Last updated: August 8, 2023.
1854 to 1855
1854:
1854 / Sleeper Susan C. Godsey, near Hickman, Ky. / See Oct 27, 1873. [A; 308. See: 1870 Oct 15, (A; 633), and, 1873 Oct 27, (A; 861).]
1854 (?) / Village of Swanland, near Hull. / Proc. S.P.R., vol 8 / According to notes dated in the year 1854, by Mr John Bristow, a master joiner, of Manchester, who was then working in a joiner's shop in Swanland—and told in the year 1891—pieces of wood flying about the shop. No girl here. Pieces of wood cut off, and falling to floor would leap up on bench and dance among tools. Move as if borne along on gently heaving waves. [A; 309.1, 309.2, 309.3. Myers, Frederic William Henry. "On Alleged Movements of Objects, Without Contact, Occurring Not in the Presence of a Paid Medium. Part II." Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research, 7 (1891-1892): 383-394. "Occasionally, a piece which had but a short time previously been cut off, falling to the floor, would leap upon the bench and come dancing along amongst the tools. I may just say we were unable to catch or lay hold of any piece when in motion, every attempt so to do was eluded. One piece I distinctly remember taking a leap leap from the bench to a trestle about three yards away, from which it took a second one to some other object, finally settling down to rest at the end of the shop. Another piece moved in a line straight as the flight of an arrow, about a yard from the floor, striking noiselessly as a feather the door of a closet at the end of the shop in which nails were kept. Anon, a piece would move as though borne along on gently heaving waves. Again a piece would dash out from the most distant part of the roof, in an oblique direction, and quietly drop near your feet." The disturbances persisted, "always in broad daylight," for six weeks and only involved pieces of wood that had been cut off within the workshop.]
1854 Jan 3 / Wels / Large Met / BA 69-282. [II; 1752. Glaisher, James, and, Robert Philips Greg, Edward William Brayley, Alexander Stewart Herschel, Charles Brooke. "Report on Observations of Luminous Meteors, 1868-69." Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1869, 216-308, at 282.]
1854 Jan / See Aug 7, 1852. / star 9th mag / 21h, 28m / -12° 53' / In following July, had disappeared. [II; 1753. "Note de M. Chacornac, sur plusiers étoiles observées par lui, et ultérieurement disparues." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 835-838, at 837.]
1854 Jan. 5 / [LT], 7-f / Aurora. [II; 1754. "Aurora Borealis." London Times, January 5, 1854, p. 7 c. 6.]
1854 Jan 10 / See Aug 7, 1852. / star 11th mag / 4h, 26m / +21° 24' / It disappeared. [II; 1755. "Note de M. Chacornac, sur plusiers étoiles observées par lui, et ultérieurement disparues." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 835-838, at 836. This star had also been seen from September 4th to November 29th, 1853; and, Chacornac searched for it as a possible planet, without seeing it again.]
1854 Jan 13 / Spain and Mexico / Sim qs / 14th—Chile / BA '11. Sim qs, Feb 18, 1889. [II; 1756. Two class I earthquakes. Milne, 711. See: 1889 Feb. 18, (VI; 1555).]
1854 Jan. 20 / Brandon, Ohio / Tornado / Finley's Rept. [II; 1757. Finley, 3.]
1854 Jan 20 / Holmes Chapel / Macclesfield, etc. / Athenaeum, Jan 28, 1854 / Whirl (N) / 91. [II; 1758. Slater, J.A. "Whirlwinds." Athenæum, (no. 1370; January 28, 1854): 125.]
1854 Jan 22 / Aerial soldiers / Büderich / C-211+. [II; 1759. Macray, John. "Fata Morgana." Notes and Queries, s. 1 v. 9 (March 25, 1854): 267. “On the 22nd of last month a surprising prodigy of nature was seen by many persons at Büderich, a village between Unna and Werl. Shortly before sunset, an army, of boundless extent, and consisting of infantry, cavalry, and an enormous number of waggons, was observed to proceed across the country in marching order. So distinctly seen were all these appearances, that even the flashing of the firelocks, and the colour of the cavalry uniform, which was white, could be distinguished. This whole array advanced in the direction of the wood of Schafhauser, and as the infantry entered the thicket, and the cavalry drew near, they were hid all at once, with the trees, in a thick smoke. Two houses, also, in flames, were seen with the same distinctness. At sunset the whole phenomenon vanished. As respects the fact, government has taken the evidence of fifty eye-witnesses, who have deposed to a universal agreement respecting this most remarkable appearance. Individuals are not wanting who affirm that similar phenomena were observed in former times in this region.” "Manningfaltiges." Barmer Wochenblatt, (Germany), February 2, 1854, p. 3. "Am 22. Januar kurz vor Abend wurds bei Büderich, ohnweit Werl in Westphalen, eine seltene Lufterscheinung (fata morgana) beobachtet." "Das bei Büderich am 22. Januar b. J. vorgeblich gesehene Kriegsheer." Kreis-Blatt für das Münsterland, (Germany), February 23, 1854, pp. 1-2. Heis, Eduard. "Das bei Büderich am 22. Januar d. J. vorgeblich gesehene Kriegsheer." Wochenschrift für Astronomie, Meteorologie und Geographie, o.s. v. 8 (no. 12; March 22, 1854): 89-94. Heis, Eduard. "Ueber das in diesem Jahre (22. Jan. 1854) bei Büderich vorgeblich gesehene Kriegsheer." Centralblatt für Naturwissenschaften und Anthropologie, 2 (1854; no. 24): 467-475. Heis investigated this phenomenon, with an interrogation of the witnesses; and, with the aid of a telescope, he claimed to have observed the (one) house, at a distance, which was the supposed burning house reported by about twenty witnesses. He attributed this fata morgana to a looming mirage, the "burning" to a twinkling of the reflected twilight (which began after sunset and lasted about an hour), and the movement of distant fog and trees (not phantom infantry nor cavalry, since the witnesses could not provide detailed descriptions, and no military activity was known). "Mehrere Leute, welche an dem schönen Sonntag Nachmittags einen Spaziergang ausserhalb Werl machten, haben um diese Zeit einen schwachen sich über der Erde lagernden Nebel bemerkt. Der westliche Himmel zeichnete sich nach Sonnenunter gang durch eine ungemein starke Abendröthe aus." The village of Büderich is now a district of Werl, Germany.]
1854 Jan 26 / See Aug 7, 1852. / 2 stars / 23h, 27 m / -4° 15' / Looked for in July following, had disappeared. [II; 1760. "Note de M. Chacornac, sur plusiers étoiles observées par lui, et ultérieurement disparues." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 835-838, at 837. The two stars, with 11th and 13th magnitudes, had been noted on a chart begun on January 26th, and were seen between January 30th and 31st, but weren't to be found in July.]
1854 Jan 29 / Woman found, Bantry, Ireland / Devoured by dogs—supposed have fallen and injured self / L.T., Feb 6/5/e. [A; 310. "Horrible Occurrence.—Bantry." London Times, February 6, 1854, p. 5 c. 5.]
1854 Feb 7 / [LT], 10-c / Supposed wreck. [A; 311. "Supposed Shipwreck." London Times, February 7, 1854, p. 10 c. 3.]
1854 Feb 11 and 12 / (It) / phe and qs / Italy / See 1805. [II; 1761. Galli, Ignazio. "Raccolta e classificazione di fenomeni luminosi osservati nei terremoti." Bollettino della Società Sismologica Italiana, 14 (1910): 221-448, at 363. See: 1805 July 26, (I; 146).]
1854 Feb 12 / (It) / Consenza / q preceded by explosion in the sky which was clear / See 1805. [II; 1762. Galli, Ignazio. "Raccolta e classificazione di fenomeni luminosi osservati nei terremoti." Bollettino della Società Sismologica Italiana, 14 (1910): 221-448, at 363. See: 1805 July 26, (I; 146).]
1854 Feb. 15 / Hurricane / Gibraltor / Field, March 4. [II; 1763. "Hurricane in the Mediterranean." Field, March 4, 1854, p. 209.]
1854 Feb. 14 / Harrison, Ohio / Tornado / Finley's Rept. [II; 1764. Finley, 3.]
1854 Feb 25 / Turin / 7:20 p.m. / great met / seemed to fall from Canis Major / C.R. 38-511. [II; 1765. "M. Terrero adresse, de Turin, quelques renseignements sur un meteore...." Comptes Rendus, 38 (1854): 511.]
