1861 GREAT MOUNT HOLLOWBACK METEOR/ BOLIDE/FIREBALL

THE FOLLOWING I NAMED THE GREAT MOUNT HOLLOWBACK BOLIDE.

1861, The Tarrangower Times and Maldon District Advertiser (Vic. : Tue 5 Mar 1861, Metorological Phenomonen.—Yesterday morning at about 9 o'clock am. a peculiar, and gorgeous phenomenon was viable ic the heavens in the shape of a Meteor of great brilliancy. ~ It was witnessed by.a number of people who describe it as a ball of fire, with a tail like a kite, which snddraidly appeared near the horizon to the south, slowiy ascended, and fell in the north west, the time oocupied in its transit being about So, seconds., "The sun" was shining brightly at the time, yet the color of fire showed out with grand lustre, and for two minutes affair its track was -visible in the sky. To the eye it appeared about 12 feet in length.

Same Event: METEORIC PHENOMENA. We yesterday published a telegram, giving an account of a large and extraordinary meteor, which was seen on that day, and which was supposed to have fallen to the earth somewhere in that district. It appears, however, that either it or a similar one fell near Mount Hollowback, between Creswick and Ballaarat. The following account is from the Ballaarat Star; — ' Some excitement was created yesterday by the fall of ameteor ot considerable size, which was seen by several persons both on Ballaarat and in the neighborhood. The accounts we received were contradictory, and would lead us to suppose that more than one meteor must have fallen, as our informants reside in places at a distance of some twenty miles from each other-, and they appear all to have thought that the luminous body was close to the place in which each was standing. We subjoin the accounts as we have received them, premising that the Statement as to the spot in which the meteor fell appears to be authentic. There is a general agreement that the meteor was seen between half-past nine and ten o'clock in me morning, and it is described as having the shape of a ginger-beer bottle, and as having been seen by persons on Ballaarat to the north or north-west ofthe town, descending with great velocity at an angle ofabout 45 degrees. After pursuing this course for-some time it changed the direction of its flight, and descended perpendicularly until it alightedin a'field within a mile-of Mr Sim's farm,at Mount Hollowback, and about a mile and a half from the Half Way House, on tho Creswick road, where it exploded with a loud noise, and made a hole in the ground extending for about twelve yards. A person named George Carter was close by at the time, and observed the meteor about to fall near him, and had to run for his life. He had scarcely ran twenty yards when it reached the ground, as he describes it, like a huge-ball of fire, and exploded with a loud noise, enveloping him in smoke that deprived him of breath. From fright or some other cause he fell on-.the ground and received a severe cut on the cap of one of his knees, which he showed 'to our reporter yesterday. The air where the meteor fell had a strong sulphurous smell. -Two horses- that were attached to a wagon quite close to where it fell ran away at-a fearful pace, and did considerable damage before they were stopped. Several persons in various parts of the country and in Ballaarat also, observed the meteor. A person named Monaghan who was coming into Ballaarat with a load of produce states that when at Mr Waldie's home station, about nineteen minutes to ten o'clock, he observed the meteor take a northerly course. It then appeared like a ball of fire, and he concluded that it was the sun that was about to visit this terrestrial ball of ours. He watched it for some moments until he saw it descend in the direction indicated by Carter. Mr St Quentin informs us that on coming up the Main road abo&t nine o'clock he observed a large meteor traversing the air in an oblique direction towards the west, and fall somewhere in the 'direction of Sebastopol. Our correspondent at Lucky Woman's -writes to say that he had just leceived the following from -a resident at Linton : — ' A most extraordinary phenomenon was witnessed this morning in Linton. A huge meteoric body, about as large as a waggon, as one of the 'bystanders expressed it, was observed by several persons in the vicinity of the Kobert Burns Hotel, to come rolling through the atmosphere from the direction of Lucky Woman's and descended in 'he bush behind Page's shaft. The morning had been lowering, but the sun was shining brightly at the time, and the sight of the meteor caused consider able consternation in the locality.' Several other persons inform us that they also saw a meteor like the one described by our correspondent, and in the same direction, and they state that in appearance it resembled a hay stack, but we presume all allowances must be made for the excitement occasioned by this novel appearance. We learn by telegram, that a meteor was also seen at Ararat and Maryborough. The meteor appears also to have been observed at Bendigo, as the following letter has been sent to the Advertiser, by one of the spectators : ' Sir, — About ten o'clock a.m. to-day, a meteor was