The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-05-06

And thus ended the last and most not.
ed gang of robbers that infested the
"Natchez and Nashville trace"
sun STORMS AND AURORAS.
The great sun spot which was visible
few days ago without telescope, and
which there is strong reason to believe
was connected with the splendid auro
ras and great magnetic disturbances O
last week, Is now nearing the western
edge of the sun, where, through thu
effect of foreshortening, it is no Longer
visible without optical aid. In thu
telescope it is still a wonderful object
Reports from observatories in various
parts of the country show that it has
been noticed and closely studied by
the astronomers. On the 10th inst,
when it was approaching the centre oi
the disk, it exhibited the greatest dis
turbance. A portion of the SUMS sur
face more than a thousand million
square miles in extent was heaving
and whirling and tossing under the
tremendous forces at work. Chasms,
some of which by measurement were
several thousand miles across, yawned
within this area, their jagged and shin
ing edges and deep purple abysses
showing splendidly even in s,nall tel
escopes. Bright tongues projected from
the sides over the central chasms, and
in some places narrow bridges of snowy
whiteness crossed them. These holes
were of every conceivable size and
shepe, and around them all was the
vast penumbral shade,, resting like a
veil upon the face of the sun, and indi-
eating to the trained observer the linn
its and extent of the great depressed
area in which the still deeper chasms
were formed. ..- ..... ...
All the minor features of the great
spot were continually changing. An
hours watching revealed changes
which, though slight compared with
the vast extent of the spot, appeared
marvellous when little figuring
showed the rapidity ofthe motions that
were taking place.
The evening of the 10th was clear,
and the sun could be watched till it
touched the horizon. The tremendous
disturbances that had revealed them
selves during the afternoon continued
at sunset. The astronomers put up
their telescopes to wait for the morn.
ing, when the study of the great spot
could be renewed but hardly had the
twilight faded before in the, north, in
the direction of one of the earth's mag
netic poles, pale, green light began
to glow, and presently an arch was
formed, and then the mysterious cur
tains of the aurora were silently swayetl
and shaken in the heavens.
At the same time the telegraph lines
and the Atlantic cable were crippled,
and the magnetic needle showed the
greatest excitement. The effects of the
great sun spot, or rather the effects Of
the forces which produced it, were
being felt by the earth, and 1t was re.
spending to the magnetic thrill COM
municated from the sun.
The great spot continued during the
week to show signs of intense activity,
and almost every night the auroral
streamers were shaken in the north,
although the first display of Sunday
night was unequaled by any that fol-
lowed. That the magnetic disturbance
did not cease so long as the auroras
lasted, those whose business suffered
through delays in the telegraph know
too we'll.
At first sight it seems a startling
proposition to assert that the sun has
in its power thus to interfere with tie
workings of the Atlantic cable, and to
interrupt to no slight extent the cores
pondence and business between two
continents. Nothing that the ancient
fable makers related of Phoebus and his
Car of Day was more wonderful than
this. 1t would be yet more startling,
however, if those who believe that the
tornadoes and other atmospheric dis.
turbances, which have made this
month of April remarkable in meteoro