The herald., 1894-07-28
ONE OF NATURES SKYROCKETS,
A Tremendous Meteor Which
Was Widely Noted.
The Superstitious Can Figure Ou
What 1t Means.
Its Trail Takes the Form OF = Man with
- Staff OF Eirs-Reports Of
1t From Many
Places.

Los Angeles people, or 80 many Of
them as happened to be whore the spec.
tacle was visible to their optics, were
last evening treated to the sight of q
falling meteor, which for brilliancy,
beauty, size and length of the trail it
left after the huge frebsll had disap-
peared from view, was way up"
The display occurred about 7 :45, or at
least the curtain rose at that hour, but
the exhibition lasted fully 15 minutes
before the beautiful white trail faded
entirely from view. A representative OF
the HERALD was on hand Of course, as
this paper is always represented when
ever and wherever there is anything
transpiring which its readers wish to
know all about.
No tickets had been cent to this
Office, nor had any person in the city, or
anywhere else on The coast, received in
advance the slightest intimation that
meteoric display was to be put on the
boards. But HERALD man was there,
all the same, and ne mentally "took
notes." Every person who was so lor-
tunate az to behold the meteoric exhibi-
especially for an impromptu affair. II
was apparently few miles to the north
west OF the court house, and rather low
in the horizon. The sky was perfectly
clear, and there yet remained the faint
eat glimmer Of daylight, when instantly
what appeared to be great ball OF tire
in the direction indicated was seen
moving through space, not very rapidly,
but diagonally toward the earth. 1t
gave out long, wide trail of whittier
light than the ball itself. When first
seen it had the appearance OF an un-
precedentedly large and brilliant rocket,
and doubtless many persons who saw
the display for moment mistook it for
rocket. The writer surely did, and he
mentally inquired of himself whether
the Fourth Of July had come again 30
soon, but quickly dismissed the thought
and gazed on the luminous body with
profound wonder and admiration as it
moved in q straight line toward terra
| frma.
The time occupied by the meteor in
descending to earth from the moment OF
its first bursting into view was probably
not more than 15 seconds. After the ball
had broken from the trail and disap.
peared behind the foothills the trail
! bC0hOd ~ Aot4hih pCkioCby
1t was long and apparently fiat, larger
in the middle than at either end, and
slightly curved. resembling some-
what the figure of q man. Ex-
tending perpendicularly, close to
the white figure and seemingly a
part of it, was q very brilliant streak of
light. which appeared like rod of FIRE
by which the whittier and larger portion
OF the formation was supported. This
exhibition, as already stated, lasted
about Is minntee, and then slowly
faded from view. The spectacle was one
not soon to be forgotten.
Where the strange aud brilliant vis-
itor came from, why it came and where
the 'head light" OF the concern lit the
HERALD cannot now state, nor can it ex-
plain its significance. 1t will be in or
der, however. for people to speculate on
the meaning of the unexpected vista
tion. There is no law against people
pronouncing 1t either an omen OF more
strikes and labor troubles or OF an era
OF peace and prosperity or of
rainy season early the coming
fall or Of the adjournment OF con-
gress within the ensuing fourteen
months. or the defeat of the Populists,
or the reduction OF taxes in this city. or
| III luGl0hrO VA PuCiO oApSanoo WASA
little or no corresponding benefit to the
taxpayers.
Anyhow. as display Of fireworks, with
no expense to any body, the meteor was
success, and the HERALD's only regret
is that the whole population OF the
Angel citycould not have had front seats
at the entertainment.
AT SOUTH RIVERSIDE.
A telephone message from South Riv.
erside announced the sight of the brill
liant aerial wanderer in the northwest
ern sky. The body was seen only for an
instant, but the fiery trail it left behind
was remarkable sight. The view from
that place is unobscured by mountains,
conseq uently the aerolite and its won
derful trail OF fire were plainly visible.
AT REDLANDs.
b REDLANDs. CAL, July N.-A remark
| able meteor WAS seen about this even.
ing, northwest from here. 1t left long
trail through the sky that WAS visible
for 20 minutes.
| AT STOCKTON.
STOCKTON, CAL, July PA peculiar
luminous body fell from the sky in
southeasterly direction tonight. at 7:30
O'Clock. It left trail OF light and fieecy
smoke behind it. The smoke was also
luminous and glowed in the sky for
some moments. Nothing OF the sort
WAS ever observed here before.
IT THUNDERED AT LODI.
LODI, CAL, July GA large meteoric
stone fell at 7 80 this evening in south.
sasterly direction from Lodi. and was
followed by loud report as Of thunder.
The course of the meteor was clearly
distinguishable in the sky for minutes
after it fell.
| SEEN AT FRESNO.
FRESNO, July 27.-A brilliant meteor
was observed here tonight at 80 p. m.
The flying body disappeared with
slight explosion. leaving a trail OF lu-
| minous smoke which lasted 20 minutes.
SAN RAFAEL's VIEW.
SAN RAFAEL, CAL, July 27.-At 1880
tonight what appeared to be meteor
fell slowly from the sky near here. The
| bodv was large and luminous.