Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-01-08
FALLING STARS.
Recollectlons of u Wonderful Night in the
Year 1883

Year 1833.
l have read many descriptions of
what was called the falling stars or
meteoric shower of 1888. I do not call
myself old, yet I vas five years of age
when the event alluded to occurred, and
witnessed it as l remember without fear,
The impress is still fresh on my mind,
though l have never read a description
that agrees with what I saw, except
when spoken of as sublimely grand.
l will try to describe it as seen by
me in Beaufort District, South Carolina
one hundred and fifty miles up the
Savannah River, and about six miles
from Matthew's Bluff. At the residence
of my aunt, at some hour before day
the date l do not remember), Uncle
Nfed came to my bed, took me in his
arms to the front piazza, where he
stood me on my feet to witness the
rain OF apparent liquid fire. l had no
fear, for he was with me, and l had no
appreciation of the terror it might have
for those who dreaded the judgment.
1t was a rain of fire, not stars. The
stars, or sparks, only occurred at the
end of the lines of fire. Imagine a rain
of molten iron striking the earth, each
drop bursting into sparks. Nothing
else will compare. l could not describe
it, if experience with foundry and
smiths shops had not afforded the
comparison. The fire fell in streams
like the heaviest fire rain I ever wit
messed, and swayed to and fro, just as
the water is by the motion of the clouds
or wind. The only stars l saw were
just such as one sees when molten iron
is running into or from the ladle,
or when iron with a welding heat
is withdrawn from the forge, or such
as seen when the liquid metal
drops upon earth, or such as seen in the
wake Of an exploded rocket. The
strangest feature to me was no such
sparks or stars appeared except at the
end of the line of fire rain, which stopped
about five feet from the earth, as near
as l can judge. The piazza had three
steps from the ground. 1t could not
have been more than three feet high,
and the line of fire rain burstinto sparks
On a level with my eyes. None that I
saw struck the earth, but after sparkling
on this line disappeared, to be succeeded
by others in quick succession. I recol-
lect distinctly observing the scene
around the yard, and the road led di-
rectly from the gate, and wondering
why non Of the fire u sparks reached
the earth. 1t was not as light as day,
but a lurid light greater than | have vel
seen since. Objects were perfectly dis
cernablc, though not so we'll as by day
light. l heard of many persons being
terrified but saw none. l do not recol-
lect seeing anything above the line of
my vision-such as the tops of trees and
houses. The fire rain was too thick to
see through. After staying, as long as
was deemed prudent in my night clothes
my uncle returned me to bed. How long
it was before daylight 1 do not know. I
do know L slept until called to break
fast. I met an old gentleman some
years ago who was in camp on the Texas
prairies, who witnessed the meteoric
shower or falling stars and whose ac-
count tailed more nearly with mine
than any I have ever read or heard. He
did no. have my experience with molten
metal, but when he heard my COMPARE
sons with the sparks from a smiths
forge heartily Endorsed me.-Cor
BlacksAear (Ga.) Georgian.