The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-08-02
HISTORIC DARK DAYS
ONE THAT BROUGHT TERROR TO THE
PEOPLE or NEW ENGLAND.

1t Was Friday, May 10, 1880, and In
Many Communities II Was Thought
That the Day Of Judgment Was al
Hnnd--A Brave Legislator.
Friday. May 10, 1850, has become
generally known In history as the dark
day" and, although 1t has been traced
to natural causes, its coming brought
terror to many communities whose in
habItants, thinking the day Of judg-
ment at hand, made haste to settle
their affairs as best they might before
the trump should sound.
A Boston woman in the tumult Of her
fears sent messenger to Rev. Matfer
ByIes, tradition says. to inquire the
cause Of such an alarming occurrence.
The minister claimed no special infor.
nation as to the unusual visitation and
replied that he was ''as much in the
dark about 1t as any Of bis parishion-
ers.''
The darkness came on between 10
and IL o'clock and speedily had become
80 dense that candles were lighted In
the houses, and men on the streets
could navigate only with lanterns. The
birds, having sung their evening songs,
disappeared, fowls retired TO roost, and
cocks crowed, apparently deemlng 1t
the darkness Just before dawn.
In the Connecticut legislature some
OF the more timorous members, unable
to see one another's faces sought an
adjournment, but certain Mr. Daven-
port gained undylng fame when he
arose and said:
"AEr. Speaker, ii Is either tile day Of
Judgment or II Is not. II it is not, there
Is no need Of adjourning. If 1t Is, de-
sire to be found doing my duty. !
move that candles De brought and that
we proceed 60 business
The area Of the phenomenon extend
ed from Falmouth, now Portland. Me,
as far west as Albany, NJ r., and from
the northernmost settlements Of New
Hampshire south along the seacoast to
New Jersey. 1T varied In intensity,
the darkness being greatest, according
to one writer, DR.. Samuel Tenney OF
Exeter. ~ H., IN the county Of Essex,
In that state. M
Although Herschel asserts that no
adequate explanation Of the occurrence
has been found, other scientists have
accounted for the phenomenon upon
the suppositlon that fires in the dense
forests Of York county, Me-. and also
In New Hampshire, which had been
raging for two or three weeks with I'M
precedented stubbornness and extent,
sent up enormous clouds OF smoke and
yapors, which, held In suspension over
the earth at about the height Of the
highest hilltops, prevented the suns
rays from penetrating.
For several days previous to this
s''black Friday the air had been full Of
smoke and vapor and the sun and
moon were aDnormally red. The
clouds were OF unusual colors. and il
was observed that green objects took
on deeper green, yerging into azure,
and that all objects usually white were
tinged with yellow.
"ObJecis appeared 10 cast shade in
every direction. and there were sew
eral coruscations Ia the atmosphere,
not unlike the aurora horealis, but no
uncommon appearances of electric
fire. says one writer. The vapors
were decidedly noxIous, for after the
atmosphere finally cleared 1t was found
that many small birds had been suf-
located. Rain descending in some To-
cations was found to be black as ink,
and upon the surface OF rivers and 9TH
er bodies OF water appeared scum
which had the odor OF burnt leaves.
This undoubtedly proves the theory Of
the forest fires.
The darkness lasted all OF Friday,
and Il is recorded that when the time
for real darkness had come 1t was
such as literally could be cut with a
knife, equalng the Egyptian article Of
old. One writer observed that a sheet
OF white paper held a foot from the
eye was no more visible than piece Of
the blacklist velvet.
A poem supposed TO have been writ
ten about that time is In part as fol-
lows:
OF month Of MAY. the nineteenth day.
In seventeen hundred eighty
Day turned TO night--a doieful sight,
And caused transactions weighty
fhe whippoorwill sung notes most shrill.
Doves to their cotes reiterated.
And all the fowls, excepting owls,
Upon their roosts were seated.
The herds and nocks stood stllI as stocks
Or to their folds were hying,
Men young and old dared not to scoid
At wives and children crying.
The day OF doom most thought was come
Throughout New England's borders;
The people, scared. felt unprepared
To obey the dreadful orders.
Philosophy. with curious eye.
While viewing the phenomenon,
Like all the rest, freely confessed
II was a most uncommon one.
Soon 1t came out. to ease all doubt.
In space Of half minute.
Though dark the day full OF dismay.
No miracle was In IL.
In New Hampshire the woods on fire.
Sent smoke up dense and smothering.
Spread round the sky q canopy
Ger all the Yankee brethren.
With one consent they aid repent
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