seen from the Big Hill, passirig south west, resembling a Bhooting star, or as more correctly described by an old Scots Grey soldier, a rocket, the apparent length of the tail being about 20nyards. The sun wag bright, and the sky free from clouds at the time. Shortly afterwards the wind, which had been from the north, changed to the west, accompanied with ijust and a smell of burning. I need not say this latter circum stance contributed not a little to the feeling of alarm that something final, as a judgment, was to happen on the earth. — K. K. 4th March, 1861.' The Mount Alexander Mail gives another ac count of a meteor which is said to have fallen in the vicinity of Guildford. That journal says — A number of people, writes a correspondent, in the neighborhood of Guildford, were startled yesterday about noon, by the appearance of a strange phenomenon, which appeared to come from a thin white cloud in the shape of a ball of fire, about the size of a large melon. After falling to the earth about the middle of the hill near Aberdeen's dwelling, it traversed in a straight direction to the extremity, emitting a long tail of white smoke along the whole distance. It is the more remarkable, as there was no sign of electricity in the atmosphere, and it was seen for a space of eight or ten minutes without intermission. The same meteor was seen at Tarrengower and other places.'The meteor which was seen on Ballarat on Monday appears to have been visible over a large extent of country. The Argus of Tuesday says-In the course of yesterday afternoon, the following telegram was received at the flagstaff Observatory:-"Ararat, 4th March, 1861.-At 9.40 this morning a large meteor was seen pasting over Ararat. A person who saw it from a few miles north of this, says it appeared to be approaching the earth at an angle of 45 deg., leaving a long bright streak, which was visible for some seconds, the sun shining very brightly at the time. The same person says it ap- peared to him as if it would fall a few miles to the west of Ararat. I have since heard that some men working about four miles west heard something falling at that time, but unfortunately did not go to see what it was. R. B. HODGSON, Manager E.T." The same meteor was seen at Creswick, Clunes, Back Creek, Maryborough, Carisbrook, &c., and had about twice the apparent size of the sun, when seen at the above-mentioned stations. Inquiries will be made at Ararat, and the locality pointed out above will be properly searched, so that we may be successful, perhaps, in finding this interesting stranger. Our Geeloug correspondent mentions this meteor having been seen in that locality. The Geelong correspondent of the Argus writing on Monday gives the following description of the phenomenon :-" One of the most extraordinary meteors, or fire balls, ever witnessed was seen here this morning, about 10 o'clock, in the full glare of a bright and rather intense sunlight. About that hour a tolerably large cloud hung over the country to the south-west of the town ; and a large open space of blue sky extended towards the north-west, where another bank of heavy clouds was just tipping the hills. The sun was shining brightly, when all at once an excessively brilliant object suddenly emerged from behind the large cloud first noticed above, and seemed to fall towards the Barrabool Hills at an angle of about 45 degrees, going from south-west to north-west. It appeared rather slow in its progress, and seemed to enter the cloud just rising above the horizon. It is variously described by the different persons who wit- nessed it, but generally it is said to have resembled the head of an ordinary rocket in shape, to have appeared about 8 feet in length and about 18 inches in diameter, to have exhibited the most intense white light (described as equal to a piece of iron at welding heat), and to have been characterised by a singularly short and vividly marked outline on its upper side and point No noise of any kind accompanied this singular phenomenon, but its extraordinary appearance at such a time, and the brilliancy and suddenness of its appearance, caused no small amount of consternation. It was the most singular meteor I ever heard of, and has been seen by a great number of persons. The Creswick Advertiser, after describing the appearance of the meteor says-" Mr J. Stevenson (district mining surveyor) and Mr G. L. Hutchinson (clerk of petty sessions) who were journeying across the Clunes plains, had a favorable opportunity of observing the celestial visitor. To them it appeared to descend towards Mount Beckworth. To the observers at Spring Hill it appeared bent upon destroying Creswick ; while those at Union Hill who saw it imagined that the corn stacks in the neighborhood of Mount Hollowback were in danger from the incandescent mass. It was also seen from various parts of our township,and all observers concur in remarking that if the meteor produced such a brilliant effect in bright sunshine how magnificent would have been its appearance upon a dark night. We learn from our Mountain Creek correspondent that the meteor caused considerable consternation in that locality.

