898 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



people in the counties surrounding Shawnee were on the watch at 

 the appointed hour. 



Hundreds of letters were sent in in the next two days, and some of 

 them from astonishing distances. The farthest was from a lady at 

 Salina, 104 miles distant in an air-line, who claimed to have seen re- 

 flections in the sky. The letters were all turned over to me for diges- 

 tion and disposal. This required my best mathematical ability in 

 order to do justice to all and wrong to none. 



The topographical maps of the United States Geological Survey 

 were used to determine altitudes. 



Topeka lies in a platter-like valley, whose rim is from 10 to 25 miles 

 distant and raised from 200 to 370 feet above the city. The city itself 

 is located on several gentle ridges, averaging about 75 feet above the 

 level of the Kaw river. The base of the capitol building is about 90 

 feet above the river. 



The fireworks were "let loose" from the capitol building and state 

 grounds at 8:20 to 8:45 P. M. They consisted mainly of Roman can- 

 dles, red fire, sky-rockets, and bombs. The candle balls were fired to 

 an elevation of 75 to 150 feet from the landing at the base of the cu- 

 pola on top of the dome of the state-house, 280 feet from the ground, 

 being an elevation of 350 to 430 feet. The red fire was burned on a 

 ledge at the base of the dome, 190 feet from the ground. The rockets 

 were fired from a balcony 30 feet lower, and, while fired at somewhat 

 of an angle, were supposed to reach an elevation of 650 to 700 feet. 

 The bombs, which were called "thousand-foot," were fired from the 

 ground, and were supposed to reach an elevation of 650 to 800 feet. 

 The bombs on bursting displayed fires of various colors. 



Ordinarily the bombs and rockets should be seen to a distance of 

 25 to 30 miles. They were seen in every direction very much farther 

 than that. Colors were generally distinguishable to a distance of 27 

 miles. The greatest distance from which colors were distinguished 

 was 29 miles. This, however, did not depend upon mirage, but upon 

 personal peculiarities. 



Toward the northeast the fireworks were seen at Nortonville, 34 

 miles distant, north 38° east. Horizon toward Topeka dead level or 

 depressed 1' of arc below a level. Height of fireworks required, 700 

 feet. This showed no evidence of mirage, or at most only very slight. 



Toward the northwest the greatest distance reported was Soldier, 

 39 miles distant, north 27^ west. Horizon toward Topeka depressed 

 4' of arc below a level. Height of fireworks required, 754 feet. This 

 was normal ; the fireworks should have been seen farther in the same 

 direction but for the intervention of the hills. 



They were seen at Edgerton, Johnson county, 42 miles distant, 



