44 THE METEOR OF DECEMBER 21, 1876. 



" Coming from a cosinical cloud in stellar space, the fire ball apjieared 

 in the heavens over JSTorthern Missouri and Southern Iowa at an altitude of 

 about twenty -five degrees above the horizon. The light must have attract- 

 ed the attention of multitudes of persons as far north as Dubuque, Iowa, and 

 as far south as Memphis, Tenn. From such data as could be obtained, its 

 apparent path was downward about forty degrees eastward, and, owing to 

 the existence of fibrous cirrus clouds in the upper atmosphere, it left behind 

 a train of light embracing all the tints of the solar spectrum, blended into a 

 beautiful blue and purple. From a comparison of numerous reports and 

 statements, it is computed that the height of this meteor at the first instant 

 of apparition, was 160 miles and at the instant of its disappearance probably 

 twenty miles, the length of its visible path being more than 130 miles, which 

 distance was described by the nucleus in about ten seconds, although the train 

 of light which followed continued visible for more than a minute, assuming 

 a serpentine form in places while drifting into obscurity. Soon after the 

 flash quite a perceptible concussion must have been felt about 200 miles in 

 every direction, centeriiig in the vicinity of La Harpe, 111., at which place 

 the detonation resembled the report of a cannon. 



"Before the final explosion, however, quite a large number of fragmen- 

 tary lights were detached from the main nucleus, by process of the enor- 

 mous heat. The column of smoke resulting from the combustion must have 

 been a thousand feet in diameter. 



"The exact height of the fire-ball at the time of the final explosion and 

 disappearance cannot be accurately determined, but it is evident from the 

 accelerated density of the lower atmosphere, that it was not within twenty 

 miles of the earth's surface. Of 800 detonating meteors found recorded in 

 scientific journals, some attended by almost deafening reports, and much 

 more brilliant than the one last evening, none have descended within twenty 

 miles of the surface of the earth before final combustion. It is not unfre- 

 quent, however, after the main explosion, for fragments to reach the earth 

 as aerolites." 



As Seen at Chicago. — The meteor which flashed across the country from 

 the southwest to the north east, on Thursday evening, passed south of Chi- 

 cago; along its southern horizon, in fact. Persons on the streets, at about 

 9 o'clock, however, noticed the reflection of its light. This difi'used light 

 flashed overhead like that from rapid lightning flashes below the horizon 

 on a summer's night. These flashes followed each other in quick succes- 

 sion, and were reflected on the snow for, perhaps, three to five seconds. 

 The light was perfectly white, not so bright or palpable as that reflected 

 from a distant thunder storm, and shimmered like the aurora borealis, 

 which it resembled more than anything else, except that it had no radiating 

 points, no outlines, but was diffused over the entire sky. Before any one 

 had time to get over the surprise and turn to see whence it came, it was 

 gone. It was not known then that a meteor had crossed the heavens, and 

 there were various speculations by the few who saw it as to the cause. One 

 thought that, by some means, all the street lamps had flashed up suddenly, 

 as gas has been observed to do in houses, and that the light was thus re- 

 flected from the clouds. Another attributed it to the aurora borealis, and 

 another to some unusual electric condition of the atmosphere, and supported 

 his belief with the statement that a rumbling sound, as of thunder, and a 

 trembling of the earth accompanied it. The writer, who was on Park 

 avenue, near Robey street, at the time, and was. brought to a halt by it, did 

 not actually hear any noise, nor feel any trembling of the earth, though he 

 had an impression as to both — as though the ghosts of those two phenomena 

 were present. It may have been that this impression arose from the fact 



