New Lands

A Hypertext Edition of Charles Hoy Fort's Book

Edited and Annotated by Mr. X



PART TWO

CHAPTER ONE




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PART II

[93]

CHAPTER ONE


JUNE, 1801 — a mirage of an unknown city. It was seen, for more than an hour, at Youghal, Co. Cork, Ireland — a representation of mansions, surrounded by shrubbery and white palings — forests behind. In October, 1796, a mirage of a walled town had been seen distinctly for half an hour at Youghal. Upon March 9, 1797, had been seen a mirage of a walled town.(1)

Feb. 7, 1802 — an unknown body that was seen, by Fritsch, of Magdeburg, to cross the sun (Observatory, 3-136).(2)

Oct. 10, 1802 — an unknown dark body was seen, by Fritsch, rapidly crossing the sun (Comptes Rendus, 83-587).(3)

Between 10 and 11 o'clock, morning of Oct. 8, 1803, a stone fell from the sky, at the town of Apt, France. About eight hours later, "some persons believed that they felt an earthquake," (Rept. B.A., 1854-53).(4)

Upon August 11, 1805, an explosive sound was heard at East Haddam, Connecticut. There are records of six prior sounds, as if of explosions, that were heard at East Haddam, beginning with the year 1791, but, unrecorded, the sounds had attracted attention for a century, and had been called the "Moodus" sounds, by the Indians. For the best account of the "Moodus" sounds, see the Amer. Jour. Sci., 39-339.(5) Here a writer tries to show the phenomena were subterranean, but says that there was no satisfactory explanation.

Upon the 2nd of April, 1808, over the town of Pignerol, Piedmont, Italy, a loud sound was heard: in many places in Piedmont an earthquake was felt. In the Rept. B.A., 1854-68, it is said that aërial phenomena did occur; that, during the explosion, luminous objects had been seen in the sky over Pignerol, and that in several of the communes in the Alps aërial sounds, as if of innumerable stones colliding, had been heard, and that quakes had been felt.(6) From April 2 to April 8, forty shocks [93/94] were recorded at Pignerol; sounds like cannonading were heard at Barga. Upon the 18th of April, two detonations were heard at La Tour, and a luminous object was seen in the sky. The supposition, or almost absolute belief of most persons is that from the 2nd to the 18th of April this earth moved far in its orbit and was rotating so that, if one should explain that probably meteors had exploded here, it could not very well be thought that more meteors were continuing to pick out this one point upon a doubly moving planet. But something was specially related to this one local sky. Upon the 19th of April, a stone fell from the sky near Borgo San Donnino, about 40 miles east of Piedmont (Rept. B.A., 1860).(7) Sounds like cannonading were heard almost every day in this small region. Upon the 13th of May, a red cloud such as marks the place of a meteoric explosion was seen in the sky. Throughout the rest of the year, phenomena that are now listed as "earthquakes" occurred in Piedmont. The last occurrence of which I have record was upon Jan. 22, 1810.

Feb. 9, 1812 — two explosive sounds at East Haddam (Amer. Jour. Sci., 39-339).

July 5, 1812 — one explosive sound at East Haddam (Amer. Jour. Sci., 39-339).(8)

Oct. 28, 1812 — "phantom soldiers" at Havarah Park, near Ripley, England (Edinburgh Annual Register, 1812-II-124).(9) When such appearances are explained by meteorologists, they are said to be displays of the aurora borealis. Psychic research explains variously. The physicists say that they are mirages of troops marching somewhere at a distance.

Night of July 31, 1813 — flashes of light in the sky of Tottenham, near London (Year Book of Facts, 1853-272).(10) The sky was clear. The flashes were attributed to a storm at Hastings, 65 miles away. We note not only that the planet Mars was in opposition at this time (July 30), but in one of the nearest of its oppositions in the 19th century.

Dec. 28, 1813 — an explosive sound at East Haddam.(11)

Feb. 2, 1816 — a quake at Lisbon. There was something in the sky. Extraordinary sounds were heard, but were attributed to "flocks of birds." But six hours later something was seen in the sky: it is said to have been a meteor (Rept. B.A., 1854-106).(12)

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Since the year 1788, many earthquakes, or concussions that were listed as earthquakes, had occurred at the town of Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. Seventeen instances were recorded on the year 1795. Almost all records of the phenomena of Comrie start with the year 1788, but, in Macara's Guide to Creiff, it is said that the disturbances were recorded as far back as the year 1597.(13) They were slight shocks, and until the occurrence upon August 13, 1816, conventional explanations, excluding all thought of relations with anything in the sky, seemed adequate enough. But, in an account in the London Times, Aug. 21, 1816, it is said that, at the time of the quake of Aug. 13, a luminous object, or a "small meteor," had been seen at Dunkeld, near Comrie; and, according to David Milne, (Edin. New Phil. Jour., 31-110), a resident of Comrie had reported "a large luminous body, bent like a crescent, which stretched itself over the heavens."(14)

