June 1873, Mt. Lyell Studies, Glacier Cañon Erosion Image 32

• Main Author: Muir, John
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1873
• Subjects: John Muir; journals; drawings; writings; travel; journaling; naturalist; Arctic; Bor
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/590; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/jmj-all/article/1589/type/native/viewcontent/fullsize.jpg

Pg 172 Arctic Experiences. Polaris [Expedition 1871 led by Charles Francis Hall]. “On the 10th instant about 5 AM there was a bright arc in the sky extending from the W.rn horizon toward the E. & reaching up to the zen [zenith]. This continued only about an hour…. At one time some narrow bright stripes were visible. Whether this was a true ar [aurora], or some unique electrical phenomenon, was the query debated by the scientific corps. (Polaris) Pg 226. Dec 6 Last night there was a fine display of N.rn lights. What first attracted my attention was a peculiar dark segment immediately over the hor [horizon] & as I had often seen the ar bor [aurora borealis] spring from just such a beginning I watched it closely & soon intensely luminous streamers from it rising to a height of about 30 [degrees]. pg 254 At about midnight the heavens appeared to be all on fire; from the S W to N E from the hor [horizon] to the zen [zenith] it was shooting here & there like flames of fire in a strong wind. The light at one time was almost overpowering. Pg 361. Last night there was another auroral display covering almost the whole heavens The electric flashes were v [very ] brilliant; at first the undulations were of a graceful & tremulous motion & then “Anon as if a sudden trumpet spoke banners of gold & purple were flung out; fire-crested leaders swept along the lines, which from the gorgeous depths like meeting seas rolled to wild battle. ____________________________________________________ The hurrying tremulous host [JM] Mtns [mountains] so finely finished so immutably serene they seem never to have been touched by a [storm] JM [John Muir] https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/1589/thumbnail.jpg