Kirk wood.] ^"*^ [M«r2; 



or six fragments, each of whichassumed the same form as the original meteor. 

 "The preceding portion was of a crimson red hue, quite brilliant, and not 

 dissimilar to the Strontian flame. The following portion was of a bluish 

 violet, color, which merged into that of the trail. This latter was composed 

 of globules, each succeeding following one being of a more and more sub- 

 dued violet, and finally not distinguishable from the color of the sky."* 



(3.) 1878, August 11, lOh. 10m. (Indianapolis time). — A few minutes after 

 10 o'clock on Sunday evening, Aug. 11, Rev. John A. Bower, of Bloom- 

 ington, Indiana, saw a large meteor near the eastern horizon. Mr. B. had 

 just taken a position facing an eastern window. The meteor when first 

 seen was almost exactly east of Bloomington, perhaps two or three degrees 

 south of east, and 10° above the horizon. Its motion was from south to 

 north, and the length of its apparent track was 20° or 25°. The first half 

 of its course was but slightly inclined to the earth's surface ; the inclina- 

 tion, however, became sensibly greater towards the point of disappear- 

 ance, which was N. about 70° E., and very near the horizon. The appar- 

 ent diameter of the meteor was about one-third that of the moon The 

 motion was extreme^ rapid; the time of flight not exceeding two seconds. 

 No detonation was heard at Bloomington, nor was the meteor seen to sep- 

 arate into fragments at the time of disappearance. 



The observations of Mr. Bower were given me verbally. To verifj* their 

 accuracy I placed myself in the position which he occupied, and had him 

 point out the meteor's course as he had seen it. The foregoing statement, 

 I am satisfied, must be very nearly correct, except as to the time of flight, 

 which is admitted by the observer to be very uncertain. 



The same meteor is supposed to be described in the f dlowing telegrams 

 which appeared in the newspapers of the next Tuesday morning: — "Ti- 

 tusville, Crawford Co., Pa., August 12. A beautiful meteoric display was 

 witnessed from here last evening. The meteor made its appearance in the 

 w r est at 10.30, moving in a northerly direction. It was of a greenish color 

 and shone with great brilliancy, lighting up the entire surrounding country 

 with a light that for the time prevailed over that of the full moon. Its 

 appearance was only momentary, when it burst and divided into three 

 fragments, two of which assumed a reddish color. Calculating from the 

 time the explosion was seen until it was heard, the meteor was about 25 

 miles distant." "Oil City, Venango Co., Pa., August 12. A meteor of 

 unusual brilliancy passed here last evening a few minutes after 10 o'clock. 

 It was nearly twice the size of a cannon ball. Its course was north." 



All accounts agree that the meteor's course w T as northward. It was seen 

 to the west of Titusville ; and as the filial explosion occurred about 25 

 miles from that city we may conclude that the track terminated over Craw- 

 ford County, Pa. The observations at Bloomington, Indiana, indicate that 

 the body first became visible over West Virginia. The distance directly 

 east from Bloomington to the meridian which bounds Venango County, 

 Pa., on the west, is 348 miles. Hence the meteor's altitude when first 



* .Science Obs., June, 1878. 