There was another quake in Scotland (Inverness) June 30, 1817. It is said that hot rain fell from the sky (Rept. B.A., 1854-112).(15)

Jan. 6, 1818 — an unknown body that crossed the sun, according to Loft, of Ipswich; observed about three hours and a half (Quar. Jour. Roy. Inst., 5-117).(16)

Five unknown bodies that were seen, upon June 26, 1819, crossing the sun, according to Gruithuisen (An. Sci. Disc., 1860-411).(17) Also, upon this day, Pastorff saw something that he thought was a comet, which was then somewhere near the sun, but which, according to Olbers, could not have been the comet, (Webb, Celestial Objects, p.40).(18)

Upon Aug. 28, 1819, there was a violent quake at Irkutsk, Siberia. There had been two shocks upon Aug. 22, 1813 (Rept. B.A., 1854-101).(19) Upon April 6, 1805, or March 25, according to the Russian calendar, two stones had fallen from the sky at Irkutsk (Rept. B.A., 1860-12).(20) One of these stones is now in the South Kensington Museum, London.(21) Another violent shock at Irkutsk, April 7, 1820 (Rept. B.A., 1854-128).(22)

Unknown bodies in the sky, in the year 1820, Feb. 12 and April 27 (Comptes Rendus, 83-314).(23)

Things that marched in the sky — see Arago's Oeuvres, 11-576, or Annales de Chimie, 30-417 — objects that were seen by many [95/96] persons, in the streets of Embrun, during the eclipse of Sept. 7, 1820, moving in straight lines, turning and retracing in the same straight lines, all of them separated by uniform spaces.(24)

Early in the year 1821—- and a light shone out on the moon — a bright point of light in the lunar crater Aristarchus, which was in the dark at the time. It was seen, upon the 4th and the 7th of February, by Capt. Kater (An. Reg., 1821-689); and upon the 5th by Dr. Olbers (Mems. R.A.S., 1-159).(25) It was a light like a star, and was seen again, May 4th and 6th, by the Rev. M. Ward and by Francis Bailey (Mems. R.A.S., 1-159).(26) At Cape Town, nights of Nov. 28th and 29th, 1821, again a star-like light was seen upon the moon (Phil. Trans., 112-237).(27)

Quar. Jour. Roy. Inst., 20-417:(28)

That, early in the morning of March 20, 1822, detonations were heard at Melida, an island in the Adriatic. All day, at intervals, the sounds were heard. They were like cannonading, and it was supposed that they came from a vessel, or from Turkish artillery, practicing in some frontier village. For thirty days the detonation continued, sometimes thirty or forty, sometimes several hundred, a day.

Upon April 13, 1822, it seems, according to description, that clearly enough was there an explosion in the sky of Comrie, and a concussion of the ground — "two loud reports, one apparently over our heads, and the other, which followed immediately, under our feet" (Edin. New Phil. Jour., 31-119).(29)

July 15, 1822 — a fall of perhaps unknown seeds from perhaps an unknown world — a great quantity of little round seeds that fell from the sky at Marienwerder, Germany. They were unknown to the inhabitants, who tried to cook them, but found that boiling seemed to have no effect upon them. Wherever they came from, they were brought down by a storm, and two days later, more of them fell, in a storm, in Silesia. It is said that these corpuscles were identified by some scientists as seeds of Galium spurium, but that other scientists disagreed. Later more of them fell at Posen, Mecklenburg. See Bull. des Sci. (math., astro., etc.) 1-1-298.(30)

Aug. 19, 1822 — a tremendous detonation at Melida — others continuing several days.(31)

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Oct. 23, 1822 — two unknown dark bodies crossing the sun; observed by Pastorff (An. Sci. Disc., 1860-411).(32)

An unknown, shining thing — it was seen, by Webb, May 22, 1823; near the planet Venus (Nature, 14-195).(33)

More unknowns, in the year 1823 — see Comptes Rendus, 49-811 and Webb's Celestial Objects, p. 43.(34)

Feb., 1824 — the sounds of Melida.(35)

Upon Feb. 11, 1824, a slight shock was felt at Irkutsk, Siberia, (Rept. B.A., 1854-124).(36) Upon Feb. 18, or, according to other accounts, upon May 14, a stone that weighed five pounds, fell from the sky at Irkutsk (Rept. B.A., 1860-70).(37) Three severe shocks at Irkutsk, March 8, 1824 (Rept. B.A., 1854-124).(38)

