New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-04
HODERN Dick DA rs.

The peculiar atmospheric effects which have
been observed from the Mississippi valley 10
the Atlantic Coast are attributable to me for'S'
fires raging for many weeks in III" Northwest
Day after day there are dull skies "nv"lop'd
with dry haze resembling that OF Indian sum
nrr and likely 10 De- thickcSt 1T noontine. Inc
sun either shines with red. molten glow or If
nearly obscrr.d The conditions resemble those
Of the famous dark days" and yellow days
known io tradition and would DE- equally tncanny
II the world had not outgrown lis supcrStl'iouS
dread Of unusual phenomena. and II satisfactory
scientific explanations were not nj one" avail
able In isl when the WAS ut first blood
red and then Withdrew Its light, leaving dark
ness that could bc almost felt At midday, fh"re
were s.archingS OF heart In religious N"w-EnH-
land. and many apprchcnSivc souls nhucipa'eu
an approaching Day Of Judgment. Tile Signs Oh
the heavens are somewhat analogous now pu'
The Weather Bureau calls professors of me'co-
rology 10 is aid and issues bulletins on the
causes and range Of phenomenon wholly III
iclgbc.
The same effects can be- observed on 4 narrow
scale every autumn In the Catskllis. or III any
mountainous region where there are brush "r
woodland fires. When III" winds ar" hght me
smoke i slowly difiused and pcrncat"S the
atmosphere until The whole sky seems to he
cur,aincd uG with haze aud mist. through when
the sun peers with II face OF metallic HStf'.
When The mir j. still and there are no storms 10
clear H. these local effects may continue Tor n
fortnight. and a comparatively small series oi
brush fires will suffice 10 cause them. Inc LOT
~; fires which have been prevailing almost I'M
lntcrrupiclly In the Northwest since the first
week IN July have produced The same results
on n continental scale. The continuous drouiU
the high temperature. and the lack u clearing
storms have intensified and prolonged TIE ch'c's
until The llcnomcnon hrs commanded III" ntfrh-
lion Of everyday observers and wra'hrrwisc
philosophers from Duluth 10 Bellows Falls. Tile
least obServant n"wsboy In the streets OF New
York yesterday must have fallen into state al
hrwlldcrmcnt and wonder over the weird APP
pcarancr ~ the usually trustworthy sun.
What are known In Holland aud North Ger
many ~ dry fogs are caused by The burning ~
pcar boys by the peasantry In The autumn What
j. an ordinary phenomenon there with Il human
agency behind II has sometimes been Euro
pcan marvel with volcanic or other natural
causes contributing to H. During 1Is2 these
dry fugs which were commonly drnsest NJ mid
day. covered the face Of the Continent for many
weeks and were repeated during the following
year These haZc-drlfs were disp"llcd in each
~ those years by extraordinary thu1d"rstorlnS.
and while they continued they were accompanied
by curious cp!dcmcs Of catarrh About twenty
years ago. when the East Indies were the scene
| Of tremendous volcanic disturbance there was Il
long series of bloodred sunsets. continuing for
the space OF two years, which were finally ex-
planned by the presence Of dust and aqueous
yuuor I'm the atmosphere caused bv the erup-
tlons These peculiar sunsets We're observed all
over the world. and the conditions were Of pro-
| traccI duration.
These smoky skies on the Atlantic scaboard
are probably as Unlnlstakabc an indication of
the prevalence ~ the forest fires In the remote
interior Ms those wonderful sunsets In 1889 We're
the aftcrglow Of the titanic outbreak ~ the
East Indian volcano. The dry haze or mist.
which frcscocs the sky with murky or neutral
tnis and smcnrs the face Of the sun with u
blood red varnish. bctOkens the suspension In
smoke. dust and aqueous vapor. which will soon
or or later be- dispelled by clearing storms If
| these conditions We're 10 continue for a long
| period, public health would undoubtedly be In
| jurionsly affected. They serve to Illustrate in
| the economy of Nature the utility Of frcshcning
winds and driving storms In facilitating the
diffusion of smoke and gases, and rendering the
| atmosphere fit for sustaining life.