1854 Feb 26 / Op Mars / (Al). [II; 1766. Opposition of Mars. Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris, 1854, 564.]
1854 Feb. 26, 27 / Heavy rain / Hobart Town / Proc Roy Soc Van Dieman's Land 1855-1. [II; 1767. Denison, William Thomas. "On the Heavy Fall of Rain in Hobart Town, on the 26th and 27th of February, 1854...." Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land, 3 pt. 1 (January, 1855): 1-5. "I own, however, that I never anticipated the probability of such a fall of rain as has lately taken place, amounting as it appears, to 8 3/4 inches in thirty-four hours...."]
1854 Feb 28 / 1[h] - 45[m] / Venus Inf conjunction with Sun / (Al). [II; 1768. Inferior conjunction of Venus. Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris, 1854, 564.]
1854 March / Disap / City of Glasgow / O'Donnell, Her Majesty's Dockyard, Pembroke-Dock p. 12 / VXCE. [A; 312. O'Donnell, Elliott. Strange Sea Mysteries. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1927, 12-15. "VXCE" is the call number of O'Donnell's book at the New York Public Library. Scott, Andrew. "Remininscences of the Glasgow Custom-House, Trade of Clyde, Steamers, &c." Transactions of the Glasgow Archaeological Society, 1 (1859): 51-76, at 68. "The first steamer which plied between Glasgow and New York was the 'City of Glasgow,' of 1609 tons, built of iron, in 1850, wrought with a screw propellor. After making some voyages to New York she was sold, and subsequently plied between Liverpool and Philadelphia. She sailed on the second trip from Liverpool, with many passengers, but was never heard of, other than that a portion of the bow of a vessel having 'City of Glasgow' thereon, in large gilded characters, was found washed ashore at Ballochgair, near Campbelton, the 25th October, 1854."]
1854 March 1 / Switzerland and Tyrol / det met / BA '60-104. [II; 1769. Greg, 104.]
1854 March 7 / [LT], 8-d / Sup. Ext / Devonshire. [A; 313. "Extraordinary Superstition in Devonshire." London Times, March 7, 1854, p. 8 c. 4. A young woman sought to cure her illness with ceremonial magic involving coins, walking around a communion table, and wearing a ring.]
1854 March 16 / Paris / psycho-tube like town ghost / Owen, "Footfalls," p. 282. [A; 314. Owen, Robert Dale. Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1860, 387-392.]
1854 March 16 / Ap. 6, 11 / (It) / Sounds / Cosenza / See 1816. [II; 1770. Cancani, Adolfo. "Rombi sismici." Bollettino della Società Sismologica Italiana, 7 (1901-1902): 23-47, at 39. See: 1816, (I; 547).]
1854 March 30 / [LT], 7-d / New Comet / Ap. 1-11-c / 14-8-b. [II; 1771. Hind, John Russell. "A Brilliant Comet." London Times, March 30, 1854, p. 7 c. 4. "A New Comet. London Times, April 1, 1854, p. 11 c. 3. "The Comet." London Times, April 14, 1854, p. 8 c. 2. The Great Comet of 1854, (C/1854 F1), was discovered on March 23, 1854.]
1854 Ap. 4 / Fr. / Falling stars in a fog / morning of 5th, odorous fog / Cosmos 15-36. [II; 1772. "Faits de science." Cosmos, 15 (July 8, 1859): 36-38. "1854, 4 avril. Je vois les plus petites étoiles par un brouillard et clair de lune; effet remarquable." Falling stars were observed on June 4, 1853; only the smallest stars were said to be observed on this date.]
1854 Ap 5 / dry fog / odorous fog / Cosmos 15/36. [II; 1773. "Faits de science." Cosmos, 15 (July 8, 1859): 36-38. "5 avril, sept heures du matin: brouillard à odeur."]
1854 Ap. 16, etc./ City of San Salvador destroyed by a q / A. J. Sci 2/18/277 / Rumbling sounds from 12th. [II; 1774. "City of San Salvador destroyed by an Earthquake." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 18 (September, 1854): 277-284. at 278-279. "The attention of the dwellers and sojourners upon the south-western part of that elevated plain which lies above the city of San Salvador, upon the 12th and 13th of April last, was forcibly called to a hollow, rolling, subterranean sound, which was reported at intervals, and at times continued several minutes without ceasing. It seemed to proceed from the mountain-chain, which extends southwesterly from the neighboring volvano, and forms a semi-circle. The awe-inspiring sound was most distinctly heard at Monserrat and at a little hacienda (farm) belonging to a German family, named Bogen, from East Prussia."]
1854 Ap. 25 / q. / Lake Ontario / doubtful / Canadian Jour 2/278. [II; 1775. "A Lake Phenomenon." Canadian Journal, 2 (June, 1854): 278-280. Quoting the Niagara Mail, of May 3rd: "The facts of the event of the 25th, as far as noticed, seems to be as follows:—About a quarter or half-past six o'clock, P.M., a thunder storm came up from the north-west, with a few flashes of lightning, and a heavy shower, accompanied by a strong squall of wind for a few minutes, the weather being quite calm just before the gust, and the same after it. The fishermen who were on the beach, seeing the squall come onm hurried to get in their seine, when suddenly there appeared, rolling in upon them, an immense wave from the north-west. The height of this wave could not have been less, we judge, than from six to eight feet, although it is difficult to ascertain correctly. It came rolling on the smooth lake with great velocity, carrying all before it, and sweeping some of the fishermen into the Two-mile Pond, and dashing others of them high up against the bank, by which, as we related, two persons were unfortunately drowned. The water came and returned three times in succession, and then settled down quite calm, as it had been before the commotion." In the absence of any other evidence of an earthquake causing this phenomenon, the sudden release of "vast masses of carburetted hydrogen and other gases which result from the decomposition of immense accumulations of vegetable and animal remains" is the explanation given for this "seiche," even if no such gaseous eruption was ever observed, while dismissing any connection with atmospheric winds, including a whirlwind observed five hours earlier in Toronto.]
1854 May 11 / [LT]. 12-b / 18-9-f / Met. [II; 1776. Robinson, W.B. "To the Editor of the Times." London Times, May 11, 1854, p. 12 c. 2. Welch, W.F. "To the Editor of the Times." London Times, May 18, 1854, p. 9 c. 6. "While I was watching it, the light moved gradually towards the south, retaining its inclination to the horizon, becoming gradually fainter and fainter, till, in about three minutes from the time I first observed it, it disappeared altogether." This "column of bright light" may have been a luminous meteor train.]
1854 May 13 / Horbourg, near Colmar (Haut-Rhin) / Red rain. / Ref—May 16—'46 / See March, 1862 / Ap., 1873. [II; 1777. Fournet, Joseph Jean Baptiste Xavier. "Sur les Pluies de Terre Observées Depuis Quel-ques Années dans le Bassin du Rhone." Mémoires de l'Académie des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de Lyon. Classe des Sciences, s. 2 v. 13 (1863): 185-245, at 214. See: 1846 May 16, (II; 962).]
1854 May 22 / (Ch) / a Vulcan / (various objects) / reported by Greg by "a friend of his". / B. Assoc 1855/94 / (N) op / C-29+. [II; 1778. Powell, Baden. "Report on observations of luminous meteors, 1854-55." Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1855, Reports on the State of Science, 79-100, at 94. "...Mr. Greg mentions that a friend of his (whose name he does not give) observed an apparently similar phænomenon, May 22nd, 1854. With a 5-inch object glass equatorial telescope with clockwork, looking for Mercury about 11 o'clock, then little more than an hour from the sun, he saw a luminous body about the size and appearance of Mercury cross the field close to Mercury, with a perfectly round and distinct disk; about a minute after another followed in the same path with about the same velocity (crossing the field in about 2½ seconds by counting the beats of the clock), with an elongated form like a comet; in a few minutes another followed, smaller and round, with the same direction and velocity. They went N.E. and S.W., and appeared going to the sun. It would have taken Mercury 50 seconds to cross the field; the telescope being disconnected with the clockwork. He
has never before or since seen a similar phænomenon."]
