Sept 20, 1881 Machias Union Date: 97-10-17 16:26:02 EDT From: ctyankee@bigfoot.com (Ken) Local and Miscellaneous Items Mr. Fred Bowers and his sister Julia left for St. Paul, Minn., Sept 20. Mr A F Campbell and wife left for Minneapolise Sept 12. They will spend the winter in Minnesota. Mr Albert Penvey; Mr Fred Peavy and Miss Fannie, sons and daughter of Wm. S. Peavy, Esq., at Whiting, left Monday, Albert for San Francisco, Fred and Fannie for Sioux City, Iowa. Married In Machias, Sep 11, by Rev Daniel Greene, Henry W. Berry and Miss Carrie Mattison, both of Machias. In Machiasport, Aug 31, by J T Matthews,Esq., Melvin J Holmes and Miss Lucy B Randall, both of M. In Eastport, Sept 7, by Rev Mr Williams, Frank E. Thompson of E., and Miss Lena Malloch of Campobello. In St. Stephen, Sept 3, Wm H Tyler and Gertrude L Spearin, both of C. In Calais, Sept 14, by Rev CG McCully, Frank Davis and Mary E Curry, both of C. In Boston, Sept 12, by Rev Austin Ricards, J W Lane of Laconia, NH and Miss Clara E Robinson of Machiasport, ME. In Cutler, Aug 7, by Rev Mr Wilkins, Edward S Holmes and Miss Annie A. Holmes, both of Machiasport. DIED In Pembroke, Sept 7, Lois A. wife of H B Barley, aged 72 years. Yellow Tuesday The famous Black Friday of 1780 will no longer stand alone in the history of New England. Tuesday, September 6, 1881, was a companion day and will be as long remembered. Its gloom did not strike such terror into the hearts of people as did that of May 19, 1780, but it found its way into timorous souls to a considerable extent, and there were probably more people filled with wonder and dread than would be willing to confess to the fact. Despatches show that the peculiar condition of the atmosphere extended pretty much all over New England. At Fitchburg, Mass., it was so dark that the schools were dismissed. The smoke was so thick that it could be felt. At Fall River the schools were dismissed, and in all the mills the gas lighted. The peculiar light intensified the green and reds, making them very beautiful. A party of Second Adventists at Worcester congregated in a schoolhouse to await what they considered the final end of the world. It was the darkest and strangest of days at Milford, N.H., and the heavens were of a pale yellow color. The frogs croaked and the crickets chirped as in early twilight. All indoor places of business were lighted with gas, and groups of men, women and children, with scared looks, were on the street corners studying the sky and talking of Mother Shipton's prophesy. The citizens of North Adams were very much frightened at the phenomenon, many of them thinking that a cyclone or earthquake was threatened. But about 11 o'clock the air grew clearer and by noon the sun shone forth, resembling a pink ball. For a time the heat was oppressive. In neighboring towns some of the female mill operatives stopped work and fled for their homes in affright. The streets were crowded with excited people, many of whom expressed belief that the judgment day was at hand. At Hanover, N.H., the sky presented a strange and unnatural appearance, being overhead a light olive shade and at the horizon a live green. A burning match looked like an electric light. Many persons complained of a dizzy sensation. C. F. Emerson professor of natural philosophy and astronomy at Dartmouth College, said the phenomenon was caused by something in the atmosphere which absorbed the shorter and longer wave lengths, leaving only those which give the color of yellow and green. He thought it might be owing to the pollen from fir and pine trees together with smoke from the forest fires in Canada. The peculiar hazy weather caused a suspension of the public schools at Lowell. The mills were lighted, too, and the lighting of the gas on the principal streets was necessary. At South Framingham the atmosphere was very close, at times being quite oppressive. The effect on trees, corn fields, lawns, mowing fields and even on buildings was beautiful in the extreme. Early in the afternoon it became so dark that in offices, factories, stores and private residences in many places, lamps were lighted and kept burning all the afternoon. All lights and even a burning match appeared to have the brilliancy of the electric light. Gaslight could not be used to advantage, as the eyes were much affected by it. At Marlboro nearly all the shoe manafactories were closed, and hundreds of operatives were obliged to stop work on account of the darkness. The track men in some sections carried lighted lanterns with them several hours in the afternoon. No cause but the Canada forest fire is attributed thus far. In Providence the day was exceedingly dark, accompanied by great sultriness. The consumption of gass commenced at noon and failed about three o'clock, compelling offices and factories either to close work or resort to candles. The failure of the gas lasted about half an hour and was due to temporary disarrangement. At West Barnstable labor was suspended, cattle ceased feeding and hens went to roost. Since the recent thunder storm the water in nearly all the wells and cisterns has been unfit for use. At Norwich, Conn., the sky was obscured from about 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., with a singularly dense yellow cloud unlike anything hitherto seen, and evidently distinct from the ordinary mist in the air. At midday many places of business were obliged to light gas. A singularly vivid effect was imparted to vegetation. At Portsmouth, N.H., the remarkable appearance of the sky continued all day, attracting universal attention, the superstitious being particularly concerened. The peculiar light, which made indoor illumination necessary, alternated from a lurid yellow to a weird greenish cast, intensifying the coloring of every earthly object. The oldest inhabitant cannot recall anything like the day in its general and peculiar aspects. At Contocock, N.H., a mixture of clouds and smoke produced a most peculiar appearance of the atmosphere, causing all objects to change their hues. Lamps were lighted at midday, and insects sounded their evening notes. Nervous people showed signs of agitation. The temperature was 78 at noon. In this connection the following description of the Dark Day of 1780 from the Massachusetts Spy, one of the papers of that time, will be found of interest: "The morning of the day was overcast with clouds and rainy; before 9 o'clock the rain in a great measure ceased, the clouds appeared more agitated and the air began to darken. For several hours in the middle of the day the obscurity was so great that those who had good eye sight could scarcely see to read common print; the birds and fowls in many places retired to their roosts as though it had been actually night, and people were obliged to light candles to dine by. It was the judgment of many that at 12 o'clock (the time of the greatest obscurity) the daylight was not greater, if so great as that of bright moonlight, which by calculation, has been found to be 90,000 less than that of a clear, sunshiny day. During the whole time a sickly melancholy gloom overcast the face of nature. Nor was the darkness of night less uncommon and terrifying than that of the day. Notwithstanding there was almost a full moon, no object was discernable, but by the help of some artificial light, which when seen from the neighboring houses and other places at a distance, appeared through a kind of Egyptian darkness, which seemed almost impervious to the rays." -- Kenneth A. 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