From: Ray Dickenson <ray.dickenson.nul>
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2004 12:56:04 +0000
Fwd Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 08:31:40 -0500
Subject: Fort's Extraordinary Year 1883


Source: Fort - Book Of The Damned

http://www.resologist.net/damn01.htm


Chapter V

I shall not note them all in this book, but I have records of 31
extraordinary events in 1883. Someone should write a book upon
the phenomena of this one year - that is, if books should be
written

La Nature, 1883-342 A correspondent writes that he sends a
sample of a substance said to have fallen at Montussan
(Gironde), Oct. 16, 1883. According to a witness, quoted by the
correspondent, a thick cloud, accompanied by rain and a violent
wind, had appeared. This cloud was composed of a woolly
substance in lumps the size of a fist, which fell to the ground.
The Editor (Tissandier) says of this substance that it was
white, but was something that had been burned. It was fibrous.
M. Tissandier astonishes us by saying that he can not identify
this substance. We thought that anything could be "identified"
as anything. He can only say that the cloud in question must
have been an extraordinary conglomeration.


Chapter VI

Another datum: extraordinary year 1883: London Times, Dec. 25,
1883: Translation from a Turkish newspaper; a substance that
fell at Scutari, Dec. 2, 1883; described as an unknown
substance, in particles - or flakes? - like snow. "It was found
to be saltish to the taste, and to dissolve readily in water."

Nature, Jan. 10, 1884, quotes a Kimberly newspaper: That, toward
the close of November, 1883, a thick shower of ashy matter fell
at Queenstown, South Africa. The matter was in marble-sized
balls, which were soft and pulpy, but which, upon drying,
crumbled at touch. The shower was confined to one narrow streak
of land. It would be only ordinarily preposterous to attribute
this substance to Krakatoa - But, with the fall, loud noises
were heard --

I add, however, that I have notes upon two other falls of tiny
toads, in 1883, one in France and one in Tahiti; also of fish in
Scotland ["Pluie de crapauds =E0 Ta=EFti." Nature (Paris), 1884 v.1,
207. John A. Stewart. "Shower of perch - Sunsets." Knowledge, 4
(December 28, 1883): 396. "Extraordinary phenomenon at Airdrie."
Scotsman (Edinburgh), December 17, 1883, p.4 c.7.]


Chapter XIV

The extraordinary year, 1883: London Times, Dec. 17, 1883:(51)
Extract from a letter by Hicks Pashaw: that, in Egypt, Sept. 24,
1883, he had seen on the sun, through glasses, "an immense black
spot on the lower part of the sun." Sun spot, may be.

One night an astronomer was looking up at the sky, when
something obscured a star, for three and a half seconds. A
meteor had been seen nearby, but its train had been only
momentarily visible. Dr. Wolf was the astronomer (Nature, 86-
528).


Chapter XVI

In L'Astronomie, 1886-70, is recorded M. Briguiere's
observation, at Marseilles, April 15 and April 25, 1883, upon
the crossing of the sun by bodies that were irregular in form.
Some of them moved as if in alignment.

That, at the Observatory of Zacatecas, Mexico, Aug. 12, 1883,
about 2,500 meters above sea level, were seen a large number of
small luminous bodies, entering upon the disk of the sun.
[Bonilla] ... "less distance than the moon."


Chapter XXIV

...luminous object, size of full moon, visible an hour and a
half, Chili, Nov. 5, 1883

In the Amer. Met. Jour., 1-110, a correspondent reports having
seen an object like a comet, with two tails, one up and one
[276/277] down, Nov. 10 or 12, 1883.....

In the Scientific American, 50-40, a correspondent writes from
Humacao, Porto Rico, that, Nov. 21, 1883, he and several other
- persons, as it were - had seen a majestic appearance, like a
comet. Visible three successive nights: disappeared then. The
Editor says that he can offer no explanation. If accepted, this
thing must have been close to the earth. If it had been a comet,
it would have been seen widely, and the news would have been
telegraphed over the world, says the Editor.

Upon page 97 of this volume of Scientific American, a
correspondent writes that, at Sulphur Springs, Ohio, he had seen
"a wonder in the sky," at about the same date. It was torpedo-
shaped, or something with a nucleus, at each end of which was a
tail. Again the Editor says that he can offer no explanation:
that the object was not a comet. He associates it with the
atmospheric events general in 1883.

But it will be our expression that, in England and Holland, a
similar object was seen in November, 1882. :unquote


Note: from other sources and a quick re-glance through Book Of
Damned, you might also think that early 1800s through early
1900s was an eventful period of unexplained sightings -
astronomical, meteorological, maritime and "local fortean" -
from apparently well-educated, professional folk - ships'
officers, local administrators, military, police, scientists
etc.


Cheers

Ray D

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"Perceptions" http://www.perceptions.couk.com
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