[1854 May 23 /] 1852 May 23 / Freshford is 8 miles N.W. of Kilkenny. [II; 1619.]
[1854 May 23 /] 1852 May 23 / Freshford, Kilkenny, Ireland / ac to Rev. James Mease, of Freshford / Nat. Hist Rev 1/247 / Several years before, a peculiar black cloud and fall in th storm of black rain. / Year of Tuesday = May 23. [II; 1620. "Kilkenny Literary and Scientific Institution. May 26, 1854." Natural History Review, 1 (1853-1854): 247-248. "Kilkenny Scientific Institution." Saunders's News-Letter, June 1, 1854, p. 3 c. 1.]
1854 June 23 / Manteno, Ill. / Tornado / Finley's Rept. [II; 1779. Finley, 3.]
1854 July 2 / Fr / Eaux-Bonnes / q / C.R. 39/204, 205. [II; 1780. Passy, Antoine François. "Observation aux Eaux-Bonnes (Basse-Pyrénées)." Comptes Rendus, 39 (1854): 204-205.]
1854 July 4 / Strehla, Germany / stonefall / ac to Wolf's Catalogue / BA 60-92/ [II; 1781. Greg, 93.]
1854 July 9 / great q. / Japan / BA '11. [II; 1782. A class III earthquake. Milne, 711.]
1854 July 17 / Germany / det met / BA '60. [II; 1783. Greg, 93.]
1854 July 18 / Weld, Maine / Sounds attrib to distant th. storm / Rept Smithson. Inst. 1855-282. [II; 1784. "Phenomena of Lightning." Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, 10 (1855-1856): 280-282, at 282.]
1854 July 18 / Davenport, Iowa / Tornado / Finley's Rept. [II; 1785. Finley, 3.]
1854 July 19 / See July 19, 1868. / 3:30 a.m. / Violent q. / Argeles, Hautes Pyrenees / L.T., July 28, 1868. [II; 1786. "An Earthquake in the Pyrenees." London Times, July 28, 1868. p. 10 c. 5. "In 1854, however, on the same day and at the same hour, July 19, at half-past 3 in the morning, a violent shock of earthquake was felt here and all through the Pyrenees...." See: 1868 July 9, (III; 1417).]
1854 July 20 / (night) / Sound like that of an explosion and q in Vienne, 15 kilometres south of Poitiers / C.R. 39-697. [II; 1787. Bertrand. "Secousses du tremblement de terre du 20 juillet 1854, ressenties dans le département de la Vienne." Comptes Rendus, 39 (1854): 697-698.]
1854 July 20 / 2:45 a.m. / in the Pyrenees / shock / Timbs '55-277. [II; 1788. "Earthquakes in 1854." Timbs' Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, 1855, 277-278.]
1854 Aug / Whirl / Roslin / L.T., Aug 25 / 10-a, 1854. [II; 1789. "Singular Appearance at Roslin." London Times, August 25, 1854 p. 10 c. 1.]
1854 Aug 1 / Gõttingen / met train / BA 60-16. [II; 1790. Glaisher, James, and, John Hall Gladstone, Robert Philips Greg, Edward Joseph Lowe. "Report on Observations of Luminous Meteors, 1859-60." Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1860, 1-27, at 16. Greg, 93.]
1854 Aug 5 / Fr / [LT], 12-e / q / Pyrenees. [II; 1791. "Earthquake in the Pyrenees." London Times, August 5, 1854, p. 12 c. 5.]
1854 Aug 10 / afternoon / Bradford Co., Pa / Tornado / Finley's Rept. [II; 1792. Finley, 3.]
1854 Aug 27 / 6 p.m. / Louisville, Ky. / Tornado / Finley's Rept. [II; 1793. Finley, 3.]
1854 Sept 1 / 10 a.m. / Paris / fog—sulphurous odor / Cosmos 15/37. [II; 1794. "Faits de science." Cosmos, 15 (July 8, 1859): 36-38, at 36.]
1854 Sept 5 / Fehrbellin, Potsdam / Metite / BA '60. Brandenburg, Prussia / (F). [II; 1795. Fletcher, 102. This is the Linum meteorite. Greg, 93.]
1854 Sept 5 / metite / Linum, near Fehrbellin / rattling or hissing / no great detonation. A. J. Sci 2/32/140. [II; 1796. "St. Denis-Westrum." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 32 (1861): 140.]
1854 Sept 11 / 7 p.m. / Stirling, Scotland / Perthshire / dense mass copper colored vapor. / no thunder / no rain / L.T., Sept 14-12-d. [II; 1797. "Singular Atmospheric Phenomenon." London Times, September 14, 1854, p. 12 c. 4.]
1854 Sept 22 / [LT], 9-c / 26-8-f / 29-10-f / Tidal phe. [II; 1798. "Tidal Phenomenon." London Times, September 22, 1854, p. 9 c. 5. "Tidal Phenomenon." London Times, September 26, 1854, p. 8 c. 6. Ormerod, C.H.A. "To the Editor of the Times." London Times, September 29, 1854, p. 10 c. 6.]
1854 Sept 24 / Herefordshire / Sounds like Cardiganshire / several hours. / Proc. Eng. 19/144 / 744? [II; 1799. Fryer, A.T. "Psychological aspects of the Welsh Revival." Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research, 19 (1905-7): 80-161, at 144. "The Curious Lights at Pwllheli." Bye-gones: Relating to Wales and the Border Counties, 2 (March 1875): 210-211. "On the 24th of September, 1854, (I refer to my game book of that year), a friend was shooting with me in Herefordshire. The day was perfectly still, the sky cloudless, when sounds like discharges of heavy artillery came from the west, which, striking against a range of wooded hills running north and south under which we were shooting made most wonderfully distinct echoes. These discharges or whatever they were, continued for several hours at regular intervals of about two minutes. Since then similar sounds have been heard two or three times (judging from the letters to the papers), and principally by persons living in Cardiganshire, but their origin has never yet, so far as I can see, been discovered."]
1854 Sept 26 / Aurora / Paris / C.R. 39-752. [II; 1800. Dien, Ch. "Description de l'aurore boréale vue à l'Observatoire de Paris, le 26 septembre 1854." Comptes Rendus, 39 (1854): 752-753.]
1854 Fall / Lights like signals / Scioto Co., Ohio / See Lum Objs. [A; 315. See: Lum / Signal? / 1854 / Fal, (SF-IV: 36).]
1854 Oct 15 / Durham / Derby / 9 p.m. / met larger than moon / BA 67-417. [II; 1801. Glaisher, James, and, Robert Philips Greg, Edward William Brayley, Alexander Stewart Herschel, Charles Brooke. "Report on Observations of Luminous Meteors, 1866-67." Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1867, 288-430, at 417. "Revolved on axis."]
1854 Oct 17 / [LT], 8-b / Remarkable if true. [A; 316. "Remarkable, If True." London Times, October 17, 1854, p. 8 c. 2. Two seals, which had belonged to George Washington, were lost at different times and places, but found, ("ploughed up"), at "almost the same time."]
1854 Oct 18 / Siderite said to have been seen by a shepherd to fall. / (Fletcher) / Tabarz, near Gotha, Germany / BA 60-92. [II; 1802. Fletcher, 70. Greg, 93. This is the Tabarz meteorite.]
1854 Oct 26 / See Aug 7, 1852. / star at 7h, 30m / +23° 54' / looked for later, disappeared. [II; 1803. "Note de M. Chacornac, sur plusiers étoiles observées par lui, et ultérieurement disparues." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 835-838, at 837. Chacornac searched for this star on January 25, 1855, with no results for either a planet nor a variable star.]
1854 Oct 30 / [LT], 5-b / Rare birds. [A; 317. "Rare Birds." London Times, October 30, 1854, p. 5 c. 2. "Two specimens of the American ostrich—male and female—were recently killed near Fort des Moines, Iowa, and prepared by W.E. Moore for the Fort des Moines Museum." "Rare Birds." Ashland Union, (Ashland, Ohio), October 18, 1854, p. 3 c. 1.]
