New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-24
NORTHERN LIGHTS FLASHED.
A SPLENDID DISPLAY IN THE HEAVENS
LAST EVENING
sTREAMERs AND SWIFT MOVING ELECTRIC
CLOUDS OF GORGEOUS COLORs FILLED
HALF THD SKY SEEN IN
MANY PLACES

There was a beautiful display Of aurora pore
oIis I'm the early hours of last evening The
s,y was free from clouds and the stars shone
clear and bright through the frosty air Inc
streamers filed the whole northern SKY. Inc
shafts Of silvery light shot up not only IN front
Of the north star but they mounted upward
frequently at points due east and west forfIiihs
at such times the appearance OF ohe-na'i VI
an enormous celestial umbrella. Such perfect
formations only lasted second or t"o' '"ei
the elusive lights would fade, and the new
strcamc~s which followed them would assume
other forms and shapes.
II was not tabeau. 1t was distncuETy 10y
. displav Of tremendous electrical energy. me
heavens seemed to be- agitated by some IhNlSi-
ble power as If another Titanic struggle pct"Teil %
angels and demons was ON ana Mlcndei anu nI'
faithful host were hurting fiery darts al re-
bellious spirits II there really were SuS'i d
superual battle. the vanqulshed were hurleu up
ward instead Of downward for the HshlS % con-
,.ri,od at the zenith. Sometimes the strediiieIs
,vnuld fada nearly away for an instant. ana
then would come clouds Of light moving win
inconceivable rapidity to the heavens o'recuS
overhead. ,,,
II was a magnificent display such as is seldom
seen in this latitude. At this season the WORTH
ern Lights are Of frequent appearance put ois
noy and then does the big earth battery vi l'.e
hiv sun battery or any other magnets or pat
teries which cause the displays, appear 10 ps 50
vel charged The colors red, wnlte anu piue
were all to bc seen .ho
rs,r moro than twenty-four hours before the
dlsplay reached its maximum brilhancy u apou.
10 u m. the atmosphere had peeh he@siiy
charged with electricity ana the teIestapn e -
,e,anbone wires gave warning that something
unusual was taking place. The electriclty P'ayeu
sad tricks with the operators or the wires ,,,t -N
II would double charge a circuit, now IL "ouiu
carry off suddenly It's entire LOAD ot curIc'
Then the perplexed receiver or message "ou ~
he AZ a loss to know which dots and dashes came
from a neighborng station anu ""'0" ''' ~
messages from the air , -, ,,,,,,b,
| the heavens had resumed their usual ca'r"' se'e"e
and irlpenetrabie appearance - A.,,,,s
The wonderful display OF the aurora DoreaiS
was seen in Plainield y. j.. last night Dy peo-
p. who chanced to be on the street ne an a.,
suddenly became intensely cold about ~ CLOCK
and Immediately the most gorgeous natniss'a, !,
inns became apparent. The colors eXhibitei
,,,r, rod ami light blue as well dazzling
xchltc the red a steady glow In the west to"tid u
which the flashes of blue and white grauuany
/ extended At times II seemed as II giant at III IA
/ were sweeping the sky with name upon "HiOi
at intervals was turned fashlight of blue ana
white Crowds OF people stood upon the streets
intently Watching the wonderful sight aiho,ls
them many superstitious colored people Wn1 i,
failed to understand the cause or the ceies'ia'
! manifestation.
Despite the cold many people remained on tne
streets in Nyack to admire the superb aurora
/ I'm the northern heavens. From span eXteiu,
ing from the eastern To the western horizon ana
about nfty degrees high. broad bands OF Yellow
and pea green light flashed to the Zenith. lhen
the phenomena faded almost enurelN lroih SlsH'
and reappoared with double brilliancy. Occa-
sionallv there was "A fash or red suiNcieh'v
strong to give the appearance OF sI'aV .on- %
/ nagration to the northward SeNeral uWeS WV
! arches appeared. one about ten degrees ABOVE
The other and the two were connected by per
fectly defined perpendicular bands oi Ee,lo".
Then again the northern SKY was Simply !,
/ nood Of green yellow pale red. II was SAID
that a more beautiful aurora was never seen
! in Nyack.