[meteorite-list] Newspaper Article, 07-23-1860 NYT Part 2

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:07:03 2004
Message-ID: <OE115RhfO8gzq5pxpUx0000e39e_at_hotmail.com>

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To the Editor of the New-York Times:
As it is desirable that all possible information respecting the magnifice=
nt meteor of Friday evening should be collected, I venture to send you an=
 account of my observation of it.
On Friday evening, a few minutes before 10 o'clock I was standing with a =
friend in Thirty-fourth-street near the southwest corner of Madison-avenu=
e looking towards the West, when we observed a lumunous body rising rapid=
ly from behind the houses on the southerly side of the street. From the p=
eculiar color and hazy appearance of the light, I at first judged it to b=
e a fire-balloon, made of green tissue paper, and quite near us. But my f=
riend, whose eyes were sharper than my own, Immediately discovered that t=
he hazy appearance was occasioned by some light clouds which intervened b=
etween us and the luminous body.
The meteor soom emerged from these clouds, and came on rapidly eastward. =
When about a quarter of the way across the visible sky, it lost its green=
ish color, and broke up into four parts, which continued their journey al=
l in the same line. The first two had the appearance of blazing torches w=
hose flames are driven backward by the wind. The other two were not nearl=
y so bright, but had a smoldering appearance, and gave off a coutinual se=
ries of sparks. As the meteor moved eastward, Its brightness diminished v=
ery perceptibly, although it was plainly visible till it passed behind th=
e houses on the easterly side of Fourth-avenue.
Its light was very distinct, but softened rather than intense. The color =
was, as I have said, at first greenish, but changed to the ordinary color=
 of flame. I noticed no noise as the meteor passed across the heavens. We=
 supposed It at first to be a fire balloon, but soon discovered our error=
, from the fact that it moved almost directly from west to east, (more ac=
curately from W. by N. to E. by S.,) while the wind, at the earth's surfa=
ce at least, was blowing gently from the eastward. Still, it seemed so ne=
ar, and its flaming appearance was so distinct, that we were disposed to =
regard it rather as some curious firework than as a meteor.
It crossed the sky to the northward of us, and I should estimate its grea=
test elevation about the northern horizon at about 40 (degrees). =20
>From my point of view, at least 110 (degrees) of its path were visible, a=
nd it passed over this space in about 15 seconds, moving with a very unif=
orm velocity. The length of the lines of fire as It swept across the sky =
was some 5 (degrees) or 6 (degrees), and it left no very distinct trail, =
as the sparks which flew from it seemed to go out almost instantly.
Respectfully yours, AMATEUR
NEWPORT, R.I., Saturday, July 21. =20
Correspondence of the New York Times
A brilliant meteor passed over this city last evening about 10 o'clock. I=
t seems to rise from behind Beaver Tail light, on Conanicut, in west-sout=
hwest, and passed rapidly in a north-easterly direction. I was standing o=
n a porch, looking in a southerly direction, when the phenomenon made its=
 appearance, and had an excellent veiw of it, much to my amazement and gr=
atification, as it went by at an angle of about 75 degrees or 80 degrees =
south, and at first appeared It seemed a perfect ball of fire giving fort=
h a lurid light. It rose rapidly to a point about half way between the ho=
rizon and the zenith, and there indulged, still moving northeast, in a fe=
w meteoric gyrations, changing to the form of a chainshot, or dumb bell, =
and twisting so as to resemble the little balls of fire which sometimes f=
ollow the explosion of a rocket. The body here divided, and two portions,=
 blazing, and leaving a long train of sparks behind, passed off into utte=
r darkness, leaving no trace behind, and making no note of departure. The=
 exhibition lasted probably a minute and a half or two minutes. The day h=
ad been excessively hot, and after nightfall there were extensive and fre=
quent electric appearances all along the western hoizon. The meteor showe=
d that shade peculiar to the Bengoia (?) light, and clothed all objects i=
n a ghastly hue. These facts may be useful to scientific men in their inv=
estigations in regard to the mysterious visitant. =20
TELEGRAPIC REPORTS
ALBANY, Saturday, July 21.
