Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-10-16
AERIAL EXPLOSIONS.
4 STARTLING PHENOMENA ON
FOUND IN INDIA.
Chemists Can Throw no Light an 'tho
Barisal Gun'-No One Has Ever
Been Known to lie Near
Them--A Problem.

One OF the most startling mysteries
Of nature is the phenomenon known in
India as 1.-The Barisal gun" In
part OF the delta of the Gauges detona-
tons, that sound rs II caused by the
discharge OF heavy artillery, are heard
booming through the air at irregular
intervals, rising from none can say
where and caused by none can say what.
They have been heard during at
least 400 years rs is proved by local
history and tradition does not reach IA
time when they were not heard.
Nevertheless they have never been
explained.
Barisal is town on the western
bank of the Barisal River, siXty-five
miles north OF the Bay of Bengal.
Although its name has been used as
though the sounds were peculiar TO the
place, the noises are familiar to the
people of Dacca seventy-five miles
northward. They sometimes occur at
Chittagong. 100 miles eastwardly, and
occas onally startle folks at equally
great distances away toward the west
and the south. They have even been
heard with great dis ,inctness at Cher
ra Punni VIII ch is nearly 200 miles
north OF the Bay OF Bengal.
At times they seem TO come from
tho south or south est and aga n
from the north or east. Whenever
one hears them they always seem TO
come from somewhere else. No one
has ever been known 10 be near them.
but they are never so remote as to
leave doubt in the minds OF those who
hear them that they are actually the
sounds OF cannonading.
The natives, ever ready to explain
what they do not understand b. giving
it supernatural origin. had two YER
sions of the cause of the detonations-
one that they were the sound OF the
opening and shutting of the brazen
gates OF the mythical palace OF Rayan-
ma on the island OF Ceylon; the other,
! that aerial beings -Devatas produced
them by the firing OF ghostly cannon in
honor of Khan n Ali or Khan Jahan,
who was Tahslldar OF Bagirnat 400
years ago.
or course, when matter fact Eng
lishmen got into the country they said:
Pooh! pooh.' to all that and straight
way set to work to find scientific ex-
PLANTATION for the sounds.
But they have 20 admit that they
have not yet found it.
Colonel H. s. Olcott says the Youths
Com anion. after devoting much in
guiry and study 10 the matter averred
that so far rs he could see the ghostly
artillerists of Indian story were as
probable "a any thing that the most
advanced modern science could sug-
gest and maintain by way Of explana-
ton.
Now. during more than year. the
Asiatic Society OF Bengal. after col
leciing and studying the facts, finds
these mysterious aerial demonstra-
tons as deep puzzle rs ever.
The nearest hills are 100 miles away
from Barisal toward the east AMI near
ly that distance north westerly SO
there is no basis for an echo" hypo-
thesis il even it were possible to find
any thing that might cause such
echoes.
hbt . 90 y iIO 4iliAlthlg V
and no heavy guns in all that part a
the delta where these noises occur. sc
they can not by caused ey real materi-
al guns.
The detonations are always heard nj
their best in the clearest and dryest
weather. and never during storms, sc
atmospheric electricity can not reason
ably be held responsible for them.
They have not been known to occur
simultaneously with earth Iuakes.
All over the terri tory in which the
phenomenon occurs the Asiatic Soci.
ETY. o. Bengal has caused to he distrib
ute1 pr nted lists of questions and
ank forms. TO he filed out with data
which it is hoped viii, when collnted.
sustain some hypothesis. or demolish
by unquestionaole evidence all that
have been or may be advanced.
Hundreds OF the most intelligent
residents in this district are getting
the desired facts. Should the society
succeed in finding a ply sical cause fol-
this acoustic marvel OF the centuries,
it will have solved one of the mos
pulling problems ever propourdeC
10 scientific men.
Nly