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The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
On Tuesday, November 22, 1774, near Charleston, South Carolina, a large fireball was observed streaking from southeast to northwest, bursting at about 50-55 degrees altitude, producing smoke and a loud explosion heard and felt up to 70 miles away, shaking houses and startling cattle, initially mistaken for an earthquake.
Merged-components note: Continuation of the report on the unusual aerial phenomenon observed in Charlestown, split across pages; relabeled to domestic_news as it is a local news report rather than a narrative story.
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Tuesday last, about one O'Clock P. M. a very uncommon Phenomenon was observed in the air by many people here, and many others in distant parts of the same province. It was first observed as a large ball of fire, projected along, with great velocity, in a direction from S. E. to N. W. and then to break or burst, when a large body of smoke and vapour was seen to be thrown up higher in the air. When it burst, it seemed to have about 50 or 55 degrees of altitude; and from the time that the explosion was seen to the time that the reports were heard, several minutes passed, some say 5, some 6, and others 7 minutes, but as no one made any accurate observations, there can be no certain time fixed on. The medium, however of the several conjectures; as to the time between seeing the ball-of fire burst, and hearing the report, makes the distance, by the common computation, at least 70 miles from Charlestown, and yet so great was the explosion in the air, at that great distance, in shaking all the houses so severely, as to make many think it was an Earthquake, particularly those who had been accustomed to the peculiar noise of Earth-quakes.-- The noise of the explosion seemed like the report of two very large great guns, at no great distance, very quickly fired one after the other. We learn that it was heard, equally loud, 70 miles S. W. and W. of Charlestown, and the same distance N. and every where surprised people. with the uncommon noise and violent shake of the houses : and that the cattle scattered about in the fields and woods; were observed immediately to collect themselves together in bodies.--What this extraordinary meteor was, or whence it arose; whether it broke upwards from the earth ; or whether it arose from some fortuitous and sudden concretion of igneous and inflammable materials in the atmosphere, we have not as yet, data enough to determine exactly : But shall be glad to receive further informations and observations from the curious.-
What sub-type of article is it?
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Charlestown, (South Carolina)
Event Date
Tuesday Last, About One O'clock P. M.
Outcome
no human casualties reported; houses shaken severely across 70 miles, mistaken for earthquake; cattle startled and gathered in groups.
Event Details
A large ball of fire projected with great velocity from S.E. to N.W., burst at 50-55 degrees altitude, producing smoke and vapor; explosion heard 5-7 minutes later, sounding like two large guns, felt widely.