THE LATE METEOR. To the Editor of the Geelong Advertiser. Sir,—Having seen in your issue of Tuesday, a slight notice of a meteor having been observed in town the day previous, a few additional notes also by an eye-witness fifty miles distant may not be uninteresting. At about 9.30 a.m. being where I had an uninterrupted view of the heavens, I first observed, at a considerable altitude, what had the appearance of a large rocket descending slowly towards the north-west, leaving a train of smoky- looking vapor behind it. After a few seconds the head appeared to give out an intensely brilliant flame of the richest golden color, the general outline having the appearance of a wedge in South about 2 degrees, the broad part being in advance. After being visible for about fifteen seconds it disappeared a short distance above the western horizon, having passed through an apparent space of thirty or thirty-five degrees. For a short time after its disappearance there remained in its tract a well defined white streak of vapour which gradually melted away and finally became invisible in about fifteen minutes. The sky at the time was perfectly cloudless, a number of thundry looking clouds having passed over in a southerly direction an hour or two previous. Had the meteor appeared at night instead of during the day, its appearance must have been truly magnificent. Observer. Warly Yaloak, 6th March. To the Editor of the Geelong Advertiser. Sir,—I see mention made in your issue of to- day of the very remarkable meteoric phenomenon which was observed here yesterday morning ; permit me to forward the following particulars of its appearance here, in the hope that they may interest many of your readers, and assist at the same time in determining the true nature of the phenomenon. About 10 a.m. there issued from a white cloud situated between the zenith and the South Pole, a large bolis, or fire-ball of a fiery red appearance and in apparent magnitude about one- fourth of the moon's disc. Unlike the ordi nary meteors it pursued its course quite slowly, leaving behind it a narrow streak of white smoke, which gradually widened into a belt of small detached clouds, and con- tinued for about 20 minutes to mark with great distinctness the path of the aerolite. The point of departure was about 45 deg. due S—the course S-E to N.W, and the arc described fully 60 deg. Its descent was unattended by any sound,explosion, or scintillation, and the cloud from which it issued was not black as has been observed on many similar instances, but white. Its brilliant appearance in the midst of sunshine, its unusual magnitude, the measured slowness of its progress, and the singular belt of cloud that marked its track, combined to inspire the be- holder with awe, and in tome instances with a belief that the dies novissima had arrived. —Your's truly, William Matthew. National School, Colac, March 6, 1861.

METEORIC PHENOMENA. The following report by Professor Neumayer relative to the late meteor was laid on the table of the Legislative Assembly lust evening : — l.The most reliable information with regard to the time of the appearance ot the phenomenon was given by Mr Ellis, station master at Tarran gower. He saw it crossing the sky at 9.38 a.m., Williumstown m.t., on the above day. 2. Other time observations agreed verv well. considering that many persons who Baw it are not in the habit of observing and having their watches properly adjusted. 3. It was been in the following localities : — Geelong. Ballaarat, Lintun's, Creswick, Mr Sim's farm, near Hollowback, Clunes, Guild ford, Amherst, Maryborough, Maldon, Sandhurst, and Ararat. 4. From this and the local reports we may conclude that its general direction of motion was from S. 55 deg. E. to N.51 deg. W. 5. It first appeared in the south west when observed 'in Geelong; then it seems to have reached the earth in a place some five n.iles toward the north of Ballaarat, and also in a locality some four miles towards the west of Ararat. These facts would lead us to believe that it changed its course after having ceen reflected by the ground near Mount Hollowback, which place seems to have boon marked by a deep furrow of 12 yards. This would correspond well with the direction of motion given by the various observers. Previous to reaching Mount Hollowback, it is reported to have moved from S.E. to N.W., while past that locality observers in Ararat and Ballaaaat state that it moved from E. to W., E.S.E. to W.N.W. 6. The shape of the meteor appears to have been like a cone, the base being foremost. 7 The light was very intense, resembling that of melted iron. 8. Noise was heard at Mount Hollowback, and also four miles W. of Ararat. In both cases it was observed that the meteor came to the ground. 9. At Mount Hollowback a sulphuric smell was observed. 10. It left behind it a trace of light resembling the tail of a comet. 11. It was a great pity that the sky was all overcast at Melbourne at the time of its occurrence. We might otherwise been able to determine its course more accurately. 12. There was no disturbance observed in the magnetic elements at the time. The fctatc of the weather was very peculiar, it being extremely oppressive during the preceding days, and although the sky was overcast at the moment of the occurrence, the temperature was 83 degree*, and only a draught of air was perceptible from the N.N.W. The lowest reading of the barometer since the 19th of February, was on the day of the occurrence, at 3 p.m., viz, 29.466. 13. All possible means have been taken further to investigate the nature o/ this meteor. Telegrams were sent to different gentlemen in Ballaarat and Ararat to search the localities where it seems to have descended, namely, near Mr Sim's farm, Mount Hollowbick, and between Mount Ararat and the ranges,extending from Mount Chalambre to the OneTree Hill. 14. Should any more reliable information be sent to tho Observatory, I intend to proceed my self to the spot and examine the locality, and procure fragments of the meteor. (Signed) NEUMAYER, Director of the Magnetic Survey.General Observatory, 7th March, 1861.