The fiery meteor was seen here on Friday night, about 9 1/2 to 10 o'clock=
, with much distinctness. The spectacle was most brilliant. At first it a=
ppeared like a globe of fire about the size of a man's head. It then sepa=
rated into two distinct globular bodies, leaving a trail of light behind =
and traveling at a rapid rate through the heavens. Its course was direct =
from west to east.
DANVILLE, Saturday, July 21/
The meteor passed last evening at 10 o'clock, giving as much light as a f=
ull moon. It appeared on the horizon west of northwest, and passed due ea=
st. It was about six seconds in passing. When directly in the northeast i=
t broke, forming two parts, one following the other. Some minutes after i=
t disappeared. A sound resembling thunder was distinctly heard. No clouds=
 in sight. =20

THE METEOR SEEN AT BOSTON AND OTHER PLACES
The Boston Transcript says: "A double meteor, of rare brilliancy, was see=
n in many places in this vicinity last night, about 10 o'clock - two dist=
inct balls of fire, passing from the southwest toward the northeast, keep=
ing within the same distance of each other during the whole time they wer=
e visible. They passed across the heavens with less descent than is usual=
 with such luminous bodies. The light was so great that we hear of person=
s who rose from bed, thinking there was a fire near by. Hundreds witnesse=
d this novel spectacle in Boston, and we hear accounts of the meteors fro=
m Cambridge, Newton, Nahant, and other towns."
The Providence Journal gives the following account of this meteor: "A mos=
t remarkable meteor was seen last evening, about two or three minutes bef=
ore 10 o'clock. Its direction was from the west to the southeast. It appe=
ared to be a double, and to pass in a direction nearly parallel with the =
horizon, and elevated about 35 or 40 degrees above it. An observer was in=
 Hope-street at the time, saw it explode when nearly south of him, and he=
 describes it as emitting for a moment a brilliant greenish light, strong=
 enough to cast shadows in the street."
The Albany Journal, of Saturday, says: This curious atmospherical phenome=
non was observed in this city. It differed from ordinary meteors in being=
 double as well as in its superior brilliancy, its slower motion, and its=
 apparent nearness. Here, as in New York, it seemed to pass just above th=
e roofs of the houses, and to fall within the bounds of the city. Many im=
agined it to be some novel rocket or fire balloon used in the reception o=
f Judge Douglas, which was just then about coming off. Some fancied they =
perceived an odor like that of burning tar, and one gentleman we heard se=
verely commenting on the conduct of those who endangered the property of =
citizens by setting such combustibles afloat over their roofs. The fact t=
hat it was observed simultaneously at such distant points proves that it =
must have been at a great height and a vast magnitude, and flying with fa=
r greater velocity than it seemed to. The description given by those who =
saw it in New York corresponds almost exactly with its appearance here. O=
f course, all the confident utterances as to how large it was, how high i=
t was, and where it fell, are erroneous - their only value being to indic=
ate its appearance at different points. Untill after comparing notes, one=
 observer was confident that it was directly over Bethishem; another, tha=
t it was directly over the Capitol; another, that it was directly over St=
. Joseph's Church; one, that it fell in the river; another, that it fell =
in the City Hall-square; another that it fell in Greenbush. Untill the Ne=
w York papers were received, almost every one was confident that it was l=
ess than a hundred feet up in the air. What its actual height and size we=
re can be approximated where we learn how far apart the most distant poin=
ts are at which it was visible.
Nearly all our exchange papers up to date, from all parts of the country,=
 contain accounts of the meteor, which was seen over a distance of nearly=
 1,800 miles.

