The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-28
Sunsets of Fire.

MR.. NORMAN LOCKYER BELIEVES THEY WERE
CAUSED BY THE JAVA EARTHQUAKE.
In long contribution to the London
Times Mr.. Lockyer. brings the light of sci.
ence to bear on the atmospheric phenomena
which have lately been surprising and de-
lighting Europe and America. The ethereal
pomps are reported to have derived their
wondrous complexion from n plentiful diet
OF pumice stones. Meteorologists have
been enabled to track Kralatoa from its
original site in The Straits OF Sunda TO the
skies above Java, to Madras and other
points in southern India, to the Seychellas
and Mauritius, to the Cape and the
Gold Coast, to Brazil, Venezuela. and
Trinidad. About the period at which,
with the prevailing currents Of the upper
air, and in the anticipated direction, mat
ter floating IN the atmosphere would be
due in Europe. European skies have been
visited with a succession OF gorgeous sum
rises and sunsets. The exploded frag-
ments OF Krakaloa and its volcanic roots
have now been dyeing European skies as
they shrouded Java. AS it has been said
that the aqueous yapor in the air j. the
chief cause OF the sunset color normally,
Mr.. Lockyer inquiries if there is excess Of
aqueous Vapor at present. Now, on this
question there is no higher authority than
the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Pro-
fessor Piazza Smyth, and the evidence
which the spectroscope has afforded him is
OF the most conclusive character.
Mr.. Lockyer concludes by saying: "The
rain-band, band produced, rs | hold. by
a special form OF aqueous vapor in our air,
widely different from that which. absorbs
the blue, is now at the minimum, while the
dry air-band is at tremendous maximum.
Professor Smyth adds, as a corollary,
The light, therefore. from that red haze
has passed through an extra length Of extra
dry air. This puts an extra amount OF
aqueous vap0r as the cause OF these sum
sets entirely out of the question. Although
priOri, II seems difficult to imagine that
sunset i'm London in December should owe
is coloration to a volcanic eruption which
took place many thousand miles away last
August, inquiries along several lines based
upon the evidence now available really
lends great probability to this view.
Il do not write as n partisan, but even
were | one | should still point out that
there arc important gaps in the evidence
and that there are some difficulties in our
way. and it is desirable TO know whether
they will be increased or diminished by
future information. Thus. to give one Of
these difficulties, Mr.. Niche Smith pointed
out quite clearly that similar phenomena
were observed in Europe and America in
1881, when he imagined there was nothing
volcanic to produce them. On this the in
teresting question arises whether il Is pos
sible to associate them with the elevation
Of Graham's Island in the Mediterranean
in that year. as sundry dim portentS
seen in the last century were referred TO
an eruption OF Hecla. Much will depend
upon this, and at present | have not been
able to get at the records. However the
point is ultimately settled, the beautiful
phenomena which have suggested this
article will lose none OF their interest in
the memories of those who have watched
them. and if it should happen that the idea
OF volcanic origin is eventually justified it
is perfectly clear that in the future the
beauties OF the skies VIII have n new in
terest attached TO them, and that they will
be eagerly studied by meteorOlogistS and
utilized to acquire Il knowledge OF the
upper currents OF the atmosphere, which,
up to the present time, have all but eluded
their grasp"