The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-04-22
The Arfora Borealis.



from The Netc York san, 1prH u.s.
Prof. Henry Draper the astronomer, said
yesterday that the display was the finest that
he had witnessed since the great aurora of
august, 1860. He examined the skies be-
tween y and with a spectroscope. A green
ish.white and very dense light predominated,
and the four lines of red, green, blue, and
violet were perceptible. Like a vast umbrel-
la, the northern lights hung over the earth
with the four lines for ribs The star Arctu-
rus was in such position that IT was a focus
seemingly FOR the mass OF light which rose
and sank almost to the horizon at times.
great deal of pulsation was observed III the
lines that came up from the horizon to the
zenith The idea that the aurora was de.
stroying angel spreading pestilence over the
earth, Prof. Draper said, had long been given
up. but the science of aurora was not vet en-
tirely clear. The manifestations occurred at
from 100 to $50 miles above the earth. whore
the air was very rare. BY running an electric
current within an almost exhausted vessel the
same effects might be produced The aurora
was simply lightning high in the air, and por-
tended no more evil than storm of any kind
Lightning was an electric spark that struck
through dense air, and the aurora was a spark
that travelled through rarifed air with diff
fused effect Nothing was known of the con-
stitutiou of the aurora beyond the fac. that it
was associated with hydrogen, as the red light
was due to watery vapor in the air. The prey
alent belief among astronomers that aurora
were connected with the condition of the sun
had been growing steadily for years. Out
bursts on the sun were generally followed by
aurora manifestations ON earth. The sun was
quiescent and active by turns in what was
known as the 1l-year period. II twas now APP
preaching the maximum of its disturbance
The appearance of the aurora of 1860 and the
present one, with an intervening one of note,
made the relation to the sun plausible. The
formation of new spot ON the sun indicated
that an explosion was imminent, and the spot
that had been apparent of late suggested the
cause of the aurora on Sunday night. The
explosion excited the electric current in the
air.
The deep sea cables were affected, as well
as the land system. The currents reached
the cables at the termini. The Anglo Ameri-
can and French cables were six hours behind
in transmission at this end and three hours
and n half on the other side. In an ''elec-
trie storm. as II is known, the cables, or in
fact any telegraph wires, can be worked by
making a metallic circuit clear Of the ground
The greatest difficulty was experienced in the
North and West while the aurora lasted. The
air seemed 10 be most heavily charged IN the
region ofthe great lakes. Il was nos until
noon yesterday that the atmospheric influence
on the wires ceased The quadruplex and
duplex instruments were abandoned because
they could not be operated. aud il was found
necessary to fall back on the old style OF send.
ing a single message over the wire At one time.
Reducing the facilities to such an extent was
what put the company 40 far behind. Last
night, however, the wires were working ell
right again. During the aurora that began
October l6, 1872. and lasted for three or foar
DAYS. Superintendent pelnn took careful Oh.
servations Of the Influences aud established
the fact that communication could b. kept up
by forming the metallic circuit. 4 pecnliari-
" about this aurora was that Il continued ia
a rain and wind storm. and the press dispatch
e were sent between New ! crk and Boston
on an auroAl current The current was un.
usually steady in this instance. Ordinarily Il
Is 50 irregular tha; one minute Il will sci the
instruments pounding ike trip-hammers and
the next will leave them silent
Superintendent Dolan some eight or nine
years ago followed an anroral current almost
around the world. To see an aurora in April.
he said, was an unusual thing. Most Of them
were scen in the winter. Superintendent
Dolan observed that the aurura &c 1872 vas
followed BY unusually severe volcanic action
The reason tina, aurorr played - much mis-.
chief with the wirpS Was because the latter
were such perfect conductors. An agroFal
influence was generally telf for two or three
DAYS after the first manifestation.
AZ the Signal Service Baresu las, night Il
was said that aurprs, Werc USUALLY followed BY
colder aud clearer weather
At Cleveland. ahio, The abnormal electrical
conditions on Sunday night last affected
number Of persons. particularly those suffer.
ing from nervous diseases. Rev. %. l. Bink.
lev, pastor OF Prospect street N. +. Church,
was Pn,strated in the pulpit while praying By
what was al first Supposed TO he paralysis.
Ladies tainted in churches during the service.
and people who were 0Hi 81 doors, ~ we'll e.
those IN. complained generally ot sfrungiy OPP
pressiVe sensations. similar 10 those SID 20 h.
attendant upon an earthquake
Daring the brilliant display 81 the aurora
horealis on Sunday night, the telegraph wires
AZ Chicago connecting With New York, Mi
waakee and Omaha Were detached FROM the
batteries. al the electricity needed for tbs
transmission Of messages being furnished hy
the atmosphere.
Az Petersburg Va, the display va snc Of
the most magnificent sights ever witnessed
there. and lasted until 4 o clock in The morn
ing The light resembicd zrcat e0naagra-
ton. and was 50 briilizn, that the street lamps
eoald easily have been dispensed with.
The display lasted Of Cincinnati during the
whole evening, Is range extending from the
zenith.