The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-15
METEoRS CAME SLOWLY.
SWEEP OF THE LEONIDs NOT YET
WE'LL UNDER WAY.

Camera Club Observers vigil for the
Falling stars BeSun-The Bril-
liant MOonshine Somewhat Inter
fered With the Observations, But
in Spite of 1t Several Distinct
photographs secured-The Lookout
Merely Preparatory TO the Display
which Is Predicted by the AstrOn-
Omers Tonight.
The appearance Of the constellation OF
Leo atove the horizon a little after mid
night last night was not attended by a
stream Of meteors. on the contrary, # was
only now ana then that those who sat up
to watch for ihe Leonids were abe TO
distinguish one. The night was very bright
the moon being nearly full and the clouds
in only an occasl onal streak across the
sky.
on the roof OF the De Soto was gathered
the most Interested party in the city to
watch for the meteors. They were out
with scientific intent, the Camera Club
having its large instrument and one or
two smaller ones mounted to photograph
the Leoniis as they flashed across the
heavens. MIR. Otis Ashmore was in charge
Of the observation party, directing as 10
the turns taken for close observance of the
point from which the meteors radiate and
arranging for time to be taken when each
shot across the sky.
Mr. Ashmore was seen Just after the
appearance of the first three meteors. The
first one was seen at 1:O4 o'clock this
morning. 1t began its course from near
the star Leo and shot toward the zenith,
leaving a green light i'm its wake. 1t did
not take long for il to be consumed in the
earth's atmosphere, but it was presently
followed by another. AT intervals OF about
five minutes the meteors appeared during
the first five minutes, five having been
counted by / 80 O'Clock.
The few meteors that had made their
appearance with the rise of Leo indicated
quite clearly to Mir AshmOre that cal
culations were correct and that the shower
viii come In due time. He did not expect
last night to be the best for observation,
but said 1t was made quite clear 10y the
few that were seen that the earth was en-
tering the string of the meteors that ac-
company Temples comet on its path
around the sun.
Tonight. according to Mr.. Ashmore, will
afford the best observation. There will
be the difficulty of the moon, but 1t Is be-
lieved there will yet be enough of the Leo
nids to make them show forth with re-
eplendent brilliance. Mf. ASnmOfe says
however, that the popular supposition is
probably wrong about the meteors. Many
have been anticipating much more bril-
liant display than there is any reason to
believe will be seen.
The members of the Camera Club, who
We're on the roof of the De Soto to watch
the meteors, were divided into watches
of two each, each watch to keep wealth.
er eye on the heavens and note the pass
ing Of every meteor. Whenever one was
seen "time" was called, and the timekeep-
err instantly jotted down the time with a
note as to the color of the meteor. No
photographs were taken up to 2 O'Clock,
the appearance of the meteors being at
intervals too rare to admit of IL. The
observation of the club will be contin-
ued tonight, when there will be a better
chance for photographs If the predictions
are correct, and the stream of meteors al
most continuous.
At O'Clock the sky had become overcast
with clouds and the observa tons were tenn
porarily suspended The observers re-
malned on duty, however during the most
of the night, with the hope of getting a
satisfactory observation toward daylight.