The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-18
Sfeteors.

1t Is down In the log OF the steamship
Yemassee that the meteor seen by her OIL
GERS on Dec. 20. pursued zigzag path in the
latter part OF its course. This statement
may be challenged. but the officers OF the
Yemassee need not modify il on that ac-
count. They wouldn't. any way. for no
skipper goes back on his log: but their
meteor 10 by no means the first that has
been seen making ZlRZag course. as
though beating against the wind. 1t not
infrequently happens that a large meteor.
In plunginE through our atmosphere, some
times pursues tortuous path. darling
this way and that In most eccentric man.
ner. Even In the case Of the meteor that
Nr. LEWIS Of AnsonIa caught photograph
Of last year, part of the path appears as
crooked as a rail fence. 1t Is probable that
the zlgZagging motion OF a meteor is due
to Irregularities In the form Of the moving
mass. causing variations In the resistance
that 1t encounters from the atmosphere.
The brilliancy ascribed to the meteor by
the officers Of the Yemassee. is by no means
Incredible OF unprecedented. Many meteors
have been seen that shed an illumination
brighter than that OF the full moon. On
Sept. 20. 1876. about o'clock in the evening.
a meteor passed over England. producing
an illumination equal to that OF MONDAY.
30 that. as the celebrated DR.. WALLIS said
In his report to the Royal Society on this
phenomenon. 1.-THE smallest pin or straw
might be seen lying on the ground" On
the night Of March 81. 1876. a meteor passed
over Italy and was carefully observed by
the mathematician MoNTASARI. 1t ap-
peared larger than the moon. Sir HANS
SLOANE. Vice-President OF the Royal Society,
walking In the streets of London at quar-
ter after o'clock In the evening on March
10. 1918. was startled by sudden great light
in the sky. which proved to be meteor
Its brightness seemed nearly ID equal that
OF the sun. In fact 1t was so brilliant that
he was several times obliged to turn his
eyes from 1t. 1t left a sparkling track that
remained visible for about one minute.
The great meteor that was seen passing
over Long Island Sound and Connecticut
about IL 30 7. NJ. on May 90. 1869. appeared
equal in diameter TO the full moon. and a
study Of its path indicated that It probably
fell into the ocean not far from the coast.
northeast OF Boston.
The trains left in the air by large meteors
also frequently last for considerable time.
meteor seen in India on Sept. IS. 1878, left
a train that was visible for three-quarters OF
an hour. We have seen the trains OF small
meteors remain half minute or longer
after the disappearance OF the meteors,
undulating with a spakelike motion as they
toated In the currents Of the atmosphere
The story OF the gradual recognition OF
the fact that meteOric bodies. iron and
stone. actually fall out OF the sky upon
the earth Is one Of the most curious
in the history OF science Although
such falls had been noticed in the
earliest times. although every reader Of
ancient literature knew the story OF the
stone which fell at Rgospotamos. the re-
discovery OF which was one Of the dreams
Of ALEXANDER Won HUMBOLDT and Of the
other stone that dropped at the feet of the
poet PSDAR. to procure the possession
OF which as a sort OF national mascot for
Rome PUBLIUs SCIPIo NAsIcA was sent as
a special ambassador TO the King Of Perga-
mos. yet at the opening OF the nineteenth
century even scientific men doubted
whether anything ever really fell out of
the sky from beyond the clouds and the
limits OF the air The question was finally
settled by the fall OF showers Of stones at
Sienna, Italy. on June l6. 1874. aud at
L'Aigle. In France. April 26. 1903. BLOT.
the astronomer. investigated the last
named occurrence. and his report ended all
doubts.
In our day the subject has assumed fresh
and keen interest on account OF the curious
discoveries made in the meteorites them
selves. They bring 10 US out of the mystic
rIous depths Of space, not only iron. whose
condition indicates that il has had an extra
ordinary history. and nickel. aud magnetic
pyrites. and cobalt. and various other min
erals, such as Divine and trOillts, but that