Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-30
THE MYSTERY SOLVED.
THE BRIGHT BANDS OF LIGHT NOT DUE TO
AURORA,
But Are the Peculiar Reflections Of Natural Gas
Wells-OOl. 7. B. Robsrts EK-
PLANTATION.

to the bright comet-like bands OF light
which have been observed in the sky
during the past few evenings, and sug-
gested that they were due TO aurora
borealis. Yesterdays Pittsburg Dis
match came to hand with the explana-
ton that the phenominon is due to natural
gas. The writer, quoting Col. T. B.
Roberts, says:
"These comets are usually seen after
night, and usually and perhaps only on
comparatively clear nights, when the at
mosphere is calm and below the freezing
point. At least have never seen them
excepting under these conditions, and l have
noticed them frequently every season
since the winter of lSS3-4-the year OF the
development OF the Murraysville gas field
twelve to fourteen miles east OF the city.
"They are peculiar reflections in the sky
over burning gas wells, or stand pipes, and
are caused in some way by the focusing OF
the rays of light on certain Of the probably
icy particles suspended, or floating, in the
higher atmosphere. They never reach down
to the source of their origin. Their appear
ance is much the same as that of a comet,
only there is no necleus, neither does the
tall expand in width. They are, in fact,
simply bright streaks or bars of light al
WAYS vertical in position, measuring, on
an average, One-guarter OF \ degree IN
width (Say half the apparent diameter OF
the noon, and from TO 10 degrees IN
length. My observation OF those which
were visible on Saturday night mo less
than 10 of them being in sight simultane-
ously), tends to the belief that they are
quite large. Thus, one of them, vertical
over the gas well, thought to be one of
those belonging to the Manufacturers
Natural Gas Company, near Canonsburg,
Washington county, was OF decidedly
red color. From the horizon to its base,
OF lowest illuminated part, was about 10
degrees, the air line distance to the well be-
ing on course south 40 degrees west, from
the point of observation in the city, and
the distance Is! miles. The height indi-
Gated at this distance would be about four
miles From base to top the bar of light
subtended further angle of about eight
degrees, which would indicate length for
the comet of about two and one-half
miles. Its upper extremity was therefore,
about six and one-half miles above the
earth's surface. Not having an instrument
at the time of the display with which TO
measure them, give these angles rs mere
approximations. The apparent diameter
of the majority of the comets was, ~ before
said, one quarter of degree, indicating
diameter of about $50 feet, (for the afore-
said diStance.")
"Then you regard the gas comets n y
great novelty"
81 do. A pillar of fire by night-meas-
uring d miles long by $50 feet in diane
ter, suspended vertically in the sky be-
tween the attitudes of 6t and miles-is
certain novelty, at least unheard of since
the days of Moses sojourn in the desert.
The phenomena attending their display are
worthy of scientific investigation, for we
may learn from them something regarding
the conditions of the atmosphere in the
higher strata of use in prognosticating the
weather. Some of the doubts which exist
in the minds OF astronomers in regard to
the elevation and propagation of auroral
lights might be resolved also by study
of them"
What is fair comparison of the in
tensity of the light, rs seen by yOu?"
THE beam of light, while brightest
about the middle continued Mr.. Roberts,
preserves an equal width throughout its
length, with its edges well defined. The
'Canonsburg' red one, of Saturday night,
equaled in intensity OF light the bright
est illuminated clouds seen after a'summer
sunset. At times it would part, or pres
cnt nearly complete void in it's centre
at the very brightest part-the break being
of two moons width, or one degree of
angle. This was something never observed
before, and suggests the idea that the
upper is simply the reflection or inversion
of the lower half of the comet.
THE real diameter of natural gas
flame whose projection is thus thrown into
the sky is not often more than fifteen To
thirty feet. and in vertical length from
thirty Ia seventy feet. From the height OF
four miles, Hooking vertically down upon
such an illuminated spot, it would appear
as mere point with a disk not much
greater than the planet Venus. The can
die power of the waste pipe formerly on
the hill by the Union depot and near the
High school, was estimated by me by COM
parsOn of shadows with 2,000-candle
Brush arc light practically the phOtOmet-
riC test to be equal TO 80, 900 candles. As
the Washington county wells have high
cr candle power, and some OF them burn
ing ten times rs much, or more, the vol
umc Of gas consumed at the High school
pipe, it is easy to conceive what an enOr-
nous volume of light is required to de-
velOp 4 strong gas comet"
Have you been able TO verify any OF
you observations"
was ahlO TO verify, in n manner, the
conclusion that the comets Of Saturday
night stood at the height of four miles
above the earth, by observation of those
visible in different directions. Thus, in a
direction south, 20 degrees west, there
were three comets visible near each other
The brightest was of the third, the second
of the fourth magnitude if it is per
Missile to use this convenient astronOmi-
cal word, while the third comet was bare
~ visible. All were at abOut the same
apparent elevation, viz: about II degrees
above the horizon. Afterward, by refer
ence to a gas well map, the direction was
found to be toward Hickory, in Washing
ton county, where there arc number Of
wells Wheeling obtains its supply from
this point The distance is 10 miles, and
the angle would indicate an elevation of
the comets over the wells Of about four
miles"
- "