42 THE METEOR OF DECEMBER 21, 1876. 



TELEGRAPHIC ACCOUNTS. 



Jacksonville, III., Dec. 21. — A grand and singularly beautiful meteoric 

 display was witnessed from this city to-night, about 8:30 o'clock. The me- 

 teor first came in view away to the west, and about 30° above the horizon, 

 it passed seemingly but a short distance north of the city, and was finally 

 lost to sight awa}^ to the eastward. When first seen it seemed a blazing, 

 burning ball, nearl}^ as large as a fall moon, and appeared to be moving 

 directly towards this city. As it swept along, with its fiery tail, some twen- 

 ty degrees in length, and some ten to twenty blazing fragments, it presented 

 ti spectacle of surpassing magnificence and beauty. When this great ball 

 of fire reached a point considerably east of north, it burst into some ten or 

 twelve fragments, not unlike in appearance to the bursting of a rocket, and 

 these fragments seemed to finally disaj^pear in a bank of clouds which hung 

 near the eastern horizon. The meteor was of such surpassing brilliancy 

 that the whole earth and heavens were lighted up so brightly that persons 

 could be distinguished at a distance in the streets almost as plainly as in 

 daylight. The light was such that 'it gave a subdued green coloring to the 

 earth, trees, buildings and every other object. From the time the meteor 

 was first seen in the west till lost sight of in the east full twent}^ seconds 

 must have j^assed. A singular feature of the phenomenon was that, instead 

 of passing in its fiight earthward, its path from west to east seemed in an 

 exactly horizontal direction. Nothing of the kind of such grandeur, bril- 

 liancy and beauty was ever before witnessed here. 



Nameoki, III., Dec. 21. — This evening, at 8:35 p. m., by Chicago time, 

 we beheld a rare phenomenon, in the shape of a three-balled meteor, linked 

 together by a stream or chain of fire, presenting the appearance of a lumin- 

 ous substance of various colors that lighted the heavens with its grandeur. 

 It came from the south west, and traveled on a level with the horizon di- 

 rectly toward the north-east, at a moderate speed, leaving innumerable 

 S23arks in its path, and increasing in length as it disappeared. 



Champaign, III., Dec. 21. — A meteor of wonderful brilliancy passed 

 over this place to-night about 9 o'clock, exploding in the north part of the 

 city. Its explosion raised the alarm of fire among a large audience as- 

 sembled in the basement of the Congregational Church, and temporarily 

 interrupted the speaking. It came from the west, and appeared about 

 the size of an ordinary wash-tub, with a trail nearly 40© feet long, and con- 

 tinually dropped fire. 



Lawrence, Ks., Dec. 21. — A large and brilliant meteor passed from west 

 to east over this city this evening, aboui 8:15 o'clock, remaining in sight 

 nearly one minute. 



Lafayette, Ind., December 21.^ — A very large and brilliant meteor 

 passed over the city about 8:30 o'clock this evening. When first discovered 

 it was a little north of west, and passed out of sight in a northeasterly di- 

 rection. Persons who saw it describe it as one of the most beautiful ever 

 witnessed. The main body appeared nearl}^ as large as the moon when full, 

 and seemed to be followed by a large number of smaller bodies, like stars, 

 very brilliant and of all colors. It was accompanied by a loud noise — some 

 describe it as a very heavy explosion, followed by a noise as of a heavy train 

 of cars in rapid motion, and by others as of heavy continuous thunder, ac- 

 companied by a visible jarring of the ground. It was noticed by parties 

 on the cars coming in from Indianapolis and on the train from Toledo. It 

 is reported as having been seen at Attica, Delphi, Kockfield, Logansport 

 and Earl Park. 



