The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-04
DAY
OF 1881
RECALLED
Today's 0bscursd Sun and
Brassy Skies Revived Msmo-
rles Of Similar Conditions.

| Va = .sas D
strange and peculiar atmosphere con-
dition prevailed last evening which con.
tinued throughout the night and appear
ed more marked at sunrise today.
! In some respects it recalled the noted
yellow day" OF September 6, 1881. when
the people were so perturbcd by the un-
natural light shed by the sun.
On that occasion It will be remembered
that just before the noon hour a haze
came between the earth ara the sun.
1t was preceded by an intense heat.
then a hush which created a feeling of
uneasness: then from coping red the
sun light turned TO pale yellow, causing
everything to take on a most ghostly,
uncanny aspect.
The grass seemed to be light blue then
yellow. The trees were like great bundles
OF gold and sheafs OF ripened wheat The
colors OF flowers could not be told.
Darkness set In and everybody lighted
gas.
The flame OF the latter burned a sickly
white and had very little illuminating
power.
So sudden. so great was the demand
for the gas In the stores and Offices. to
say nothing OF that in the residential
districts. that the supply was soon ex-
haustei and recourse was had to candles
and kerosene lamps.
Many persons, impelled by fear. left
their homes and came down town, the So
ciety OF others giving them a feeling of
security.
The strange color in the heavens re-
mained until sIndown, and for several
nights after this there were glorious red
sunsets
The cause OF this phenomena was vari-
ously ascribed Some scientists said II
resulted from cosmic particles Some sa d
that the earth had probably passed
through the tall OF some great meteor or
comet. Some said that dust and ashes
through the higher strata OF air and had
veiled the sun.
Others said that smoke from Canadian
forests fires was the cause.
The latter theory, In the view OF recent
experience, looks to have been the more
plausible.
For several days forest fires have been
raging In Maine and Massachusetts,.
Yesterday these had spread to such an
extent that grave apprehension for the
lives OF thousands OF people was felt.
The wind being from the north and
northeast. the effect OF the fires was seen
Yesterday afternoon. when the sky be-
Before sunset the entire field was
changed from pale blue 10 snuff brown.
lnulCatNe OF the coming or n tempeS
but the bright red OF the moon dispelled
that fear; for no rain clouds would gfve
Luna such a ruddy face.
Long before daybreak strong odor as
OF burning timber was detected. and at
sunrise there was a close copy OF the
yellow day OF 1881 There was the
same uncanny. unnatural. creepy feeling
The sky was a great field OF pale red.
almost orange. and those who were up
and about found that the light was very
trying to the optic nerves.
The sun for a while was a great golden,
then ruddy red globe and showed him
self this way for an hour.
Eventually the sky became yellow. then
turned TO pale gray and continued so
throughout the remainder OF the day
in all the stores electric and gas lights
were absolutely essential
The forest fires spread throughout the
night sending great clouds OF smoke
southerly. and these with the smoke aris-
Ing from an extensive woodland fire in
seekonk. no doubt caused the second
yellow day."