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<HTML><BODY STYLE=3D"font:10pt verdana; border:none;"><DIV><FONT size=3D2=
> <P>To the Editor of the New-York Times:</P> <P>As it is desirable that =
all possible information respecting the magnificent meteor of Friday even=
ing should be collected, I venture to send you an account of my observati=
on of it.</P> <P>On Friday evening, a few minutes before 10 o'clock I was=
 standing with a friend in Thirty-fourth-street near the southwest corner=
 of Madison-avenue looking towards the West, when we observed a lumunous =
body rising rapidly from behind the houses on the southerly side of the s=
treet. From the peculiar color and hazy appearance of the light, I at fir=
st judged it to be a fire-balloon, made of green tissue paper, and quite =
near us. But my friend, whose eyes were sharper than my own, Immediately =
discovered that the hazy appearance was occasioned by some light clouds w=
hich intervened between us and the luminous body.</P> <P>The meteor soom =
emerged from these clouds, and came on rapidly eastward. When about a qua=
rter of the way across the visible sky, it lost its greenish color, and b=
roke up into four parts, which continued their journey all in the same li=
ne. The first two had the appearance of blazing torches whose flames are =
driven backward by the wind. The other two were not nearly so bright, but=
 had a smoldering appearance, and gave off a coutinual series of sparks. =
As the meteor moved eastward, Its brightness diminished very perceptibly,=
 although it was plainly visible till it passed behind the houses on the =
easterly side of Fourth-avenue.</P> <P>Its light was very distinct, but s=
oftened rather than intense. The color was, as I have said, at first gree=
nish, but changed to the ordinary color of flame. I noticed no noise as t=
he meteor passed across the heavens. We supposed It at first to be a fire=
 balloon, but soon discovered our error, from the fact that it moved almo=
st directly from west to east, (more accurately from W. by N. to E. by S.=
,) while the wind, at the earth's surface at least, was blowing gently fr=
om the eastward. Still, it seemed so near, and its flaming appearance was=
 so distinct, that we were disposed to regard it rather as some curious f=
irework than as a meteor.</P> <P>It crossed the sky to the northward of u=
s, and I should estimate its greatest elevation about the northern horizo=
n at about 40 (degrees). </P> <P>From my point of view, at least 110 (deg=
rees) of its path were visible, and it passed over this space in about 15=
 seconds, moving with a very uniform velocity. The length of the lines of=
 fire as It swept across the sky was some 5 (degrees) or 6 (degrees), and=
 it left no very distinct trail, as the sparks which flew from it seemed =
to go out almost instantly.</P> <P>Respectfully yours, AMATEUR</P> <P>NEW=
PORT, R.I., Saturday, July 21. </P> <P>Correspondence of the New York Tim=
es</P> <P>A brilliant meteor passed over this city last evening about 10 =
o'clock. It seems to rise from behind Beaver Tail light, on Conanicut, in=
 west-southwest, and passed rapidly in a north-easterly direction. I was =
standing on a porch, looking in a southerly direction, when the phenomeno=
n made its appearance, and had an excellent veiw of it, much to my amazem=
ent and gratification, as it went by at an angle of about 75 degrees or 8=
0 degrees south, and at first appeared It seemed a perfect ball of fire g=
iving forth a lurid light. It rose rapidly to a point about half way betw=
een the horizon and the zenith, and there indulged, still moving northeas=
t, in a few meteoric gyrations, changing to the form of a chainshot, or d=
umb bell, and twisting so as to resemble the little balls of fire which s=
ometimes follow the explosion of a rocket. The body here divided, and two=
 portions, blazing, and leaving a long train of sparks behind, passed off=
 into utter darkness, leaving no trace behind, and making no note of depa=
rture. The exhibition lasted probably a minute and a half or two minutes.=
 The day had been excessively hot, and after nightfall there were extensi=
ve and frequent electric appearances all along the western hoizon. The me=
teor showed that shade peculiar to the Bengoia (?) light, and clothed all=
 objects in a ghastly hue. These facts may be useful to scientific men in=