1854 November / Insects / (+) / (Flammarion, The Atmosphere, p. 467) / Ac to M Tissot, in a violent wind thousands of insects, most of them alive, alighted upon a plantation near Turin. Some larvae; some full grown. Said belong to an order of hemiptera seen only in Sardinia. [II; 1804. Flammarion, Camille. The Atmosphere. London: S. Low, Marston, Low, & Searle, 1873, 466-467. "M. Tissot, the village schoolmaster, who observed this phenomenon, adds, that in the course of November 1854, the wind being very violent, thousands of insects, most of them alive, alighted upon a plantation near Turin; some of them were larvae, and others had attained their full growth, while all belonged to an order of hemiptera which are nowhere seen except in the Island of Sardinia." "Pluies d'Insectes à Arache (Haute-Savoie) et à Turin." La Science Pour Tous, 14 (no. 23; April 26, 1869): 183.]
1854 Nov / Turin / Insects. Some were larvae and some adult. All appeared to be of a species of hemiptera that w[as] known in Sardinia. / Bull. Heb. Assoc de France 5/242. [II; 1805. "Pluie d'insectes à Arâches (Haute-Savoie)." Bulletin Hebdomadaire de l'Association Scientifique de France, 5 (1869): 242.]
1854 Nov 13-14 / Dr Kane in Arctic writes, Arctic Explorations, 1-428, that he had looked in vain for expected meteors in 48 hours. In 8 hours, Nov 14-15, he had counted 51, or what he considered a normal number. [II; 1806. Kane, Elisha Kent. Arctic Explorations: The Second Grinnell Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin, 1853, '54, '55. Philadelphia: Childs & Peterson, 1856, v. 1, 428. "November 15, Wednesday.—The last forty-eight hours should have given us the annual meteoric shower. We were fully prepared to observe it; but it would not come off. It would have been a godsend variety. In eight hours that I helped to watch, from nine of last night until five this morning, there were only fifty-one shooting stars. I have seen as many between the same hours in December and February of last winter."]
1854 Nov. 14 / [LT], 8-e / Met. Ext. [II; 1807. Fry, Edmund. "Extraordinary Meteor." London Times, November 14, 1854, p. 8 c. 5.]
1854 Nov. 17 / Heppens, Embden, etc., / det met / BA 60-105. [II; 1808. Greg, 105.]
1854 Dec 4 / It Sounds / Heavy rumblings near Siena / See 1816. [II; 1809. Cancani, Adolfo. "Rombi sismici." Bollettino della Società Sismologica Italiana, 7 (1901-1902): 23-47, at 39. See: 1816, (I; 547).]
1854 Dec 11 / Ice, large flakes / India / D-178. ** [II; 1810. The note copies information from page 178 of The Book of the Damned. George Buist. "Remarkable hailstorms in India...." Annual Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1855, trans., 31-38, at 37.]
[1854 Dec 17 /] 1857 Dec 17 / Cambridge, Mass / St Elmo's ordinary / Am. J. Sci 2/19/272. [A; 391. "On an Atmospheric Electrical Phenomenon." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 19 (1855): 272-273.]
1854 Dec. 23 / morning / q and tidal wave / Japan / An Reg 55-195. [II; 1811. "Chronicle." Annual Register, 97 (1855): pt. 2, 1-206, at 195-196, cv. "Earthquake in Japan."]
1854 Dec 23, 25 / q's / W. coast, U.S. / A. J. Sci 71-37. [II; 1812. Bache, A.D. "Notice of Earthquake Waves on the Western Coast of the United States, on the 23d and 25th of December, 1854." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 21 (1856): 37-43.]
1854 Dec. 23 / q. / Wave reached San Francisco, from Japan, in 12 hours and 38 minutes. / Panama Star, July 21, 1868. [II; 1813. (Daily Panama Star and Herald, July 21, 1868; on microfilm; infoweb.newsbank.com; @ World Newspaper Archive).]
1854 Dec. 28 / (It) / night / 3 shocks / Timbs 55-277. [II; 1814. "Earthquakes in 1854." Timbs' Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, 1855, 277-278.]
1854 Dec. 28-29 / (Fr) / q / Marseilles / Nice / C.R., vol. 40. [II; 1815. "Tremblement de terre de la nuit du 28 au 29 décembre." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 194. Chikhachyov, Pyotr Alexandrovich. "Observations faites à Nice." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 195-197. Pentland. "Observations faites à Nice." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 197-198.]
1854 Dec 28-29 / night / q in France and extraordinary inundations of rivers / C.R. 40-138 / q = p. 194. [II; 1816. "M. Andraud appelle l'attention de l'Académie sur la coincidence...." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 138. "Tremblement de terre de la nuit du 28 au 29 décembre." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 194.]
1854 / last of Dec / See Aug 7, 1852. / Star 10th mag disap. / not placed. [II; 1816. "Note de M. Chacornac, sur plusiers étoiles observées par lui, et ultérieurement disparues." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 835-838, at 837. Chacornac was unable to find this star on January 17, 1855.]
1855:
1855 / Not said this year / Dymoch Hall, Derbyshire / strange murders / See March 15, 1901. [A; 318. Strangling ghost said, in 1901, to have killed four people in past 50 years, at Dymoch Hall, Denbighshire, (not Derbyshire). See: 1901 March 15, (C; 490), and 1901 June 30, (C; 500).]
1855 ab / Sleeper—Susan Caroline Godsey—near Hickman, Ky. / See July 14, 1869. [A; 319. See: 1869 July 14, (A; 547).]
[1855] / Disap. Clergymen / 1855, LT Index / (4). [A; 320. “Mysterious Disappearance of a Clergyman.” London Times, October 13, 1855, p. 10 c. 5. “The Late Mysterious Disappearance of a Clergyman.” London Times, October 20, 1855, p. 10 c. 5. “The Missing Clergyman Found.” London Times, November 5, 1855, p. 9 c. 4. “The Missing Clergyman.” London Times, November 8, 1855, p. 6 c. 5. “The Missing Clergyman.” London Times, December 4, 1855, p. 8 c. 6. “The Missing Clergyman.” London Times, December 12, 1855, p. 5 c. 5. “Another Missing Clergyman.” London Times, December 14, 1855, p. 10 c. 1.]
1855 / List of qs in Turkey / C.R. 42-93. [II; 1817. Verrollot, P. "Tableau des tremblements de terre qui ont eu lieu dans l'Empire Ottoman en 1855." Comptes Rendus, 42 (1856): 93-99.]
1855 to 1861 / N.M. / Detonations ground and sky / Valley of Visp / A. J. Sci 2/37/5. [II; 1818. Perrey, Alexis. "Theory of Earthquakes." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 37 (1864): 1-10. "Moreover, in such earthquake-shocks, continued for a length of time, both aërial and subterranean detonations are frequently repeated without any sensible movement of the ground. Many instances of this kind occurred in the valley of Visp in 1855 and 1856." "The detonations in the valley of Visp continued to occur at intervals even till May, 1861. The later months of the year do not appear to have been marked by any repetition of the phenomena of 1855."]
1855 / List of the qs of Nice / very many / C.R. 41/215, etc. [II; 1819. Prost. "Journal des vibrations du sol à Nice." Comptes Rendus, 41 (1855): 215-219.]
1855 Jan. / China Sea / shower of sand and ashes / no known volc / Trans China Branch Roy Asiatic Soc 1855-148. [II; 1820. MacGowan, Daniel Jerome. "Physical Phenomena in Japan and China." Transactions of the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 1855, 143-150, at 148, "Sand Showers in the China Sea." "In January last, Lieut. Prebble, of the U.S. ship Macedonian, reports, that in 23° 0' 9" N. Lat., 123° 0' 7" E. Long., having had a North-east wind for some time, the rigging, hammock-cloths, &c., of the vessel, were covered with yellow Dust and Ashes. Showers of this description are of frequent occurrence in the China Sea, north of Hongkong. They are totally different from the Dust Showers, of which I have already given a partial description/ Until specimens be procured, it cannot be determined whether they are volcanic ashes or diatomaceæ. Their abundance and frequency almost preclude the supposition of their atmospheric origin, and yet there is no known volcano to which they can be satisfactorily referred." The name of the lieutenant was George Henry Preble, (not Prebble). (Preble's diaries, letters, and the Macedonian's log, in vol. 3, were at the American Antiquarian Society, in the Preble collection. Digital facsimiles of the George Henry Preble diaries are available on China, America and the Pacific, a digital publication of Adam Matthew Digital, Inc. This digital resource is available to researchers on MHS library computers. See a reference librarian for information on how to access this resource. http://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/collection/data/7819502 ) The location would be to the east of Taiwan; and, Fujisan was supposedly erupting from December 23, 1854, to January 9, 1855, (the closest eruption during this time period).]
