Evening journal., 1915-05-20
ICY PARTICLES IN
THE AIR CAUSE
heavenly HALO
WilmingtonianS Stirred By
Rainbow-like Circles
About the Sun
some See Omen OF WAR,
Others END OF WORLD

Hundreds of Wilmingtonians we're
attracted about 1890 o'clock this
morning by a phenomenon in the
form of three rainbow-like circles
about the sun, which is believed to
have been visible within a radius of
many miles. Many persons sus-
pected the manifestation was sign
Of war, while others we're of the opin-
ion that, while the phenomena was
larger in diameter than the ordinary
halo or aura that often occurs about
the sun or moon. it predicted a
storm.
DR.. G. A. Harter, professor Of
physics at Delaware College, was
called on the telephone by THE
EVENING JOURNAL. He said the
circles were caused by ice particles
in the air about a mile or mile and
half above the earth. The suns rays
shining through this he said, caused
the rainbow-like appearance Of the
rings.
"Ihe phenomenon is purely an atmos-
phcric condition" said Prof Harter,
"and does not i'm any way signify war.
A storm usually follows such manifes-
tation if it appears in clear weather"
THE EVENING JOURNAL was be-
sieged with telephone calls from persons
in all parts Of the city requesting infor-
nation as TO the cause Of the phenom-
ena.
Telegraphic queries also were received
! by the United Press from Pottsville, Pa,
where it was said the entire three circles
were seen.
A dispatch from Washington stated
that the Weather Department and Naval
Observatory astronomers agreed that
any sun effects. due to clouds, were
purely local. The circles we're not OBJ.
served in Washington.
Prof Harter said a similar phenome
non occurred about eight years ago anC
was visible from Wilmington.
1t is believed by some persons that
the manifestation was the resalt OF
the cool weather of the last few days
The fact that il was seen as far north
and west as Pottsville and was not
ivisible in Washington bears out this
theory that it was seen IN the area
where it has been very cool for this
time of the year. A snow storm was
reported several days ago near Allen
town, Pa.
The phenomenon was the subject
of discussion everywhere this morn.
ing. On the streets. where il was
visible from about 1890 until 11.15
O'Clock, hundreds of persons were
gazing skyward. Some. it is said. be-
lieved the end of the world was pre-
dicted, while others saw a forecast of
war.
The manifestation itself comprised
TWO circles at about equal distance
around the sun, each outside the othor
ana rainbow much further away
Inside the inner circle the slxv an.
peared dark and misty. The circles
themselves were of a rainbow-Iilxe
appearance and seemed brighter
iurther away from the sun. Durine
the phenomena a thin mist seemed Ia
MI the air between the earth and sun
George B. Woodward, farmer. of
CentreVille, said that persons livine
IN MS neighborhood for several morn
lngs past had seen a Maltese cross in
the race of the sun at dawn. This. he
said, made many workmen timid and
some refuse dto work. Last night he
said a cloud effect in the form of
waves of the sea attracted consider
able attention.
Many old residents Of Wilmington
today recalled that before the civil
War crosses and other rings were
seen in connection in the sky. Circles
similar to those visible today. tbey
4 said, we're seen in 1861.
, Word from the rural districts was
e to the effect that the colored farm
. workers were greatly agitated by The
sky phenomena and many of them
I imagined it was an omen that the
! world was coming to an end. Some
OF the superstitious colored men. and
| some whites, too, for that, were
I uneasy over the strange circles en-
r closing the sun.