 their investigations in regard to the mysterious visitant. </P> <P>TELEG=
RAPIC REPORTS</P> <P>ALBANY, Saturday, July 21.</P> <P>The fiery meteor w=
as seen here on Friday night, about 9 1/2 to 10 o'clock, with much distin=
ctness. The spectacle was most brilliant. At first it appeared like a glo=
be of fire about the size of a man's head. It then separated into two dis=
tinct globular bodies, leaving a trail of light behind and traveling at a=
 rapid rate through the heavens. Its course was direct from west to east.=
</P> <P>DANVILLE, Saturday, July 21/</P> <P>The meteor passed last evenin=
g at 10 o'clock, giving as much light as a full moon. It appeared on the =
horizon west of northwest, and passed due east. It was about six seconds =
in passing. When directly in the northeast it broke, forming two parts, o=
ne following the other. Some minutes after it disappeared. A sound resemb=
ling thunder was distinctly heard. No clouds in sight. </P> <P>&nbsp;</P>=
 <P>THE METEOR SEEN AT BOSTON AND OTHER PLACES</P> <P>The Boston Transcri=
pt says: "A double meteor, of rare brilliancy, was seen in many places in=
 this vicinity last night, about 10 o'clock - two distinct balls of fire,=
 passing from the southwest toward the northeast, keeping within the same=
 distance of each other during the whole time they were visible. They pas=
sed across the heavens with less descent than is usual with such luminous=
 bodies. The light was so great that we hear of persons who rose from bed=
, thinking there was a fire near by. Hundreds witnessed this novel specta=
cle in Boston, and we hear accounts of the meteors from Cambridge, Newton=
, Nahant, and other towns."</P> <P>The Providence Journal gives the follo=
wing account of this meteor: "A most remarkable meteor was seen last even=
ing, about two or three minutes before 10 o'clock. Its direction was from=
 the west to the southeast. It appeared to be a double, and to pass in a =
direction nearly parallel with the horizon, and elevated about 35 or 40 d=
egrees above it. An observer was in Hope-street at the time, saw it explo=
de when nearly south of him, and he describes it as emitting for a moment=
 a brilliant greenish light, strong enough to cast shadows in the street.=
"</P> <P>The Albany Journal, of Saturday, says: This curious atmospherica=
l phenomenon was observed in this city. It differed from ordinary meteors=
 in being double as well as in its superior brilliancy, its slower motion=
, and its apparent nearness. Here, as in New York, it seemed to pass just=
 above the roofs of the houses, and to fall within the bounds of the city=
. Many imagined it to be some novel rocket or fire balloon used in the re=
ception of Judge Douglas, which was just then about coming off. Some fanc=
ied they perceived an odor like that of burning tar, and one gentleman we=
 heard severely commenting on the conduct of those who endangered the pro=
perty of citizens by setting such combustibles afloat over their roofs. T=
he fact that it was observed simultaneously at such distant points proves=
 that it must have been at a great height and a vast magnitude, and flyin=
g with far greater velocity than it seemed to. The description given by t=
hose who saw it in New York corresponds almost exactly with its appearanc=
e here. Of course, all the confident utterances as to how large it was, h=
ow high it was, and where it fell, are erroneous - their only value being=
 to indicate its appearance at different points. Untill after comparing n=
otes, one observer was confident that it was directly over Bethishem; ano=
ther, that it was directly over the Capitol; another, that it was directl=
y over St. Joseph's Church; one, that it fell in the river; another, that=
 it fell in the City Hall-square; another that it fell in Greenbush. Unti=
ll the New York papers were received, almost every one was confident that=
 it was less than a hundred feet up in the air. What its actual height an=
d size were can be approximated where we learn how far apart the most dis=
tant points are at which it was visible.</P> <P>Nearly all our exchange p=
apers up to date, from all parts of the country, contain accounts of the =
meteor, which was seen over a distance of nearly 1,800 miles.</P></FONT><=
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Received on Tue 22 Oct 2002 11:19:03 PM PDT