THE METEOR OF DECEMBER 21, 1876. 41 



tentous visitor, and men ran hither and thither in dread wonder — while 

 women were to be seen lifting np their hands as though in dread of some 

 horrible visitation. The entire passage of the meteor across the horizon 

 occupied about twenty to thirty seconds, aiid its slow movement enabled a 

 close scrutiny of its changing course and varying colors. Other accounts of 

 the appearance of the jDhenomerion are appended. 



"A gentleman passing on High street, near Clark avenue, at about 8:30 

 o'clock last evening, Avas startled by a bright flash reflected from the build- 

 ings on the east side of the street, and, on suddenly turning to look about, 

 beheld a meteor of most remarkable brilliancy, which was, at that time, in 

 two parts, at about fifteen degrees above the horizon, curving upwards 

 slightly and moving in a course from the southwest to the northeast. The 

 parts were about equal in size, and reminding one, for the instant, of two 

 very large skyrockets, one traveling directly and closely in the path of the 

 other, leaving a luminous belt behind — not broad, but very bright. As the 

 course curved again toward the north, the two simultaneously separated 

 into innumerable parts, each of which expanded wonderfally into bodies of 

 as great brilliancy as the principal ones; and all traveled forward together, 

 but differing considerably in speed, 



Mr. A. S. Aloe, optician, No. 206 North Fourth street, describes the me- 

 teor as the most wonderful aerial phenomenon he ever beheld. His point 

 of observation was Fourth street, between Pine and Olive. The time was 

 about 8:30. It appeared in the western horizon, and moved in an eastern 

 direction over the city. It was extremely brilliant, and startled all who 

 wore fortunate enough to obtain a view of it. The atmosphere was hazy, 

 and the stars were dimly visible. The strange body appeared like a large 

 ball of fire, with a tail at least a hundred feet in length. The tail was as 

 bright as the body, and both presented the hues of the rainbow, but glowed 

 with a more fiery luster. It was visible about ten seconds, and a further 

 view of it was obstructed by the buildings on the east side of the street. It 

 was a most beautiful and startling spectacle, differing from any meteor the 

 observer has ever seen or read of. 



Another gentleman, who came into the Globe- Deynocr at office immedi- 

 ately after the meteor passed, said it was visible for thirty seconds ; that 

 when first seen by him it resembled a large globe of ground glass, sailing 

 along from west to east at a moderate rate of speed. When near the zenith 

 it divided into four parts, each part being connected with the others by 

 links of fire, and the whole displaying colors of red, blue, green, yellow, 

 etc. It was the most magnificently beautiful thing of the sort he had ever 

 seen. The atmosphere was hazy, and if the fiery messenger is to be taken 

 as an omen of anything, its appearance at such a time is favorable to Hayes. 



A gentleman seated near a front window in the Four Courts had his at- 

 tention attracted, at 8:25 o'clock, to the passing meteor by the sudden and 

 brilliant lighting of the heavens. The incandescent body described an arc 

 from the southwest to northeast, casting off in its progress a brilliant 

 shower of sparks, which were gathered in a luminous train of the mostdaz- 

 zing colors, the whole constituting an exhibition of pyrotechnics beggaring 

 the descriptive powers. Seemingly the time occupied in passing from hori- 

 zon to horizon was more than a minute, though under such extraordinary 

 circumstances, the incentive for watching the movements on the face of the 

 heavens was greater than for following the movements on the face of a time- 

 keeper, had there been opportunity for doing the lattei'. The fiery mass 

 disappeared as it came, cutting its luminous way through the atmosphere, 

 so startling a visitor that few had comprehended its character until it had 

 passed from sight. 



