OF A METEORIC FIRE-BALL. 
25 
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says that the time from the disruption of the meteor to its disappearance, as noted 
by two observers at this place, was 90 to 100 seconds. 1 
Oysterbay Point, New York, No. 30. Observed by Dr. William Stimpson, from 
a vessel on the Sound, near this place, to pass near the zenith—“ if anything, a 
little north.” 
Paterson , New Jersey, Lat. 40° 55', Lon. 74° 10'. Reported time 9h. 40m. to 
9h. 45m. 1 2 
Peekshill , New York, Lat. 41° 18', Lon. 73° 57'. Mr. Connor, on the Hudson 
River Railroad, opposite this place, and going north, saw the meteor ahead of him. 3 
(Reported in the New York Herald, July 21, 1860.) 
Perth Amboy , New Jersey, No. 202. The observer, under the signature of “ R. 
M. C.,” reports the maximum altitude as 65°.. 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Nos. 91,143, and 148. The observer, A. Zumbrock, 
in his report to the Smithsonian Institution, says that the meteor passed midway 
between y and h Cassiopeiae, parallel to a and y, which, he says, “ would make its 
altitude about 24°”—that its path from the azimuth of Polaris, where it was first 
seen, to that of Cassiopeia, seemed horizontal; from thence to Deneb downwards, 
being about 2° lower at the latter azimuth. Time of passage from azimuth of 
Polaris to that of Deneb, 5 to 6 seconds. Time of disappearance 9h. 43m. It 
consisted of two parts. 4 By another observer’s report the time was 9h. 30m. 
Pitts ford, New York, No. 79. The observer, L. L. Nichols, reporting to the 
Smithsonian Institution, says that the greatest altitude of the meteor was about 
60°; that it was visible about 30 seconds, at about 10 o’clock P. M., and that it 
described an arc of about 120°. 5 
Point au Barque, Michigan, Lat. 44° 4', Lon. 82° 57'. The information from 
this place was obtained after much labor and many fruitless inquiries. The meteor 
being supposed to have passed nearly through the zenith of Saginaw, letters 
were addressed in the summer and autumn of 1860, to a number of persons re 
siding in that region and beyond, soliciting their aid in obtaining data with regard 
to it. The request was kindly acceded to, and among others Rev. Dr. Duffield, of 
Detroit, Dr. J. C. Willson, of Flint, Dr. Geo. B. Willson, of Marquette, Lieut. 
Orlando M. Poe, of the U. S. Lake Survey, Dr. Seth L. Andrews, of Romeo, and, 
through him, Dr. George A. Lathrop, of East Saginaw, gave particular at 
tention to the matter. For a long time the only information obtained was that 
1 The calculated time from the disruption near the zenith of Ithaca to the point where it was last 
seen by any reliable observer, is 69 seconds. 
2 Calculated time of meridian passage 9h. 47m. 14 sec. 
3 According to the calculated path the meteor passed 8 miles south of the zenith of Peekskill. 
4 In the calculations, a first disruption is assumed to have occurred just before the meteor came 
in view, and a second while it was passing Cassiopeia—from Polaris to Cassiopeia the meteor rose 5', 
according to the calculated path, and from thence to Deneb, fell 4° 28'. Time from Polaris to Cas 
siopeia, 6 seconds, and from thence to Deneb 8 seconds, reaching the latter at 9h. 43m. 22 sec. 
5 According to calculation the arc described in 30 seconds, as seen from Pittsford, was about 140°, 
and the time of meridian passage 9h. 32m. 30 sec. 
4 March, 1869.