Year: 1868

Fact for the Savans-The South American


Meteors and Earthquakes Radiated south.


ward and Westward.


The following extract from an Australian paper
deserves full attention from the wise who seek
to know the secret OF meteors and earthquakes. To
those who have watched and studied the
extraordinary shakes on the west coast
or South America, the facts contained In
the following extract will prove invaluable;
for they are unsolicited, frank and spontaneous as
all such scientific notes should be- The facts already
given In the HERALD, in connection with the famous
earthquakes OF August 1915. 1885, in South America
seemed full enough and clear; but the corroboratng
evidence contained in this simple recital deserves
attention from those who give more than passing
notice to earthquakes and their probable cause,
meteOrs:-


The Brisbane Courier of the 25th OF August states
that several OF the vessels just arrived from the
southwark reported that there was great deal OF
electrical atmospheric disturbance on Monday and
Tuesday nights, but whether it was the eject or
simply coincident with the eclipse our informants
could not say. In one case 1t was attended with
fatal results and man was killed on board the
schooner urania by the explosion OF an electric
meteor. The vessel was Off Crowdy Head on Monday,
August II, about midnight when heavy south
edste'ty squat came on and all hands were called
to shorten sail A seaman named II: G. Sales was
the 18TH meteor, like ball OF fire, fell Immediately
over the vessels stern and exploded with loud re-



Sparks Of fire were scattered all about the deck
and the steersman was killed by the shock.
Every one on board felt violent shock
like that Of galvanic battery but none OF
the crew were injured except Sales, who was at
his last gasp picked up. His body showed no marks
but appeared to be backened, and six or seven
hours after decomposition set in and the poor fellow
was buried over the side. He was young man.
about twenty-three, and smart seaman. The tire
ball apparently travelled lriGt the tcRd. trhich
from the southeast, and when 1t burst the flash
so intensely brilliant that the steward, who was ly-
ing in his berth below, declared that he
saw the fire through the seams OF the
deck. The cabin at the same moment was
filled with smoke, which blackened papers
lying about. Captain Johnstone says that the dis
coloratlon OF the paint was like that produced by
smoking the ship' with charcoal. peculiar and
indescribable smell was perceived for some time
after the explosion, and a quantity Of flakes like
the SCOT from steamers funnel were scat
tered about Captain Milman states that on his
last trip to Sydney frebali was observed passing
ahead OF his Ship about one A. NJ, on Monday;
the 18th. 1t travelled IN horizontal direction from
northwest to southeast. Apparently 1t was so near
the ship that the officer Of the watch altered her
course TO avoid 1t, when 1t burst, and for the mo-
ment the whole heavens seemed to be in q blaze OF
light and AT the time there was terrific
thunder Lightning and thunder continued at inter-
walls throughout the night and next day (Tuesday)
until about hapast eight O'Clock, when the weather
cleared up.