1855 Jan 7 / 4:15 / Great met and train for considerable time—at sunset, near Chiltern Hills. / BA 56-60. [II; 1821. Powell, Baden. "Report on observations of Luminous Meteors, 1855-56." Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1855, Reports on the State of Science, 53-62, at 60-61.]
1855 Jan 10 / Ext. cold and snow in Cairo, which inhabitants had never seen there before. / C.R. 40-1150 / But April more ext. [II; 1822. Renou, E. "Note sur un abaissement de température extraordinaire observé en Egypte." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 1150.]
1855 Jan 16 to Feb 7 / During this time of severe weather cor writes of rare birds caught or shot near Stowmarket. / Zoologist 13-4629. [A; 321. Bree, C.R. "Rare Birds captured near Stowmarket." Zoologist, 13 (1855): 4629-4631. These birds included a black-throated diver, a common scoter, a common bittern, and a hawfinch.]
1855 Jan 23 / Heavy rain / 9:15. q of considerable violence / N. Zealand / An Reg. / 10. [II; 1823. "Chronicle." Annual Register, 97 (1855): pt. 2, 1-206, at 17, cv. "Earthquake in New Zealand."]
1855 Jan 25 / Star seen. / See Aug 6, 1852. / Star then disap. / Not placed. [II; 1824. "Note de M. Chacornac, sur plusiers étoiles observées par lui, et ultérieurement disparues." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 835-838, at 837. Chacornac searched for this 11th magnitude star on March 19th but could not find it.]
1855 Feb. / Extreme cold in England. / See "footprints". [A; 322.]
1855 Feb / The coldest February on record. Not one mild day between Jan 15 and Feb. 24. / Eastern Evening News (Norwich), Jan 7, 1908. [A; 323. “The Recent Severe Weather.” Eastern Evening News, (Norwich), January 8, 1908, p. 4 c. 5-6. "The Intense Frost." Eastern Evening News, (Norwich), February 11, 1895, p. 2 c. 5-6.]
1855 Feb / See Leeds Devil, Jan 21, 1909. [A; 324. See: 1909 Jan 21, (D: 275 & 278).]
1855 Feb / Many rare birds driven to coast of Norfolk during the severe weather. / Zoologist 13-4660 / a list of ab. 20 species. [A; 325. Roberts, Alfred. "Occurrence of Wild Fowl at Scarborough." Zoologist, 13 (1855): 4660. Stevenson, H. "Winter Visitors to the Norfolk Coast during the late severe weather." Zoologist, 13 (1855): 4660.]
1855 Feb / Sailing ship, James Chester, found abandoned near where Marie Celeste found. / See Elliott O'Donnell's "Strange Sea Mysteries". / (See a clipping—Dec 5, 1872.) [A; 326. O'Donnell, Elliott. Strange Sea Mysteries. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1927, 47-52. See: 1855 Feb 28, (A; 333); 1872 Dec 5, (A; 796); and, ("Ships").]
1855 Feb 7 / [LT], 5-f / Astro phe. [II; 1825. "Astronomical Phenomenon." London Times, February 7, 1855, p. 5 c. 6. A close conjunction of Mars, Mercury, and Venus.]
1855 Feb. 8 / This night heavy fall snow followed by rain and wind / Torquay Directory, 21st. [A; 327. (Torquay Directory And South Devon Journal, February 21, 1855; not at BNA.)]
1855 Feb. 8 / Much in papers of severity of the winter. [A; 328.]
1855 Feb. 8 / Devonsh Dvls / 162 / (D—final). [A; 329. Devonshire Devil. The note copies information from pages 293 to 298 of The Book of the Damned.]
1855 Feb 8 / q. / Eastern Canada / Canadian Jour. 3/197. [II; 1826. "An Earthquake." Canadian Journal, 3 (March, 1855): 197.]
1855 Feb 18 / from midnight to 5 a.m. / Samos, Greece / shocks remarkable for their regularity / C.R. 42-93. [II; 1827. Verrollot, P. "Tableau des tremblements de terre qui ont eu lieu dans l'Empire Ottoman en 1855." Comptes Rendus, 42 (1856): 93-99, at 93.]
1855 Feb 19 / Daily News of, 2-6 / Devonshire / "A farmer named Ferris, who attended a feast at Blackhamton, Devonshire, a few nights ago, was found next morning lying on his back dead, in a field. His face, nose and eyes were very much eaten by birds, or some kind of vermin." [A; 330. "A farmer named Ferris...." London Daily News, February 19, 1855, p. 2 c. 6.]
1855 Feb. 21 / L.T. 23-8-e / Extraordinary flock of wild birds on Hayling Island near Portsmouth during the extreme weather. Many thousands of widgeons, ducks, and geese. [A; 331. "Extraordinary Flock of Wild Fowl." London Times, February 21, 1855, p. 8 c. 5. "At this moment (Wednesday afternoon) there is facing my windows a line of wild fowl—widgeon, ducks, and geese—extending a mile and a-half from east to west, and about 20 yards in breadth...."]
1855 Feb. 22 Trewman's Exeter Flying Post of / "Vast quantities" of birds driven by severe weather to coast of Cornwall, from northern regions, swans, geese, ducks—but such birds as thrushes, finches. [A; 332. "The Birds and Severe Weather." Trewman's Exeter Flying Post, February 22, 1855, p. 8 c. 1.]
1855 Feb 28 / 30°N 40°W / crewless ship / James Chester / O'Donnell, Strange Sea Mysteries / VXCE. [A; 333. O'Donnell, Elliott. Strange Sea Mysteries. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1927, 47-52. “Perhaps, even stranger than the disappearance of ships in toto is the complete disappearance of their crews, only.” “Mysterious Ship Desertion.” London Morning Advertiser, March 23, 1855, p. 2 c. 5. “On Monday, the ship James Cheston, presumed belong to London, and bound to that port from Baltimore, arrived in the Albert Dock, Liverpool. This ship was picked up, a derelict, at sea, the 28th of February last, by the Marathon, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in lat. 30 N.. long. W. When descried, she seemed to be in distress, her sails being flung loose and some portion of her rigging being evidently adrift. She was hailed the Marathon, but made no answer. She was then boarded, when it was found she had been abandoned. John B. Thomas, mate of the Marathon, who boarded the derelict ship, found everything in the cabin in a state of disorder, and the ship, generally, in such a condition as led him to the belief that she had been plundered. Further examination tended to confirm this; the whole of the ship’s papers were gone; the compasses had been carried off, and every moveable article of value had been removed. Proceeding in his search, he found by sounding the pumps that she had ten feet water in her hold, two feet of which were on the ‘tween decks. Plying the pumps proved that they were workable, and some of the cargo being thrown overboard, so lighted the vessel as to get rid of the water between decks. Encouraged by this, Thomas and his boat’s crew continued at the pumps, and found they were more than equal to the influx of water, and the ship was so materially lightened as to show the source of leakage in a hole through the vessel’s side. This was plugged and caulked, and the vessel was means of the pumps further lightened, when ultimately it was found that three holes had been bored through her side, and a hatchet was found beside them in such manner placed as, along with other circumstances, clearly to show that an attempt had been made to scuttle her. The Marathon’s captain sent on board more assistance, amounting in all to nine men and the mate; and these having made their perforations tight, and discovered that the James Chester was now completely seaworthy and amply provisioned, agreed to navigate her home, and she arrived in the Mersey on Friday last, two days before the Marathon reached England. She is an entirely new ship, of 1,200 tons burthen, and is loaded with a general cargo, consisting of wool, provision stuffs, oil cake, and such things.” “The Loss of Ship James Chester.” Boston Evening Transcript, April 11, 1855, p. 1 c. 6. “Baltimore, April 10: The underwriters of this city have received from Wilmington, N. C., a copy of an affidavit made by two of the crew of the derelict ship James Chester, alleging that the auger holes were bored by the captain and mates; that there was no necessity for abandoning the ship; and that part of the crew refused to sign the captain’s protest when they were offered $100 to do so.” “The underwriters have applied to the District Attorney for a writ to arrest Capt. White, on the statement of one of the crew that there were but thirteen inches water in the hold when the ship was abandoned. He also states that the fresh water on board was good and plenty, and that the crew were well. The log book states that there was seven feet water in her, and that she was water-logged before she was abandoned.” “Baltimore, April 11.” White River Standard, (Bedford, Indiana), April 19, 1855, p. 4 c. 6. “Capt. White and the two mates, Chesen and Parkwood, of the James Chester, have arrived and were held to bail for further examination on the charge of barratry. Several sailors testify that there was only thirteen inches of water in the hold, none sick, and plenty of good drinking water. That the vessel was in good condition at the time she was abandoned. The sailors arrived at Wilmington, Boston, and Savanah as witnesses. Rum is said to have been the cause of the abandonment.”]
