The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-07
RICHMOND ST AIRED
AT SKY PHENOMENA
Rainbow Seen in Sky Directly Above
the City on a Fair
Day.

Richmond had a rainbow yesterday
and there was no rain. Ofiiciaaiy, IL was
called a snn-dug. but 1t might have ocea
worse than that. The man VINO Always
has an explanation said 1t was regeh-
beseii rebensbagc, but that conveyed no
very definite idea to anybods' so "a.
those who took the trouble 10 gaze at
the sky between eight and shalf-past ten
O'Clock saw what they would cali ram
bow True il was twisted about some.
not strictly speaking, n bow, but II had
MI the coiors of q rainbow, and as such
was accepted. !
/, was discovered In the early morning
and from that time forward attracted
wide attention until finally its last
traces disappeared from the sky. 1t was
directly above and did not. as raiabows
do loon from, east to west, but was in
crescent shape, apparently north OF the
sun.
When asked to give an explanation OF
the phenomena, Mr.. E. A. Evans. the
weather forecaster in Richmond. said:
Solar haIos are due to the refraction
and reflection of light by the Ice cry
stalls OF which the high cirrus clouds are
composed. Their radius varies from %
to Is degrees and sometimes 80 degrees.
They are divided into three classes:
These having the sun in the centre of
the circle. those in which the circle
passes through the sun, and those which
turn their convex side towards the sun.
The one observed this morning belongs
TO the latter class. In addition to the
bright segment of circle that drew so
many. eyrs sliyward. there was d sun
dog visible TO the left of the sun. Let il.
not be supposed. however. that this is
any relation OF the dragon OF the Chinese
who eats up the cooler portions Of the
sun during ec:ipses. It was nothing more
serious than n luminous patch in the
sky (mock SUM. caused by the interscc-
ton halo bands. The phenomenon is
generally cold wea ther one and is
rather rare in tl1sse Iatitudes.''
Prof. Charles u. Winston. OF Rich
n1ond College, who is an authority on
things of this matter. failed to see the
rainbow. When its location was describ-
ed to him. however, he said that it was
most unusual for one to appear nearly
overhead and WHEN tic sky was com
parotively clear.
Til Phenomena at Chase City.
Especial Dispatch to The Timns)
CHASE CITY, VA. Dec. G.-This morn
ing between $3.50 and 10 o'clock there APP
peared in the zenith a beautiful rain
bow. On the east and west few de-
grecs from tie sun We're two luminous
spots called sun dogs. supposed to be
formed. astronomers say, by the inter
section of halos which are caused by the
refraction Of light through crystals of
ice in the atmosphere.
The sky was clear. and old men assert
they had never befo~a seen rairhow
without cloud. The unusual occur
renee attracted great attention
aacients haG superstition that
such phenomenon presaged disaster.
The old negroes say it indicates a bad
winter. But the poet says:
Ear up the blue sky a fair rainbow
unroll'd
Its soft-tnted pinions of purple and gold /;
Twas born in a moment, yet QUICK at
its birth.
It had stretched to .ac+ uttermost ends
Of the earth,
And fair as an angel. it foated as free
With a wing on the earth and a wing
on the sea-