mination of one quarter OF the celestial vault.
| The splendid view gladdened the sight for
some fifteen minutes and then faded away.
At this writing, midnight, the cold white
arch just above the northern horizon still
| feebly burns. These northern lights "
should be called "polar lights" as they are
more frequent and more brilliant In the Polar
regions. Private edvices by telegraph to this
| office state that the aurora at Virginia City,
| New, was especially beautiful. It was seen
as far north as Red Bluff. and as far ocean
| ward as the coast hne-in fact, the whole
northern and central part Of the State was
treated to the view. The Geographic lines
were working badly between Sacramento and
Ogden last night, and operators attribute the
disturbance to electrical conditions out of
| which the Polar lights spring.
LIBERAL UNIoN.-A large and intelligent
audience gathered at Turner He'll last even
ing to listen to lecture by DIR. York. Be-
fore the lecture an organization was per-
fected, to be known as the Sacramento
Liberal Union, by the election of the follow
ing officers S. S. Holl, President; R. II.
Byers, President; S. }. Martin, Secre-
tary Z. F. Woodland. Treasurer: Directors
S. s. Holl, r. II. Byers, w. D. Goodell,
j. H. Martin and Mr.. Mills; Musical Di-
rectors-Mrs. Geo. Cooley and G. T. Butler.
| The laws of the organic alton say that the
object of the Union is for the purpose of pro.
noting free thought, self-culture, liberal senti-
ments and the attainment Of truth, by public
meetings, lectures, discussions and such other
means as tie Directors may suggest" The
Society starts out with membership of
about eighty persons who have signed the
roll. In the absence Of the President,
S. s. Holl, the ,Vice-President was
introduced and mads a few appropri
ate remarks. Mrs. Cooley sang solo, after
which DR.. York addressed the audience en-
the subject of Wasted Power" In the lect.
uze he made the points that vital forces are
wasted by intempsraEce and excess in the in
dividual, and in business by fTeding, and in
fashionable ways by fast living. That they
are wasted in religion by emotion and super
stition, and in political life by the clap trap
of party leaders, and in many other ways
touching the physical, mental, moral and So
cial life of the people. The lecture was lis
tened to throughout with the closest atten'
! ton and apparent satisfaction by the audience.
The audience joined in singing the familiar
hymn, "Nearer, My God, to Thee" and
were dismissed, to meet again next Sunday
night.
! COMPLIMENTARY TO THE MILITIA.-Colonel
| T. w. Sbeehan, commander Of the First AZ
tillery Regiment received the following com
nunication few days sincelfrom Greed Hay
mond, of San Francisco, former Colonel Of
the regiment: cannot refrain from saying
to you how gratiGed I was this morning &c
read in the papers that your regiment had
| so promptly responded to the call of duty and
had saved the city from the humiliation of a
| mob execution. This exhibition has been OF
great benefit to the National Guard. All
| speak well of thu First Artillery Regiment,
and I have therefore been very proud Of you
| ALL | cannot conceive of a test more severe.
The murder was brutal cowardly one,
| Lansing popular man and devoted friend
of the regiment Yet all this was sunk in g
sense of duty and under obedience to law. II
shows what have always claimed to be the
fact-that yours is as good regiment as CAL
be mustered. This may not end the matter
| You may have more trouble. | will regret il
if you do !; but if it comes | shall expect e
hear that every man was in line, and that the
laws of the country have been maintained
and | have confidence enough in the First
Artillery to know that shall not be disap
pointed in this expectation"
INQUEST ON HOLLY CHINAMAN.-Yes
terday morning the body Of dead China
man was found floating in the Sacramento
river, tangled in some drift-wood at thu
mouth of the suction-pipe of the Holly
Water Works, Front and streets. Th'
Coroner was Immediately notified of the dis
covery, and the body taken to the Morgue
AT an inquest held last evening the following
verdict was rendered "We, the Coron
er's jury, duly summoned and sworr
by the Coroner to inquire int
the cause Of the said mans death, d.
find, from the evidence before us, said China
mans name TO be All Jung, a native o
China, aged about 46 years and that th'
cause of the death of the said All Jung wa
accidental drowning"
METROPOLITAN THEATER.-The Metropoli
tan Theater will be opened on Thursda,
evening by the Grandms's Birthday COMEDY
Company. They will play three nights anC
matinee. They played in this city last yea
J to good houses and gave very general salts
faction. The company has lately been reor
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