The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-14
Northern Sky Lit Up with an Immense Flsm.
ing Half Circle through Which White
Shafts sIntermittingly ShotZenithward.
Mistaken for a Great Fire BY Persons
Who Did Not Understand Its Cause.
Wires Interrupted BY the Electrical Waves
Due to the Big Sun Spot, So q Scientist
Seys-Views of Mr.. Charles Jacobs
A GORGEOUS SPECTACLE.
The Northern Heavens Illuminated by an
Unuaual Aurorm Borealis Display.

The Northern Heavens Illuminated by an
Unusual Aurora BOrealis Display.
CHICAGO. Feb ia gorgeous illumina-
tion of the heavens was visible tonight at
cities over q thousand miles apart. IL was
the most wonderful exhibition of the au-
rora. or northern lights. possibly ever seen
from American soil. Dispatches show that
the phenomenon stretched over a great
belt of territory, from Iowa to the Atlantic
coast. The magnificent spectacle was
scientifically observed at the University Of
Michigan in Ann Arbor. Astronomical Di-
rector w. J. Hussey. of that institution,
wires the result. as follows: 1.-The brilliant
rose-red aurora visible tonight was not al
together unexpected. In q general way,
auroras have been predicted for about this
time. To-nights display naturally follows
the appearance of the great sun spot which
Other aurora displays may be expected in
the near future
Other dispatches show that the phcnom.
non was witnessed at New York, Louisville,
Cincinnati. Cleveland, Columbus. Toledo.
Detroit, Indianapolis. and at Illinois and
Iowa points. At Cincinnati it was at
first supposed the city of Hamilton. twenty
five miles north. was on fire. A correspond
ent at Lyons. Ia, gives typical descrip-
tion, as follows: From east to west
the sky was illuminated by an i'm
mense half-circle flaming upward near
ly TO the zenith. At first almost blood
red, it dimmed at times to delicate pink.
and would brighten suddenly. Tho circle
was shot with rays of almost white lights,
all pon ted outward from the circle. 1t
began at 6:l0 p. NJ. and for an hour was q
gorgeous sight. AT z o'clock 1t began dis
appearing. The weather had been very
warm throughout the day. but, after the
aurora. grew rapidly cold"
Though not seen at ST. Paul
or Minneapolis the aurora was
plainly witnessed in Milwaukee. The Pc
culIar disturbance known to telegraphers
as an electric storm greatly hampered
operators working wires stretching north
from the city, but did not materially affect
the lines going east and west.
At Cleveland the entire northern sky
was afiame, the color being rose-tinted
crimson. with arches above the horizon
and lines running to the zenith. The sky
was perfectly clear at the time. The phe-
nomenon attracted people from their
houses all over the city, many supposing 9
at first that the illumination was caused
by fire. At Hartford, Conn. the display
also led many people to suppose there was
q large fire beyond the hills.
At Philadelphia there was q rare and
unusually fine exhibition. The phenomen on
show ed deep crimson flush. strong and
full ut the horizon, shading delicately
away to the zenith.
Prof j. N. Stockwell. the well.known
astronomer of Cleveland, o., was ques-
toned regarding the singular display and
said it had been thirty years since he saw
such phenomena. Il had about forgotten
them. as they seem TO have gone out of
fashion. From 1850 to 1852 the appearance
of northern lights were quite frequent"
He said the phenomena were simply arctic
displays about which lutte is known. Tho
fact of the matter is," said Professor Stock
we'll. nobody knows anything about them
moro than that they are electrical dis
turbances."
Prof. Fred Duenckel. the meteorologist
observer at Forest Park, st. Louis. Is quite
certain it was genuine aurora borealis. as
he has seen phenomena Of this kind several
times. and says he cannot be mistaken.
The display began at 81. Louis at 6:30 and
at o'clock was invisible. 1t stretched
from about 90 degrees above the horizon to
the zenith. filling the whole northern sky.
lts pred0minating color was q pale yellow.
Nashville re ports that the aurora borealis
was visible during the first part of the
evening. Later raln-clouds came mp and
obscured it. 1t was not very brilliant, but
on tho train from the south. think part of
NaehyilI0 wae afiro.