1855 Feb. 28 / 3:05 p.m. / Turkey (Constantinople) / For 24 hours before, torrential rains and thunder. Then strong odor of sulphur and great q. / Timbs '56-265. [II; 1828. "Earthquakes in 1854-55." Timbs' Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, 1856, 262-267, at 265.]
1855 March 1 / Trewman's Exeter Flying Post of / That the footprints had been found in morning snow at Woodbury. [A; 334. "A Ghostly Visitor." Trewman's Exeter Flying Post, March 1, 1855, p. 8 c. 2.]
1855 March 8 / Trewman's Exeter Flying Post of—that someone had traced marks till came to a large toad. [A; 335. "The Mysterious Foot-Prints" Trewman's Exeter Flying Post, March 8, 1855, p. 8 c. 1.]
1855 March 28-31 / France / Dry fog; odor very strong / Cosmos 15-36. [II; 1829. "Faits de science." Cosmos, 15 (July 8, 1859): 36-38, at 37.]
1855 Ap. 17 / [LT], 12-c / Remarkable discovery at Tynrich. [A; 336. "Remarkable Discovery." London Times, April 17, 1855, p. 12 c. 3.]
1855 April 21 / See Jan 10. / Thermometer suddenly 27 degrees and then lower. At 1:10 p.m., snow fell. Then great hail—then the thermometer went to zero, but 5 p.m. suddenly went up 27 degrees and then torrents of rain, which destroyed several hundred houses. [II; 1832. See: 1855 Jan 10, (II; 1822). Renou, E. "Note sur un abaissement de température extraordinaire observé en Egypte." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 1150.]
1855 April 23 / Crieff, near Comrie / several miles / Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland / Slag or cinders. Circumstantial story of its fall, but scientists said refuse from a nearby furnace. Also Prof Shepard's opinion that might have been genuine. / Am. J. Sci., 2/28/275. [II; 1831.1, 1831.2. Shepard, Charles Upham. "On a Shooting Meteor, seen to fall at Charleston, South Carolina...." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 28 (1859): 270-276, at 275-276. "...It would seem to be an instance, in which the sulphurous matter of a shooting star was not completely consumed before reaching the ground, and that much of the residium suffered oxydation after it struck upon the cinder of the walk." "It was found by Dr. Heddle of Edinburg, that the cinder still retains distinct traces of sulphur." "Aerolite in Scotland." Timbs' Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, 1856, 273-274.]
1855 Ap. 23 / (Ver). [A; 336.1.]
1855 Ap. 24 and 25 / Remarkable coldness in France / C.R. 41-166. [II; 1833. Fournet. "Note sur le refroidissement des 24, 25 et 26 avril 1855." Comptes Rendus, 41 (1855): 166-175.]
1855 Ap 25 / Moluccas and Panama / q's / 27—Norway / 29—Asia Minor / BA '11. Sim q's Feb 18, 1889. [II; 1834. Milne, 712, 735. See: 1889 Feb. 18, (VI; 1555).]
1855 Ap. 28 / Crieff / ac to Timbs 1856-273. [II; 1835. "Aerolite in Scotland." Timbs' Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, 1856, 273-274. Fort mistook the date of a letter for the date of the fall. See: 1855 April 23, (II; 1831).]
1855 May 1—etc. / Vesuvius / An Reg 1855-83 / CR 40/1227/ Active at least to 8th / Timbs '56-268 / Details, Nature 6-43. [II; 1836. "Chronicle." Annual Register, 97 (1855): pt. 2, 1-206, at 83-85, cv. "Eruption of Mount Vesuvius." Chikhachyov, Pyotr Alexandrovich. "Éruption du Vésuve." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 1227-1228. "Eruption of Vesuvius." Timbs' Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, 1856, 268-269. Hall, Charlotte. "The Eruption of Vesuvius in 1855." Nature, 6 (May 16, 1872): 43-44.]
1855 May 1 / Smoke and fire at Vesuvius, after 5 years of inactivity. / Nature 6-43 / Great flows of lava. [II; 1837. Hall, Charlotte. "The Eruption of Vesuvius in 1855." Nature, 6 (May 16, 1872): 43-44. The Vesuvius volcano.]
1855 May / No q's in BA '11. [II; 1838. Milne, 712.]
1855 May / Cold, wind, rains, such as never known before at Naples / C.R., 40-1228. [ II; 1839. Chikhachyov, Pyotr Alexandrovich. "Éruption du Vésuve." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 1227-1228.]
1855 May 1 / Vesuvius in the morning / Nature 6-44. [II; 1840. Hall, Charlotte. "The Eruption of Vesuvius in 1855." Nature, 6 (May 16, 1872): 43-44. The Vesuvius volcano.]
1855 May / No q's in BA '11 / But see Vesuvius. [II; 1841. Milne, 712.]
1855 May 8 / [LT], 10-d / Ghst / Devonshire. [A; 337. "A Ghost in Devonshire." London Times, May 8, 1855, p. 10 c. 4. In the village of Kenton, "flickerings of light" were seen in the empty house of an old woman, (who had died elsewhere), after ten o'clock in the evening, and attracted the attention of people who visited to see this "ghost."]
1855 May 10 / 10 p.m. / q. / Belg / C et T 8/38. [II; 1842. Lancaster, Albert Benoît Marie. "Les Tremblements de terre en Belgique." Ciel et Terre, 8 (March 16, 1887): 25-43, at 38.]
1855 May 11 / (F) / Island of Oesel / metite / A J. Sci 2/24/295 / Russia. BA 60-92. [II; 1843. "Meteoric Stone." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 24 (1857): 295. Fletcher, 102. This is the Oesel meteorite. Greg, 93.]
1855 May 13 / (?) / Th. stones / Fall of meteoric stones at Bremervorde, near Hamburg, during a th. storm. A.J. Sci 2/21/146 / 5 p.m. / One weighed 7 pounds. / 5 p.m.—C.R. [II; 1844. Fletcher, 102. This is the Gnarrenberg meteorite. "Fall of Meteoric Stones." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 21 (1856): 146. Woehler. "Sur une chute de pierres météoriques à Bremervorde (Hanovre)." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 1362.]
1855 May 13 / Time of Vesuvius, which active at least to Sept / C.R. 41-index volc. [II; 1845. Sainte-Claire, Ch. Quatrième lettre adressée à M. Élie de Beaumont, sur l'éruption du Vésuve du 1er mai 1855." Comptes Rendus, 41 (1855): 593-598.]
1855 May 13 / (F) / near Hamburg / Met stones close[ly] resembling those of Sept 4, 1852 / C.R., June 25, '55. / Am. J. Sci (2/21/146 / 24/295) / BA 60-92. [II; 1846. Fletcher, 102. This is the Gnarrenberg meteorite. "Fall of Meteoric Stones." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 21 (1856): 146. "Meteoric Stone." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 24 (1857): 295. Woehler. "Sur une chute de pierres météoriques à Bremervorde (Hanovre)." Comptes Rendus, 40 (1855): 1362. Greg, 93.]
1855 May 16 / afternoon / Lapeer Co., Mich / Tornado / Finley's Rept. [II; 1847. Finley, 3.]
1855 May 17 / Slag / Livonia / See slags in B.D. [II; 1848. See: (Slags, in The Book of the Damned). Brezina, Aristides. Die Meteoritensammlung des K. K. Mineralogischen Hofkabinetes in Wien am 1. Mai 1885. Vienna: Alfred Hölder, 1885, 222. Brezina identifies this object as slag.]
