Greenville, Tennessee, USA — 9 April 1843
Lighthouses in the sky
According to the Greenville (Tennessee) Miscellany “About eight o’clock, there was seen in the south-western sky a luminous ball, to appearance two feet in circumference, constantly emitting small meteors from one or the other side of it. It appeared in brightness to outrival the great luminary of day. “On its first appearance it was stationary one or two minutes, then, as quick as thought, it rose apparently thirty feet, and paused - then fell to the point from whence it had started, and continued to perform this motion for about fifteen times. Then it moved horizontally about the same distance, and for nearly the same space of time. At length it assumed its first position; then rose again perpendicularly about twelve feet, and remained somewhat stationary, continuing to grow less for an hour and a quarter, when it entirely disappeared.”
Source: Brother Jonathan, Vol. 5:2 (May 13, 1843): 55. 427. Case: W380