A FIERY MOON

Henry Jones, in a letter dated New York, May 9, 1843, writes as follows concerning strange phenomena witnessed at Patchogue, Long Island:—LDT 121.3

“Several credible witnesses residing in the above place have recently informed me at their own dwellings that they and others saw on Saturday evening, April 29, 1843, between nine and ten o’clock, a very brilliant light in the northwest, brighter than the moon, which, increasing and diminishing in size, was sometimes nearly as large as the moon itself, apparently two hours high, and continued something like three fourths of an hour; and what was most singular, they say that there were streaks of fiery light, resembling red-hot bars of iron, which emanated from it, upward and downward, to a considerable distance, some of which would remain for a minute or so, and then vanish. Its disappearance was sudden, and at once, and at a time when it was brightest.LDT 121.4

“The same witnesses testify that some six or eight weeks ago they saw very nearly the same image or appearance of the moon in the west, somewhat above the horizon, which continued, as they thought, about an hour. The singularities of it differed from that of April 29, in its having streaks of light more red than itself, of apparently three inches width, which passed directly through its center, forming a perfect cross, and extending beyond the edge of it twice the diameter of the light, with several spots like blood on its surface. Its size, like the other, increased and diminished, with occasional seeming sparks of fire thrown out from it in various directions, and, like the other, its disappearance was sudden, and all at once.LDT 122.1

“Barnet Matthias, pastor of the Congregational Church in Patchogue, will witness to the correctness of this matter, if called upon.”LDT 122.2