The New York herald., 1922-02-20
Vauban's MeteOric Visitor
Near Equator Stirs Up
Astronomers.
CERTAIN TT is GENUINE
For Second Officer Blessing Is
Rated Master Both for
Steam and Sail.

The most remarkable, flaming celes-
tlal visitor that ever got into the log
Of a liner passed over the steamship
Nauban. in yesterday from South
American ports, when she was few
miles south OF the equator, on the
night of January ~, on her last trip
TO the southwark.
The astronomical observatories of
Rio, aIontevideo and Buenos Aires
were so intensely interested in the re-
sent experts TO the ship 10 get special
talks Will: Second Officer Francis
Blessing. who had charge OF the bridge
ON the memorable night. and who be-
has masters certificate both for
steam and sail.
Second Officer Blessing said last
night that it was q calm. clear night
and the sea was smooth. when at 80
dawn seemed to be getting up out Of
the wrong side OF the sea. the west.
A few seconds later he noted the cause
about 20 degrees above the horizon in
the form of q glowing red ball. with a
comet-susgestive tail. as big az the full
moon in the southern hemisphere. and
rushing toward the liner In less than
a minute the sea looked, conjecturally
within radius OF 700 miles. as bright
az at midday. ~,
Like Torchlfxht Express.
To say that Blessing was startled Is
putting it mildly. lie thought swiftly
o. the possibility OF that torchiike mass
hitting the ship and leaving bekind no
relic OF her utter destruction. Capt.
Anthony Cadogan was of duty asleep
In his stateroom. bat Blessing decided
to have him aroused. to share IN the
vision and take some OF the RESPONSE
bility.
The blazing messenger from the Sky
depths was coming OH like an electric
express, and some OF the officers and
crew declared later that they feared 1t
was going TO smash into this planet
and put it out OF business forever
Presently it passed above the ship. ap-
pgrently only . Woolworth tower length
away, but really many miles off. yet
close enough for Blessing to hear it
sizzle.
ship was obliterated by the great glare
and passengers who had gone to their
stateroons came out. much alarmed at
the sudden return OF broad daylight.
Only a few of them saw the cause OF
the illumination. as the meteor. for that
is what it seemed to be, was then on
its way toward the eastern horizon.
The ships compass was only slightly
affected by the transit of the Shooting
-. ~ i. = Af--
officer between two and a half and three
minutes. 1t seemed longer than that
when Blessing felt like cussiny his luck
in fear of receiving the visitor broad
side on.
Capt. Csdogan Dsxzled.
Blessings scientific camness of soul
returned to him after the meteor had
crossed over the ship, and ne noted
that it began to lose It's tai as it
streaked eastward and finally vanished.
not in the sea. but about 20 degrees
above the horizon.
A few seconds before this happened
Capt. Cadogsn came out on the bridge
and was dazzled by the sunliixe glow
- the sky. lie was glad that he had
been awakened and said he had never
seen anything like that "heavenly
sody" in all his long voyaging. He
Gas inclined to believe that il might
reve been little planet plunging TO
formlessness In the atmosphere of the
earth.
Meteors. or, as some shippers call
them. balls OF hre,' have been fire.
ouently seen at sea. some falling close
to vessels, but their duration as light
givers usually has been short. few last
Ing more than half a. minute, and none
80 gorgeous as the vaubsn's which
the astronomical experts said was phe-
nomenal.