Sept., 1824 — the sounds of Melida.(39)

At five o'clock, morning of Oct. 20, 1824, a light was seen upon the dark part of the moon, by Gruithuisen. It disappeared. Six minutes later it appeared again, disappeared again, and then flashed intermittently, from 5:30 A.M., until sunrise ended the observations, (Sci. Amer. Sup., 7-2712).(40) And, upon Jan. 22, 1825, again shone out the star-like light of Aristarchus, reported by the Rev. J.B. Emmett, (Annals of Philosophy, 28-338).(41)

The last sounds of Melida of which I have record, were heard in March, 1825. If these detonations did come from the sky, there was something that, for at least three years, was situated over, or was in some other way specially related to, this one small part of this earth's surface, subversively to all supposed principles of astronomy and geodesy. It is said that, to find out whether the sounds did come from the sky, or not, the Prêteur of Melida went into underground caverns to listen. It is said that there the sounds could not be heard.(42)


Footnotes

1. David Purdie Thomson. Introduction to Meteorology. London: Wm. Blackwood & Sons, 1849, 258.

2. E. Ledger. "Observations or supposed observations of the transits of intra-Mercurial planets or other bodies across the Sun's disk." Observatory, 3 (1879-80): 135-8, at 136. Fritsch stated that he had seen "spots having rapid motions of the own" on March 20, 1800, and on February 7, 1802.

3. U.J.J. Le Verrier. "Examen des observations qu'on a présentées, à diverses époques, comme pouvant appartenir aux passages d'une planète intra-mercurielle devant le disque du Soleil." Comptes Rendus, 83 (1876): 583-9, at 587-8.

4. Robert Mallet. "Third report on the facts of earthquake phenomena." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1854, 1-326, at 53. The quake was felt at Gordes, Vaucluse dept., France. Correct quote: "...believed they felt...." The stone that fell is now identified as the Apt meteorite.

5. "Earthquake in Connecticut, &c." American Journal of Science, s. 1, 39 (1840): 335-42, at 338-9.

6. Robert Mallet. "Third report on the facts of earthquake phenomena." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1854, 1-326, at 68-86. The red cloud was observed over the country lying along the river Pelice, on May 16, 1808, (not May 13).

7. R.P. Greg. "A catalogue of meteorites and fireballs." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1860, 48-120, at 63. Borgo San Donnino is now identified as Fidenza, Italy; and, the stone that fell is now identified as the Borgo meteorite.

8. "Earthquake in Connecticut, &c." American Journal of Science, s. 1, 39 (1840): 335-42, at 338-9.

9. "Leeds. Extraordinary phenomena." Edinburgh Annual Register, 1812, pt.II, 124-7.

10. "Sheet lightning." Timb's Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, 1853, 309.

11. "Earthquake in Connecticut, &c." American Journal of Science, s. 1, 39 (1840): 335-42, at 338-9.

12. Robert Mallet. "Third report on the facts of earthquake phenomena." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1854, 1-326, at 106. The "meteor" was observed immediately after the first shock of the earthquake, (not "six hours later," when another series of less intense shocks were felt).

13. Duncan Macara. Macara's Guide to Creiff, Comrie, St. Filans, and Upper Strathearn.... Edinburgh: D. Macara, (189-?).

14. "Earthquake in Scotland." London Times, August 21, 1816, p.3 c.2-3. Dunkeld is about 35 kilometers from Comrie. David Milne. "Notices of earthquake shocks felt in Great Britain, and especially in Scotland, with inferences suggested by these notices as to the causes of such shocks." Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, 31 (1841): 92-122, 259-309, at 117.

15. Robert Mallet. "Third report on the facts of earthquake phenomena." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1854, 1-326, at 112. "Meteorological retrospect for the last half of the year 1817." Philosophical Magazine, 51 (January to June, 1818): 189-99, at 193.

16. "Supposed transit of a comet." Quarterly Journal of the Royal Institute of Great Britain, 5 (1818): 117-8. The object was observed by Lofft for more than three-and-a-half hours. For Lofft's original report: Capel Lofft. "On the appearance of an opaque body traversing the sun's disc." Monthly Magazine, o.s., 45 (March 1, 1818): 102-3.

17. "New planets." Annual of Scientific Discovery, 1860, 409-11, at 411. Three, not five, "solar spots" were observed "...viz., one near the middle of the sun, and two small one without nebulosity near the western limb."

