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Story
August 2, 1838
Alexandria Gazette
Alexandria, Alexandria County, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
In Carrollton, Ohio, amid a drought, witnesses described a spectacular thunderstorm on the night of the 20th ult., with continuous lightning, brilliant sparks shooting across the sky like snakes or arborescent branches, and waves of light painful to the eye.
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EXTRAORDINARY ECLIPSE PHENOMENON
No more significant appearance in the heavens is described in the Carrollton (O.) Enquirer, as having been witnessed in that neighborhood on the night of the 20th ult. For some time previous, there had been an extensive drought.— On that night about 11 o'clock, there came on a tremendous thunder storm, and for two hours there was a continued discharge of electricity from the horizon. "During this brilliant coruscation, there shot from no particular point in the heavens a brilliant shower of sparks, some falling towards the earth others running in a zigzag course crossing nearly the whole firmament. These luminous snakes shot forth sometimes large and slowly, and at other times branching out in every direction in the most splendid arborescent manner. The whole atmosphere appeared uncommonly charged. And with the sheet lightning the vivid flashes assumed sometimes the form of waves of light, rolling with velocity athwart the heavens—and are said to have been painful to the eye from their frequency. These sparks, which were vividly brilliant, resembled large balls of fire suddenly struck with a hammer, and flying about in the most fantastic manner. Others have compared them to the sparks sometimes produced by the blowpipe on metal heated to intensity."
No more significant appearance in the heavens is described in the Carrollton (O.) Enquirer, as having been witnessed in that neighborhood on the night of the 20th ult. For some time previous, there had been an extensive drought.— On that night about 11 o'clock, there came on a tremendous thunder storm, and for two hours there was a continued discharge of electricity from the horizon. "During this brilliant coruscation, there shot from no particular point in the heavens a brilliant shower of sparks, some falling towards the earth others running in a zigzag course crossing nearly the whole firmament. These luminous snakes shot forth sometimes large and slowly, and at other times branching out in every direction in the most splendid arborescent manner. The whole atmosphere appeared uncommonly charged. And with the sheet lightning the vivid flashes assumed sometimes the form of waves of light, rolling with velocity athwart the heavens—and are said to have been painful to the eye from their frequency. These sparks, which were vividly brilliant, resembled large balls of fire suddenly struck with a hammer, and flying about in the most fantastic manner. Others have compared them to the sparks sometimes produced by the blowpipe on metal heated to intensity."
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Nature
What keywords are associated?
Thunderstorm
Lightning Display
Sparks
Drought
Carrollton Ohio
Natural Phenomenon
Where did it happen?
Carrollton (O.) Neighborhood
Story Details
Location
Carrollton (O.) Neighborhood
Event Date
Night Of The 20th Ult.
Story Details
During a drought, a tremendous thunderstorm at 11 o'clock featured continuous electricity discharge, brilliant sparks like luminous snakes zigzagging across the sky, arborescent branches, waves of light, and sparks resembling hammered fire balls, painful to the eye.