40 TEE METEOR OF DECEMBER 21, 1876. 



little north of east, and that the time occupied in traveling this great dis- 

 tance of not less than 1,000 miles, was between 8:15 and 9:15 p. m., a velocity 

 equal to nearly 100 miles per minute, after allowing for the earth's motion. 

 Its height was estimated by various scientific observers at something like 

 160 miles, at its first appearance, and probably about 20 miles at the moment 

 of its disappearance. 



At the time of its passage over this city, it seemed to those who saw it 

 about as large as the full moon, with a train from 25 to 100 feet long, of a 

 reddish or orange color and entirely unattended with any noise or sound. 

 As it passed further east it seems to have become broken up in several 

 parts, to have assumed brighter colors, to have thrown off a large amount 

 of luminous scintillation, and to have been accompanied, in some instances, 

 with a rushing or hissing sound and in others with explosions of greater or 

 less violence. At St. Louis the descriptions given by various observers are 

 reported as follows in the Globe- Democrat: 



'' A very remarkable meteor startled the people of this neighborhood last 

 night. Shortly after 8 o'clock a sudden flash of light illuminated the west- 

 ern heavens, a"nd in a few seconds a train of light was observed running 

 along through the misty atmosphere from south to north and northeast. 

 While a Globe-Democrat reporter was walking westward on Elm street, 

 between Sixth and Seventh, the illumination of the sky made itself apparent. 

 The atmosphere was exceedingly hazy, and hence probably resulted some 

 of the efl'ect. On the south of the western end of that part of Elm street is 

 situated the high building known as Pope's College, and it was from the 

 southwestern angle of this building that the first flash of the meteoric visitor 

 was perceived. At this time the reporter was standing about half way 

 down towards the eastern end of the block, but the sudden illumination 

 made him run westward towards Seventh street. Arrived at a spot about 

 fifty feet from the western end of the block, the portentous trail of the meteor 

 became apparent, and thence it ran at about an elevation of twenty-two de- 

 grees from the horizon, northwardly with a slight deflection to the east, and 

 tending towards the earth till it disappeared behind the high buildings on 

 Market street. Judging from its general course, the probabilities seemed 

 that the meteorolite fell somewhere in Northern Illinois. Meteors, of the 

 ordinary run, are too common at this time of year to require more than a 

 passing comment. But the one in question was evidently playing a star 

 engagement. Its appearance from the standpoint mentioned was somewhat 

 similar to an express train running through a fog, with headlight streaming 

 out its light to the front, and the disjected train of sparks in its trail seem- 

 ing like an exaggerated representation of the lights from the car windows. 

 Moreover, to keep up the similitude to the train of cars, the speed with which 

 the phenomenon passed over the field of vision was nothing greater than an 

 ordinary train of steam cars. A peculiar effect was visible when the meteor 

 passed just below the moon, when the fierce flame of its light was somewhat 

 dimmed. But from this point northwards it gathered in intensity, and 

 when it reached a point due west from the point of observation, the color of 

 its flames, which heretofore had been a sickly yellow, broke out into a cor- 

 uscation of violet, crimson and purple, and a low hissing noise, like that re- 

 sulting from the combustion of nitre, fell on the ear. 



"Along the streets in the neighborhood where the reporter stood and 

 ran, the people rushed out and stared in open-mouthed wonder at the por- 