18. Thomas William Webb. Celestial Objects. 4th ed. 1881. 6th ed., 1917. 4th ed., 40.

19. Robert Mallet. "Third report on the facts of earthquake phenomena." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1854, 1-326, at 101, 125.

20. R.P. Greg. "A catalogue of meteorites and fireballs, from A.D. 2 to A.D. 1860." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1860, 48-120, at 62.

21. Lazarus A. Fletcher. Introduction to the Study of Meteorites... 1904. 10th ed., London: British Museum Trustees, 1908, 98, (notes). This would be the Doroninsk meteorite.

22. Robert Mallet. "Third report on the facts of earthquake phenomena." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1854, 1-326, at 128. The date of the shock was May 7, 1820, (not April 7).

23. Le Verrier. "Examen des observations qu'on a présentées, à diverses époques, comme pouvant appartenir aux passages d'une planète intra-mercurielle devant le disque du Soleil." Comptes Rendus, 83 (1876): 583-9, 621-4, 647-50, 719-23; at 589, 621.

24. [Dominique] François [Jean] Arago. Oeuvres Complètes de François Arago. Paris, 1857, v.11, 575-8. "M. Dick imagine que le phénomène observé par M. Hansteen...." Annales de Chimie, s. 2, 30 (1825): 416-21.

25. "Volcanic appearance in the Moon." Annual Register, 1821, 687-8. The light was also seen by Kater on February 6. For the original report: Henry Kater. "Notice respecting a volcanic appearance in the Moon." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 111 (1821): 130-2, pl. X. William Olbers. "On the comet discovered in the constellation Pegasus in 1821: and on the luminous appearance on the dark side of the Moon on February 5, 1821." Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, 1, 156-8.

26. The observation was made on May 5, 1821, when the clouded skies prevented Ward from viewing it. Michael Ward. "On a luminous appearance seen on the dark part of the Moon in May 1821." Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, 1, 159-61.

27. Fearon Fallows. "Communication of a curious appearance lately observed upon the Moon." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 112 (1822): 237-8.

28. "Remarkable phenomena observed in the Island of Melida, Province of Ragusa." Quarterly Journal of the Royal Institute of Great Britain, 20, 417-8. Fort wrote "thirty days" as the duration, though the article he cites states "eight or nine months." "Détonations extraordinaire dans l'île Méléda." Annales de Chimie et de Physique, s. 2, 30 (1825): 432-5.

29. David Milne. "Notices of earthquake shocks felt in Great Britain, and especially in Scotland, with inferences suggested by these notices as to the causes of such shocks." Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, 31 (1841): 92-122, 259-309, at 119.

30. The seeds fell at Posen and the country around Mecklenburg. Kreis. "Effet remarquable d'un orage." Bulletin (Universal) des Sciences, Mathematiques, Astronomique, Physiques et Chimiques, 1 (1824): 298-9.

31. "Détonations extraordinaire dans l'île Méléda." Annales de Chimie et de Physique, s. 2, 30 (1825): 432-5. The date of the phenomenon was August 10, 1822, (not August 19).

32. "New planets." Annual of Scientific Discovery, 1860, 409-11, at 411.

33. Thomas William Webb. "The satellite of Venus." Nature, 14 (June 29, 1876): 194-5, at 195.

34. "Lettre de M. Herrick à M. Le Verrier." Comptes Rendus, 49 (1859): 810-2. Thomas William Webb. Celestial Objects. 4th ed. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1881, 43. 6th ed., 1917. Pastroff observed two spots on the sun on July 24 and 25, 1823; and, Biela observed a sharply defined circular spot on the sun on October 23, 1823.

35. "Détonations extraordinaire dans l'île Méléda." Annales de Chimie et de Physique, s. 2, 30 (1825): 432-5.

36. Robert Mallet. "Third report on the facts of earthquake phenomena." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1854, 1-326, at 158.

37. R.P. Greg. "A catalogue of meteorites and fireballs." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1860, 48-120, at 70. This is now identified as the Tounkin meteorite.

38. Robert Mallet. "Third report on the facts of earthquake phenomena." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1854, 1-326, at 158.

39. "Détonations extraordinaire dans l'île Méléda." Annales de Chimie et de Physique, s. 2, 30 (1825): 432-5.

40. Camille Flammarion. "Is the Moon inhabited?" Scientific American Supplement, 7 (March 29, 1879): 2696, 2711-2, at 2712.

41. J.B. Emmett. "Telescopic observations on the Moon." Annals of Philosophy, n.s., 12 (wh.vol.28): 337-42, at 338.

42. "Détonations extraordinaire dans l'île Méléda." Annales de Chimie et de Physique, s. 2, 30 (1825): 432-5.




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