Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-04-18
HISTORIC DARK DAYS
ONE THAT BROUGHT TERROR TO rhE
PEOPLE OF NEW ENGLAND.


That IA Day OF Judgment Wa. "a
and brave Legislators.
Friday. May ~. 1880. has become
generally known in history as the dark
day and, although II has been traced
To natural causes its coming brought
terror to many communities whose In
habitants. thinking the day n 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 a messenger 60 Rev. Mather
Byles, 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 las much I'm the
dark about IL rs any OF his parishion
crS
The darkness came on between 10
and IL O'Clock n speedily had become
80 dense that candles were lighted in
tn" houses. and men on the streets
could navigate only with lanterns. Tn
birds, having sun their evening songs.
disappeared. fowls retired TO roost, aud
cocks crowed. apparently deeming II
the darkness Just before dawn.
In the Connecticut legislature some
OF the more timorous members. unable
10 see one another's faces, sought an
adjournment. but a certain MIR. Daven-
port gained undying fame when he
arose M said:
MIR. Speaker. IL is either the DAY of
Judgment or ii is not. III IL is not, there
is no need OF adJournlng. III IL is, | de
sire To he found doing my duty. l
move that candles be brought aud that
we proceed TO business"
The area OF the phenomenon extend
ed from Falmouth. now Portland, Me.
AS far west as Albany, y. v. and from
the uorthcrumost settlements OF New
Hampshire south along the seacoast 10
New Jersey. Ii varied in intensity,
the darkness being greatest. according
TO one writer. DIR. Samuel Tsnnsy of
Exeter. y. H., In the county Of Essex.
IN that state.
Although Hcrschel asserts that no
adequate explanation OF the occurrence
has been found, other scientists have
for the phenomenon upon
the supposition 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 un-
p~recedented stubbornness and extent.
sent up enormous clouds OF smoke and
Vapors. which, held In suspension over
tln ,.s.Nl ~ ul..,.t a.. l-f-a. - ~
highest hilltops, prevented the suns
rays from penetrating.
For several days previous 10 this
"black Friday the air had been full of
smoke Inc vapor and the sun and
moon were abnormally red. The
clouds were Of unusual colors, and II
was observed that green objects took
on "A deeper green, verglng into azure,
and that all objects usually white were
tinged with yellow.
Objects appeared TO cast shade in
every direction. and there were sew.
eral COrusCatiOus in tie atmosphere.
not unlike the aurora bJrealis. but no
uncommon appearance OF electric
fire" says one writer. The vapors
were decidedly noxious, for after the
H'AipoBh'i' hlhllN 'ltdlt ~ II WAS lOAllu
that many small birds had been suf-
located. Rain descending in some 10
cations was found 10 be black as ink,
and upon the surface OF rivers and 9th
er bodies Of N,atcr appeared a scum
which had the odor OF burnt leaves.
This undoubtedly proves the theory OF
the forest fires.
The darkness lasted all or Friday,
and IL Is recorded that when the time
for real darkness had come IT was
such as literally could he cut with "A
knife, cqualing the Egyptian article OF
old. one writer observed that q sheet
OF white paper held n foot from the
eye was no more visible than a piece OF
the blacklist velvet.
A poem supposed TO have been writ
ten about that time Is in part AZ fol
lows:
or month OF MAY. the nineteenth day.
In seventeen hundred eighty.
Day turned 10 night-a dolofuI sight
And caused transactions w"ighty.
The whippoorwiH sung notes most shriI.
Doves 10 their cOtcs Tetrnat'd.
And all tho fowls. excepting owls.
Upon their roosts wcr" SEATED
The herds and 00cks stood stII ~ stocks
or TO their folds were living
Mon young and Old dared not 10 sooid
At wives and children crying
The day OF doom most thought was come
Throughout New England borders.
The people, scared. folt u]upfcpaTcd
TO obey the dreadful orders.
Philosophy. with curious eve.
While viewing the phenomenon.
. Like oil the rest. freely confessed
IL was a most uncommon one.
Soon ~ came out. TO ease all doubt.
I'm space Of half n minute.
Though dark the day. fun Of dismay.
NO miracle was In Il.
In New Hampshire, the woods on hre.
Sent smoke up dense and smOtherlng.
Spread round the sky a canopy
DER all the Yankee brethren.
With one consent they did repent
And promise reformation:
But. danger Ger. just az before.
Their sins regsiued possession.
History has recorded three other not
ably dark days i'm the United States. 1t
Is Of record that oct. ~, 171G was so
dark that candies had 10 be lighted 70
that people might eat their dinners"
- aELH