268 Aurora Borealis of November 14, 1837. 



observers more favorably situated, were here in a great degree 

 concealed. The veil of snow clouds, which, at sunset, and for 

 some time afterward, covered the sky, was nevertheless exceed- 

 ingly thin ; and it was through this, and even through the falling 

 snow itself, that the first visible indications of the presence of an 

 aurora were discovered. It is impossible to state the exact time 

 at which the action commenced. There is no doubt that it had 

 been going on for a while, before the intensity of the light be- 

 came sufficient to penetrate the screen. The first evidence of its 

 existence consisted in a strong rosy illumination of the entire arch 

 of the heavens. In a communication prepared by Professor Olm- 

 sted, at the time, for the New Haven Herald, this appearance is 

 described as follows : — 



" The snow of yesterday, which at sunset had covered the 

 earth and all things near it, with a mantle of the purest white, 

 closed, early in the evening, with a most curious and beautiful 

 pageant. About six o'clock, while the sky was yet thick with 

 falling snow, all things suddenly appeared as if dyed in blood. 

 The entire atmosphere, the surface of the earth, the trees, the 

 tops of the houses, and, in short, the whole face of nature, were 

 tinged with the same scarlet hue. The alarm of fire was given, 

 and our vigilant firemen were seen parading the streets in their 

 ghostly uniform, which, assuming the general tint, seemed in ex- 

 cellent keeping with the phenomenon. 



" The light was most intense in the northwest and northeast. 

 At short intervals it alternately increased and diminished in 

 brightness, until, at half past six, only a slight tinge of red re- 

 mained on the sky. It is presumed that places favored with a 

 clear sky, enjoyed a splendid exhibition of the Aurora Borealis, the 

 light of which was transmitted to us through the snowy medium 

 and a thin veil of clouds, and was thus diff'used like the light of 

 an astral lamp, covered with a red shade of ground glass. That 

 the stratum of clouds was very thin, was inferred from the fact, 

 that before half past six, a few stars were discernible as when 

 seen through a fog ; and such was the appearance of the moon 

 which rose about the same time." 



The memoranda of Mr. E. C. Herrick, recorded at the time, 

 correspond very nearly with the account given by Prof Olm- 

 sted. Mr. Herrick says : " The sky was overcast and snow was 

 falling in small quantities, when about twelve minutes before six 



