Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1876 — THE METEOR. [ARTICLE]

THE METEOR.

Of the wonderful meteor seen on ‘ the night of the 21st, we can give ho accurate description. Nearly ! every person in Jasper county saw it or heard the noise of its passage through the atmosphere which surrounds the earth. A thin stratum of clouds overcast the heavens so that the light reflected from this 1 remarkable body was not as bril* b.ant ns reported at other points. Those who saw the phenomenon say that it first appeared at a point a little above the western horizon, perhaps a trifle south of west, seemed to pass leisurly through : space in nearly a due eastern course, and just aa it got past the zenith exploded into many fragments, some of which again exploded. An interval of siveral seconds, some think two or three minutes, elapsed between the explosion and the hearing of the reports which followed. Buildings were shaken as though by a slight eartlb quake shock until windows and dishes rattled. To us the effect was like that produced by thefiring of heavy cannon say half a mile distant, though the sound while of great volume seemed to be from farther away. The newspapers contain accounts of this remarkable meteor from points as far west as Lawrence, Kansas, and east to Toledo, Ohio; while the breadth of its observation was north, as far as Chicago, and south, to Indianapolis, at least. Probably Rensselaer was not far from directly beneath its path, perhaps a few miles north, while its explosion occurred not less than fifty miles east of here. It was seen fifteen or twenty minutes before 9 o’clock in the evening.

On the Bth page of this paper will be found the prospectus of the Chicago Trdttne, one of the ablest newspapers of the United States. the Tribune ranks iftnong the foremost papers of the world. In politics it is essentially republican; but while advocating those doctrines which form the basis of this political party with ability, fairness is a marked feature of all its discussions. We know of no paper that seems to be actuated by a more sincere desire to find out the right and to speak the truth. It is never sensational, or so seldom that sensationalism is the exception. There is not a better or cheeper family newspaper published.

Mr. Charles G. Powell, of Laporte, will be a candidate for Director of the Northern Indiana Penitentiary. It is evident to all who have any knowledge of the affairs of that institution that something is wiong about its management, that a change of some nature is required. Frpm an acquaintance of several years with the gentleman we think he is qualified to perform such duties as pertain to the position he aspires to in a manner that would promote the interest of the state. Hu is a modest gentleman, of quiet business habits, and fine exec utive If the democracy of Jasper county held a convention on last Saturday to appoint delegates to attend the state convention at Indianapolis on the Sth of January, next, we have not been able to learn about what they did. Do not thinX a meeting was held by them. It the controlling men of the democratic party w*ere as conscientious as most of that element in this county, republicans would have slight occasion for quarreling with them.

In New York yesterday (27th) gold opened at 107|, fell to 107, and closed at 107 J. In Chicago the ■ * market quotations foj- thp same day were as follows: Cattle.—Extra fine steers, $6; good average fine cattle, <[email protected]; butchers’ stock, «[email protected]. Hugs.—Light weights [email protected]; lair to choice, |[email protected]; shipping [email protected]. Corn in cars ranged from 38c@44. Oxts2Bc@3o. Butter 18e@25. Should any person entitled to receive The Union fail to find a copy for |x»xn at his post office next week, <* any other time, the error will be corrected promptly and cheerfully upo<j cull in g>t or sending ■ to pf publication, j.