1855 May 18 / [LT], 7-f / 29-9-a / Vesuvius. [II; 1849. "Eruption of Mount Vesuvius." London Times, May 18, 1855, p. 7 c. 6. "Naples, May 19." London Times, May 29, 1855, p. 9 c. 1.]
1855 May 22 / Jefferson and Cook Cos., Ill. / Tornado / Finleys Rept. [II; 1850. Finley, 3.]
[1855 May 30 and 31 /] 1856 May 30 and 31 / Many deaths of swallows / N.Q. 1-12-index. [II; 1932. Lowe, Edward Joseph. "Singular Mortality Amongst the Swallow Tribe." Magazine of Natural Philosophy, 1 (1855-1856): 5-6. Phillott, F. "Harbingers of Springs." Notes and Queries, s. 1 v. 12 (October 27, 1855): 331.]
1855 June 7 / (F) / near Ghent / 7:45 p.m. / Met. stone / A. J. Sci 2/24/296 / 32/140. Shaped like a sea urchin / BA 61/33. [II; 1851. Fletcher, 102. This is the St. Denis-Westrem meteorite. (BA 61-33). "Meteoric Stone." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 24 (1857): 296. "St. Denis-Westrum." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 32 (1861): 140. "Meteorsteinfall in Ostflandern." Annalen der Physik und Chemie, s. 2 v. 99 (1856): 63-64. Greg, 93.]
1855 June 11 / Observatory 3-137 / Vulcan / At Naples, Ritter and Schmidt saw with naked eye a black body crossing sun's disk. CR 83/623. [II; 1852. Ledger, Edmund. "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 137. "(18) 1855, June 11. Ritter and Schmidt, near Naples, watched, just before sunset, with the naked eye, a black body crossing the Sun's disk." LeVerrier, Urbain Jean Joseph. "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 (September 18, 1876): 583-589, 621-624, 647-650, 719-723, at 622-623.]
1855 June 13 / Singular cloud-belts in Ga. / A. J. Sci 2/20/412. [II; 1853. Williams, William G. "On Singular Cloud-belts, observed in Georgia, on the 13th of June, 1855." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 20 (1855): 412-415.]
1855 July 10 / 20h, 15m / q severe and rain / Los Angeles, Cal / Ref, May 13, 1850. [II; 1854. Holden, Edward Singleton. List of Recorded Earthquakes in California, Lower California, Oregon and Washington Territory. Sacramento: State Office, J.D. Young, Supt. of State Printing, 1887, 28.]
1855 July 25 / Milan / severe shock / rainy. / Next day, a thick fog. / Timbs '56-266. Also q Switz, France, Germany. [II; 1855. "Earthquakes in 1854-55." Timbs' Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, 1856, 262-267, at 266-267.]
1855 July 25 / 6 p.m. / Waterspout, or precipitation from cloud, at Oxford / Timbs '56-274. [II; 1856. "Waterspout at Oxford." Timbs' Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, 1856, 274-275.]
1855 July 25 and 26 / q's / France / Switz, Germany, Italy / An Reg. [II; 1857. "Chronicle." Annual Register, 97 (1855): pt. 2, 1-206, at 115, cv. "Earthquake in Central Europe."]
1855 July 25 / Began series of q's at Valais, near Sion / La Science Pour Tous, 1-5 / Kept up for months. 3 kinds of sounds—detonations like artillery fire—a rolling sound—one more like thunder. Houses badly damaged. No atmospheric phe. [II; 1858. "Tremblements de terre du Valais." La Science Pour Tous, 1 (no. 1; December 13, 1855): 5-6. Collomb, Ed. "Tremblements de terre du Valias." Comptes Rendus, 41 (1855): 952-954.]
1855 July 25 / 12:51 a.m./ q in France / Switzerland / C.R. 41 / pages. [II; 1859. "Tremblement de Terre du 25 Juillet." Comptes Rendus, 41 (1855): 201-215.]
1855 July, etc / (q) / (Fr) / Valais, especially near Sion / qs / 3 kinds of noises—like gunfire / nearby rumbli[ng] / distant rumblin[g] / L. Sc. P.T. 1/5. [II; 1860. ("Tremblements de terre du Valais." La Science Pour Tous, 1 (no. 1; December 13, 1855): 5-6.)]
1855 July 26 / warm water / ab. sunset / near Ostend / C.R. 44-786 / Large drops of water falling from a cloudless sky. Warm water and continued 1/4 hour. [II; 1861. Phipson, Thomas Lamb. "Sur quelques phénomènes météorlogiques obserées sur le littoral de la Flandre occidentale." Comptes Rendus, 44 (1857): 784-787, at 786.]
1855 Aug 1 / Fr / [LT], 12-f / Milan, 1-12-f / 2-11-b / (q). [II; 1862. "The Late Earthquake." London Times, August 1, 1855, p. 12 c. 6. "Italy." London Times, August 2, 1855, p. 11 c. 2.]
1855 Aug [29] / Moon phe / [LT], Sept 1-10-d. [II; 1863. Hamerton, Philip Gilbert. "Lunar Phenomenon." London Times, September 1, 1855, p. 10 c. 4.]
1855 Aug 5 / Aerolite / also in 1856 / E. Mec, 79/383. [II; 1864. Monck, William Henry Stanley. "Aerolites—Perpetual Motion.” English Mechanic, 79 (no. 2045; June 3, 1904): 383-384. See: 1856 Aug 5, (II; 1960).]
1855 Aug 5 / Petersburg, Lincoln Co., Tenn. / (F). [II; 1865. Fletcher, 102. This is the Petersburg meteorite. Greg, 93.]
1855 Aug. 5 / Th. Metite / 3:30 p.m. / 2 miles W. of Petersburg, loud report and fall of metite "during or just before a severe rainstorm". / A. J. Sci 2/31/264 / When first dug out it was too hot to be handled. Nickel in it too minute to be recorded, though manganese at .04 percent is noted. Very black and shining crust as if coated with pitch. [II; 1866.1, 1866.2. Smith, John Lawrence. "Description of three new Meteorites." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 31 (1861): 264-266, at 264-265.]
1855 August 10 / Met—by Lowe—at Beeston and listed by Lowe as "Curious". / Rec. Sci., 1/137. [II; 1867. Lowe, 138.]
1855 Aug 11 / Great eruption Mauna Loa / A. J. Sci 2/21/139, 144, 237 / also vol 22. [II; 1868. "Eruption of Mauna Loa." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 21 (1856): 139-144. Coan, Titus. "On the Recent Eruption of Mauna Loa." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 21 (1856): 237-241. Coan, TItus. "On the Eruption at Hawaii." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 22 (1856): 240-243.]
1855 Aug 11 / "On the [evening of the] 11th of August, a small point glowing like Sirius, was seen at the height of 12,000 feet on the northwestern slope of Mauna Loa. This radiant point rapidly expanded, throwing off corruscations of light, until it looked like a full-orbed sun." / A. J. Sci 2/21/144. [II; 1869. "Eruption of Mauna Loa." American Journal of Science, s. 2 v. 21 (1856): 139-144, at 144.]
1855 Aug 11 / 11:30 p.m. / At Tillington, near Petworth, reported by "Mrs Ayling and friends"—Rept B A, 1856-54—over behind [hi]lls a bright light was seen in the sky—a red body from which projected stationary rays rose slowly—the brightness [of] it observed the sta[rs]—it was like a red moon, it rose slowly and diminished slow[ly] remaining visible one hour and a half. [II; 1870.1, 1870.2. Powell, Baden. "Report on Observations of Luminous Meteors, 1855-56." Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1856, Reports on the State of Science, 53-62, at 54-55.]
1855 Aug 23 / Isle of Wight—jagged lumps of ice, 3 to 7 inches in circumference. Symons Met. 13-105. [II; 1871. Aldridge, E.G. "Large Hail." Symons's Meteorological Magazine, 13 (August 1878): 105.]
1855 Sept 1 / [LT], 10-d / Lunar phe. [II; 1872. Hamerton, Philip Gilbert. "Lunar Phenomenon." London Times, September 1, 1855, p. 10 c. 4.]
