The morning call., 1894-07-28
HEAVENLY PYROTECHNICS
1t Left a Trail of Light That
Lasted Many Minutes.
A MOST PECULIAR PHENOMENON.
With the Wonderful Luminosity the
Mass of Fire Seemed to
Pose in the Air.

FRESNO, July 2Z-At 1882 o'clock las
evening one of the most beautiful meteor
ever seen here illumined the northwestern
sky. The meteor itself was of brilliant
reddish white hue, like white-hot ball o.
iron and of a magnitude exceeding The
planet Venus at its most favorable posi-
tion with respect to the earth. 1t described
an arc of IS degrees in the sky, passing
directly to the horizon. and was apparently
entirely consumed in its passage through
the atmosphere, as there was only fain
explosion. The trail of light was visible
for twenty-five minutes and assumed 8
spiral form. The central portion was of q
bright blue and the remainder Of full
sea-green.
LODI. July pa large meteorc stone
fell at 1880 o'clock this evening in south
east direction from Lodi and was followed
by a loud report as of thunder The
course of the meteor was clearly dis
tinguishable in the sky for ten minutes
after il fell
STOCKTON, July 27.-Some peculiar lu-
minous body fell slowly through the sky
in southerly direction from this point at
z 80 O'Clock this evening and left trail OF
light and fleecy smoke behind 1t. The
smoke was also luminous and glowed in a
phosDhorescent way in the sky for some
minutes, to the great astonshment of
thousands of persons who observed the
phenomenon. Nothing of the sort was
ever observed here before.
SAN RAFAEL, July 27.-The appearance
IN the sky to the southeast of town of a
bright ball of fire which shot toward the
earth leaving a bright trail of fire behind
it was observed about 1880 o'clock this
evening. The supposed meteor was quite
bright and attracted considerable atten-
tioD.
WOODLAND. July PA remarkable at
mospheric phenomenon was observed
here this evening. About quarter past 7
meteor was seen to fall out Of the SOUTH
west quarter of the heavens, taking a
northeast direction, then it disappeared in
mid-air. 1t lett behind it long luminous
white streak, which looked just as if a
portion of a milky way could be seen
through the dusk of the evening.
This streak was Irregular and extended
over an area of some ten degrees or more
of the southeast quarter. Intense interest
was created by this appearance here and
much speculation was INDUCED in regard
ing the nature of the phenomenon. The
luminosity had not the appearance of rest
ing in the air, but, as stated, seemed to be
floating in space and without moving from
the point where it was seen after the me-
teorc flight had been observed. Whether
a phenomenon of space or air the like OF
this appearance h as never been seen in
these regions before.
TRACY, July 27.-At 7:30 o'clock this
evening bright meteor was seen falling
in the southeast portion of the heavens
rom an altitude of 60 deg. to near the hori-
zon. 1t was bright bali of fire leaving a
bright white streak behind it, and at a
height of about 80 deg. it left large white
luminous body that remained stationary
for some time. Five minutes after the
meteor disappeared loud explosion re-
sembling clap of thunder was heard
SACRAMENTO, July 27.-At 7:30 this
evening a large meteor fell in a south
easterly direction from here. When ap-
parently two or three thousand feet from
the earth'it exploded twice, leaving cloud
of greenish yellow smoke behind, which
was discernibe for half an hour. In the
southern part of this county the people
are certain it fell near by.
SAN JOSE, July pa brilliant meteor
was seen to fall east of this city about 7 80
o'clock this evening. 1t descended with a
great buZzng noise like that of an enor-
nous rocket, leaving in its wake a long
line of smoke, which soon assumed SER
pentine shape. It fell about nine miles
east of here.