New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-28
A REMARKABLE SUNSET
PECULIAR GLOW IN THE WESTERN SKY.

A PHENOMENON THAT MADE MANY PEOPLE THINK
mo riHE WAS RAGING.
As if TO add To the ChAgun of those who
ament,d all DAY yesterday Drcnuso the nhc weather had
not been ,oncsfcd parade on Monday Nature pro-
ylied sunset that In tho opinion Of many put to shame
her previous efforts In this direction. Tho
disc OF tho sun settled behind the Jersey
hills at d35. and between and 5:4a
tho sight vas one Of rare beauty. The sky nom the
Staten island hills 20 the Orange Mouhthhs was ~
ri, crimson tint and the brilliant hi" extended hat way
10 the l,nlth The light was steady and seemed Tor
tine L. Increase I'm intensity. seen from the roof Of IH
Inn building the picture one long 10 be- renen-
u, lrn The spires stood In strong relief against
tlc r,d light. On the bay the lights ~ the
fcryboats red green and white rparked beneath the
glow the so WAS the ght that 1t was
reflected FOR niles The color In The direct
Hoo had disappeared being OF tho deepest
tint and that on either side vanishing la tho
darkness. few thin clouds appeared against
the background OF red. When tho sun
sc they included in tho glow, which extended
Only a few degrees above the horizon hut as the sun
-ank the scmicircc OF light grHw bigger until the splen'
dor ~ the scene was beyond description.
People In tho street sure that big fro was
ragfue-tho hight was not TINT OF sunset
ana II was currently reported that dispatches
were sent To staten Island and ayonne asking where
the nrc People stood In the streets ana g|ed at
The novel sight crowds were IN tho parks "hcTc
better view could be obtained. Those on tho Bridge had
me view OF the spectacle, the lights along tho
shore ~ the bay and on the boats hciShehlg
to picturesque effect OF the scene The length OF time
during which thr phenomonon was Visible "a common
subject OF remark. Soon after O'Clock hoToVer' the
heavens showed only the giimmerhg OF tho stars whose
modest brauty had been qurnchcd
while the display lasted tine city wires OF inc western
Umon Telegraph Company were buidrned win
Inquiries from uptown Offices 10 tho locality
~ fhp DCrgnuA
these offices and by their questions aroused tle cno'I
of operators sulr lonty Ia indhcc thrm 10 Apply TO-,
Sunset grew mOnol0hons to the clerks IN tne Dcy-
ST. building, but had Ia bo Lem up un Wtor ,'Th
40 electrical disturbances were noted ana NJ wv
signal Service ONCE ri the top OF thr Elpic p'IIs
nothing unusual was apparent In the condition OF tue
t',,st,rcrr Tne humidity OF tho atmosphere was not
gSH,I Inc weather had been particularly dry When
M, D. IN. observation taken the record showed
-, A. ,,} cent The latter ng,itc however, showed no
,tpount ot moisture Ina the air. The temperature
was AZ at 3 Hud 40 AT D.. No. dccHhc hoV "i"'u"'
with the approach Of nlghtlall - H.,
prfrr,of j. X Kees OF Columbia College. was asked
last evening for "a theory 20 explain thc uhusu s9Iu
glow nutced deep red glow In the shy. TIC SAID III
rUy some limo after o'clock when was At the college
supposed that Il tho reflection OF HIo. l' ~
n good view OF the sky and, without knowing az inc
meteorological conditions the time myself DO not
care 10 give positive explanation OF tue
hui I should imagine that IT is TO he explained ohliGy
a. an atmospheric effect produced what rS
traction and reflection. You Know ,,,, mna az
tricks tie atmosphere plays, when pecull Cohi'Io
the lower LAYERS OF atmospheric strata produces llo
mirage and another condition Of the upper layers may
give us the phenomenon OF PItm ,ns in VI m"
sky | should explain the unusual appearance VI lno
sunset SKY tonight by suppOsinS that Dlnk vi olous
had found in just the position to Intercept inc ny
of the sun that otherwise would pass on over US ann 70
reflect them upon the city OF course inc coi3r onoots
would be red, the rcd rays nave tho inS
energy That Is they possess more penetratmt pow,
than the other cOOred rays Ia the solar spectrum nr
will reach through the atmosphere IuIsr an ~" 1 ihe
colored ght can travel The same effect Chuhed py tn
interceptop and reflection OF These red rays would
he nrosuced H. instead of 10 bank OF clouds, thry
should meet what you might keu to clOd-that Is an
atmospheric whose layers weU ~ varying uoia,J
/ can imagine too, that tho unushhl ulho
that the sunset brlllnnoy lhsIeI Gao; ; pd
explained In the way. lho iuoronaou
lIaGtye power OF this mass OF atmospheric oVhP95
of LAYERS OF different denses, by causing inc DohuhS
down Of the rcd rays 10 greater cAtoht 'nah IA
would bring into our view moro oI VI" iSu
u,ys that became moro Ubnque ~ inc sun slSs
lower and lower below tho plane OF mo ho,iLon.
Hence while the brillancy OF tho eiuGt womb DO uuo W
tho reelection rays nom this cloud or atmospheric p1a
10 the eurh the refrcuVn WOaa mIecePs 'uo