1855 Sept / L.T. bound with Oct-Dec. [II; 1873.]
1855 Sept 27 / Waterspout 35 miles from Calcutta / Jour Asiatic Soc Bengal 29/372. [II; 1874. Sherwill, Walter Stanhope. "Notes upon some remarkable Waterspouts seen in Bengal between the years 1852 and 1860." Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, 29 (1860): 366-375, at 372, (and Plate II Figure 1).]
1855 Sept 30 / Venus Inf Conjunction with Sun / (Al). [II; 1875. Inferior conjunction of Venus. Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris, 1855, 563.]
1855 Oct 2 / [LT], 10-b / Flies / Gloucestershire. [II; 1876. "The Plague of Flies." London Times, October 2, 1855, p. 10 c. 2. "It was first detected on Saturday, when the air was observed to be filled with the black winged aphis—a class of insect very destructive to the under-shoots of roses in the spring, but which is seldom found in force late in the year. On Sunday the plague increased, to the great annoyance of persons who were out of doors, and who had their eyes and nostrils filled with them."]
1855 / autumn / Sounds of Cardiganshire / LT, Nov 9, 1858 / See Index, Myst. phe. [II; 1877. "Mysterious phenomenon." London Times, November 9, 1858, p. 10 c. 1. "In the autumn of 1855 the people on the hills ans coast of the upper part of Cardiganshire heard constantly in still weather low, sullen reports, as of heavy artillery firing at a great distance."]
[1855 Oct 3. Wrong date. See: 1815 Oct 3, (II; 1878).]
1855 Oct 10 / Spherical lichens / Lecanora / like Esculanta/ found on Dorset grounds by Sir W. C Trevelyan. Nothing findable in any book, by Editor (Gardiners' Chronicle) Feb 9, 1856. [II; 1879. "We took occasion some six years since...." Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette , 1856 no. 6 (February 9, 1856): 84. [Illustration.] "We were not aware that analogous bodies occur in England till a few days since, when specimens of a curious spherical Lichen, which rolls freely on the exposed downs or sheep-walks of Dorsetshire, as at Melbury, were communicated to us by Sir W.C. Treveleyan." "The mystery, therefore, of the mode of growth of the esculent Lichen is as impenetrable as ever; but we are greatly obliged to Sir W.C. Treveleyan for the knowledge of this very curious form of P. cœsia, of which we can find no trace in any book to which we have access."]
1855 Oct 10 / Gardeners' Chronicle of March 15, 1856 / These things from local trees. Seem[s] W.C.T. would have known the local trees. / Or he wrote this? [II; 1880. "We have received a letter from our kind correspondent, Sir W.C. Trevelyan...." Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, 1856 no. 11 (March 15, 1856): 172. "Our correspondent believes that portions of the Parmelia are blown off the trees and carried from a considerable distance to the downs by west or south-west winds, to which the spot where the specimens were collected is most exposed, and there lodged amongst the short herbage."]
1855 Oct. 22 / Taratnaki, Australia / severe q / LT, Jan 31-10-a. [II; 1881. "Australia." London Times, January 31, 1856, p. 10 c. 1.]
1855 Nov 5 / It sounds / Subterranean sounds / Melfi / Rapolla / Rionero / Atella / etc. / See 1816. [II; 1882. Cancani, Adolfo. "Rombi sismici." Bollettino della Società Sismologica Italiana, 7 (1901-1902): 23-47, at 39. See: 1816, (I; 547).]
1855 Nov. 11 / Japan and Spain / Sim q's / BA '11. Sim qs, Feb. 18, 1889. [II; 1883. A class I and a class III earthquake. Milne, 713, 735. See: 1889 Feb. 18, (VI; 1555).]
1855 Nov. 11 / q / Yedo, Japan / 30,000 killed / La Sci Pour Tous 1-140. [II; 1884. "Le Tremblement de Terre de Yédo." La Science Pour Tous, 1 (no. 18; April 10, 1856): 140. Yedo is now known as Tokyo.]
1855 Nov. 14 / Exceptional tempest of some kind in Europe. [II; 1885.]
1855 Nov. 18 / Waterspout / Tunis / Timbs '56-274. [II; 1886. "Waterspout at Tunis." Timbs' Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, 1856, 274.]
1855 Nov 14 and 20 / Stat / Zurich, Switzerland / A rain that resembled red wine. Tissandier, les Poussieres de l'air, p. 69. [II; 1887. Tissandier, Gaston. Les Poussières de l'Air. Paris: Gauthier-Villars, 1877, 69.]
1855 Nov. 30 / evening / Large Meteor / London / L.T.-1-5-d / ab 7 p.m. in Worscestershire. [II; 1888. Lowe, Edward Joseph. "The Weather." London Times, December 1, 1855, p. 5 c. 4. Lowe's observations at Highfield House Observatory were made at Nottinghamshire, (not in Worcestershire).]
1855 Nov. 30 / [LT], 7-b / Waterspout in Tunis. [II; 1889. "A Waterspout." London Times, November 30, 1855, p. 7 c. 2.]
1855 Dec 5 / q / France / C.R. 41/1158, 1160 / L.S.P.T. 1/31. [II; 1890. Fontan. "Sur le tremblement de terre du 5 décembre 1855." Comptes Rendus, 41 (1855): 1158-1160. "Phenomenes Accessoires des Tremblements de Terre." La Science Pour Tous, 1 (no. 4; January 3, 1856) 31-32.]
1855 Dec 5 / Earthquakes in the Pyrénées, at Chaum, followed or preceded by snow. / La Sci Pour Tous 1-31. Two nights later, while "le temps était beau auparavant", snow again fell. [II; 1891. "Phénomènes Accessoires des Tremblements de Terre." La Science Pour Tous, 1 (no. 4; January 3, 1856): 31-32.]
1855 Dec 5 / France and Celebes / qs / 6—Spain / 12—France / BA '11. Sim q's Feb 18, 1889. [II; 1892. Milne, 713, 735. See: 1889 Feb. 18, (VI; 1555).]
1855 Dec 15 / Unknown star near 84 Geminorum—9th mag. / by Hind. LT 19-11-f / 24-10-b / 28-5-f / See Jan 1-10-e. / Talk here of a Comp to Procyon flashes / See Jan. 1. [II; 1893. Hind, John Russell. "New Variable Star, or Small Planet." London Times, December 19, 1855, p. 11 c. 6. Hind, John Russell. "Variable Stars." London Times, December 24, 1855, p. 10 c. 2. Fletcher, Isaac. "Variable Stars." London Times, December 28, 1855, p. 5. c. 6. See: 1856 Jan 1, (II; 1899). "Variable Stars." London Times, January 1, 1856, p. 10 c. 5. See: 1856 March, (II; 1921).]
1855 Dec. 19 / ab 6:15 a.m. / Great met and train 10 minutes / Bedfordshire and Nottingham / The met almost the seeming size of the moon—first seen near H. 17 Camelopardi and vanished between Capella and Mu Persei. / L.T. 21-5-f / 22-5-d. [II; 1894. "A Curious Meteor, or Electrical Phenomenon." London Times, December 21, 1855, p. 5 c. 6. Lowe, Edward Joseph. "Extraordinary Meteor." London Times, December 22, 1855, p. 5 c. 4. Greg, 93. Lowe. 138.]
1855 Dec 19 / 6:13 a.m. / Beam? / Met and train like a comet's tail left behind / BA '56-61. [II; 1895. Powell, Baden. "Report on Observations of Luminous Meteors, 1855-56." Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1856, Reports on the State of Science, 53-62 at 61.]
1855 Dec 19 / (Cut) / (3) / Met-large as moon visi[ble] 10 minutes / by E.J. Low[e] / Rec Sci 1/138. [II; 1896. Lowe, 131-132, 138, (with 3 figures).]
1855 Dec 19 / Activity of Vesuvius noted in La Sci Pour Tour, Aug 4, 1859, as still continuing. [II; 1897. "Éruption du Vésuve." La Science Pour Tous, 4 (no. 35; August 4, 1859): 280.]
1855 Dec 19 / Began eruption of Vesuvius / La Sci Pour Tous 1-140. [II; 1898. "Menaces d'Éruption du Vésuve." La Science Pour Tous, 1 (no. 18; April 10, 1856): 140.]