The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-13
Midwinter Phenomenon That Gave
Scientists and Common People
Something to Talk About.
WAS 1T STAR DUST OR DIRT?
VIEWS OF PROFESSOR HURTY AM
MEMBERS OF BUTLER FACULTY.
Mr.. Wappenhans Says Brown Snow Is
Not Recorded I'm His B00ks-Mcr-
curry Reached II Below Zero.

white Friday night, was covered with a
thin layer of brownish snow The phenom-
enon was commented upon and discussed
freely, as it was thing never noticed here
before. The appearance of this thin layer
of brownish snow was suggestive of the
old days when coal was used in the city,
and it was customary for snow to be dis
colored. But the discoloration was not con-
fined to this city, for the snow for miles
around had the same appearance, and the
dispatches from other places in the State
Indicate that yesterday morning the entire
State of Indiana was covered with a thin
layer of ''brown snow" The origin of this
phenomenon was a matter for discussion
ali during the day, and there were as many
opinions as there were men who observed
the discoloration.
Mr.. Wappenhans says 1t was not q fall
predicted by him, and he Is reluctant about
expressing an opinion. DR.. George w. Sloan
investigated the matter and says he thinks
the discoloration was due to a quantity
of soil from some Western State blown
here by the blizzard. This seemed to be
the popular belief. Il. M. Johnson. of the
county auditors Office, who is OF an inves-
tigative turn of mind. states that the pc
culiar color of the layer was due to an OPP
tical delusion. Prof. j. N. Hurry says en-
phatfcally the snow was discoiored by
shower of star dust, which is of meteoric
origin. At Butler University the students in
natural history studied the brown snow
subject all day under the direction OF the
professors, and reached the conclusion that
the material to which the snow owes its
brown color is of cosmic origin, probably
from some distant volcano.
Last night the subject was still discussed,
with small prospect of reaching salts
factory conclusion. Several men, interested
in scientific investigation, and, in fact, any
thing of an extraordinary nature, called
ND The Journal by telephone and ex-
pressed opinions. One attributed the brown
snow to Chicago, saying 1t was nothlng
but dirty snow blown down from that al
legged dirty CITY, Another thought some
sand from Lake Michigan had been carried
here by the gale of Friday night Another
suggested in half-hearted way tnat perf
hans 1T was the ashes from the scene OF
the forest fire in Wisconsin, while another
said he knew it was due TO sand from the
plains ana h NortnWess nr,ai1 81 sla brown @ layer Of
snow The matter Will have 70 pc decineu s..
in some way, ana Win lnat onJeil ond chamicaI
examinations botn microscopes. anu en1iiii.'A
are to be made.
PROFESSOR HURTYS VIEWS.
Professor Hurty says it would take all
the brown material on two-acre field to
make enough with which to begin an an
alysis He says there is no doubt IN ms
mind that the brown snow, or rather the
coloring matter in the snow, is OF meteorlc
origin, and is due to what is commonly
called showers of star dust
..You have probably noticed" said Fro
fessor Hurty to a journal reporter, last
night. that for several days the sky has
had a peculiar glow, which was probably
due to showers of star dust We couid
not tell for certain until the snow came.
Then the dust on the snow was discern
able, as the white snow furnished pack-
gs,und for the dust Ihis Is noo ba besn
studied elsewhere: In the Alps, Whlte mus
lin was stretched on the ground and the
dust was caught in it and afterward an.
alyzed II was found to be composed OF
oxide OF iron and nickel, the material found
some meteor has gone to pieces and we are
getting the dust. We may have many OF
the showers during the year, % put IT. II gong Is onlg
that we are able to see the result 80
soil blown here from the West Is responsible
for the brownish color OF the snow. was
asked.
the cause. We simply had a shower of
star dust, 1 think an analysis would
show
planned at Butler University is altogether
different. The students gathered bushels
tained a brownish residue. This stuff was
examined microscopically by h. L: Brunner,
professor of biology, who found the residue
was of an earthly nature. Professor Z. M.
Iden also made examinations, also Prof:
William Thrasher. The latter advanced
the opinion that the brownish material was
of volcanic origin and the other professors
and students agreed with him. He made
a microscopic examination and learned that
the stuff in the brown snow resembled the
ashes thrown out from volcano 1t is
thought at the university tnat the material
brought here Friday night by the storm and
deposited on the, snow Quite quantity
Gathered ee and and it t., viii be subjected to
chemical analysis.
OLD. IF NOT LOGICAL.
Mr.. Johnson's explanation is the most
unique. He says there was no brown snow,
but the appearance was due to optical
delusion, caused by the shadows of the
flakes on top These, he thinks, were
frozen so hard that they curled, throwing
shadows on the snow and giving the sur
face a dark appearance. Mr.. Johnson was
unable to obtain any solid residue by melt
ing the snow The man with the theory that
the brown snow came from Chicago had
the following to say:
Chicago is dirty ana smoky city, and
if you have ever been there you have no
ticed that cloud of smoke hangs over the
city all the time. Well, when that wind
began to blow-and that blizzard started this
way, it caught up that smoke and dirt and
brought it here. Some of it was deposited
The popular belief is that the brown col
oring matter is nothing more than soil from
bliZzard-swept Illinois and Iowa The rea-
that most people have for thinking this
is that the layer was dark and they cannot
think of anything easier to believe. 1t is
hard to make the popular mind believe the
brown snow came from the stars from
distant volcano sample of the residue
obtained by melting the snow, was brought
to the weather bureau office yesterday. A
citizen had obtained a teasDoonful from
two gallons of snow. Mr.. Wappenhans
made an examination and found 1t was not
grit nor did it resemble sand. 1t was soft
and looked as though 1t would make a
good fertilizer. Mr.. Wappenhans would not
express an opinion but he slaughinsly said
the fall or brown snow had not been fore
told to him and it was something not down
on the books or the weather office
Persons who do not look upon scientific
investigation with friendliness think the
brown snow was sent by Providence and
One old man. passenger on Alabama
street car yesterday, said.
1T is enough 70 me 70 know that the
brown snow fell. The Lord had reason for
sending It,. Perhaps It fortells something.
for the fall of the dirty looking stuff on
the pure white snow may have a hidden
meaning. The Lord appeared to his children
in miracles in olden times and there may
be miracles. now if we but knew it,
So the cause of the brown layer of snow
still remains In dogbt buS as plenty Of 1t Is