Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-02-25
Illuminated the Heavens.


The aurora borealis was generally vfs-
ible the other night, and was witnessed
by thousands of people. Many stood
stock still in the streets and gazed with
all their eyes at the sky. while others
looked from their windows until they
had cricks i'm their necks. Everybody
talked about it.
The cause of all this commotion was
not an ordinary, everyday northern
lights by any means, but Hn aurora
borealis the like OF which nobody but
the oldest inhabitant ever beheld.
In the first place, II was magnicently
large. 1t filled full quarter OF the
heavens, extendfng@ver the segment or
the circle between the northwest and
northeast. Its base extended nearly To
the horizon line, and its apexes at times
touched the zenith.
The rapid shiftiEg'of thegreat tongues
Of light was an added feature, but the
browning glory of the aurora borealis
was its color. Many hSve been seen,
but they have usually been of the clear
white light one lis usually wont to asso-
ciate with the crystal seas of the frozen
north, This ,one was atdisplav of gor-
geous oolorfng. The Eight varied from
pure white TO The color of fall sunset.
One minute the whole northern sky
would be vesSal'white and the next as
angry as the low-haEging winter clouds
Dver a big fire. In fact, at times the
tongues diediaway, leaving onsy a fierce
red glow that'made people in the south
ern suburbs think that a tremendous
confiagratiCn was raging down town.
Then the glow would soften and lose its
angry hue and turn to lovely pink, and
otter passing through marvellous grada-
tioRs OF hue become vestal white again,
with tongues shooting to the very zenith.
The aurora departed as suddenly as it
came, and left the stars deubly serene
after such vivid and varied lbrilliancy.
The Interesting phenomenon was ac-
comp@niediby az electricalbtuTm which,
while net severe, was Widespread. The
exact connection between the two and
their origin arc mysteries which cleo
tncal soieneebas as yet been'unable to
clear rup.
The appearance of this particular
storm was first noticed eacly i'm the af-
ternosn, when the telegraph wires be-
tween Ohicaponand ST. POnl began to
work imperfetHy It's iRSipence was felt
in the working of the telegraph instru-
uremts for a few minutesAt a time. Then
they would iTespond kcithe operator s
touch inregular manner again, thus in
| licating that the stormT oved'in waves.
| Dhe storm was at its height from 3
Q. IN. TO Up. m, during which time it
was found necessary te o., abandon, in
some eases, the dupleT system, which
reqCiF esha nice adjustment of batteries,
and ,confine the sendinguofa messages to
the singleOr ordinary anethod of tele-
graphing. This was especially true of
lines between Chicago and Washington
and Chicago and Pittsbnrg
The magnificent aurora horealis was
scientifically observed st the University
3f Michigan by Astronomical Director
W j.. Husssy, ,who reports as, follows:
"Thelbrilliant red rose aurora visible
to 4Iiightw was not altogether unexpected.
In "a GenerANway aurOrai have been pre-
| 1ictsd for about this time. Ho-night's S
| 1isplsyrnatIrally iollowsth appearance
II the great sun spot ENhich has been
visible during the lasJ week. lOther
a&reral' displays may beceSpeoted' in. the
ear auture.."
Dispatches show that fhe phenomenon
was witnessel,at New York, Louisville,
Cincinnati, tUleveland, Columbus, To-
ledO, Detroit, indianapolis, j. and at Hi
nois and Iowa points, 'huthnot at. St.
Louis, Kansas City, OF Memphis. At
! Cincinnati itMas first supposed that the
sity of Hamilton Twenty-Five miles
| oorth, ~vas. on fire.
Though notsseen at StPauI or Mime
apOlis, the aurora was pl$iIify witnessed
IN Nftvsa uSae.