THE METEOR OF THE FOURTH OF MARCH, 1861. The various reports on this phenomenon; asnpublished in the papers shortly after the occurance, having been so very indistinct and even contradictory, made it impossible to arrive at well-defined conclusions as to the nature of the phenomenon, and the results of further investi- gations had to be waited for to bring the whole of the collected evidence more in accord. Of these results a summary had been laid before the public, but a careful examination of the different facts has shown how little reliance can be placed on the statements of persons unaccustomed to observing, and perhaps excited by the novelty of the appearance which they were to describe. To this we may attribute the fact that some people compared the body of this meteor to a haystack, woolpack, waggon, &c., also the illusion that the meteor was thought to have fallen to the ground in nine or ten different localities ; for, after the most minute search and examination, nothing could be found indicating such an occurrence. To select one out of these localities, I may mention the furrow, 12 yards long, near Mount Hollowback, as de- scribed by George Carter, alias Brummy. Three scientific gentlemen were immediately requested to make that spot an object of their particular attention, among these I only mention Mr. Rosales, well known through his prize essay on gold. These gentlemen acted independently of each other, and arrived at the same result, viz., that neither a furrow nor a fragment could be found. Through the kindness of a great number of ladies and gentlemen from all parts of the colony, I have been put in possession of very valuable information; and although no actual measurements were taken at the time of the occurrence, the material thus collected admits of discussion, leading to some more definite result, which I may be permitted to give in the following paragraphs. 1. The number of localities from which reports on the meteor have been received is 26 ; they are situated between the parallels of 35deg. and 38deg. 30min. southern latitude; and between the meridians of 143deg. and 145deg. east longitude. Nine of these stations are to the north of the dividing range, fourteen to the south, and three on or near the same. 2. After a careful discussion of the single observations as to the time of the occurrence, the same was found to be 9h. 38min. 30sec. a.m. Melbourne mean time, therefore in broad daylight, the sun, in most of the localities, shining brightly, and but few and light clouds being in the sky. 3. The various descriptions of the places in the sky where the meteor was first seen and where it disappeared leads to the conclusion that the point of appearance was in declination 77deg. S., and right ascension 0h. 24m. ; and the point of disappearance in declination 8deg. N., and right ascension 15h 12m.-i.e., it came from a point between B. Hydrus and Nebulac minor, terminating at a point near L. Serpens. 4. The fireball darted from a fleecy-looking white cloud, and would in this respect resemble the fireball which fell in Barbotan on the 24th of July, 1790. Only one observer, Mr. Leech, at Mount Elephant, states the fact that his attention was first drawn to the meteor by a report like distant thunder. 5. It travelled rather slowly across the sky to a point W. 15deg. N. of the horizon, giving time to observers to consider and note what they saw. During its course smoke or vapour was con- tinually emanating from the body, forming into a narrow column of a fleecy vaporous appearance. This column appeared in the northernmost loca- lities like the tail of a comet, tapering towards the end ; while in the southernmost places, the opaque nature of it could be discerned, and even the parting into little cumuli clouds could be seen. 6. The meteor exploded before reaching the horizon, except in those localities where terrestrial objects interfered, as in one case, where " it was getting like the sun behind the Grampions."Previous to exploding, it seems to have slightly expanded, and to have taken nearly a horizontal position. The altitude above the horizon (3deg. to 4deg.), in which it was seen at the western- most stations at the time of its explosion, proves that fragments could not have reached the ground within the colony of Victoria. 7. The duration of the phenomenon, from the first appearance of the fireball in the S.E. Until its disappearance, was between eight and twelve seconds ; but the column of smoke remained in the sky for fully 15 or 20 minutes after the meteor had disappeared. This reminds one of the phenomenon accompanying the fall of a great shooting-star observed during the night of the 9th of June, 1822, near Baynere de Luchon, when 85 miles towards the north of Poitiers, a large aerolite fell. 8. The shape of the meteor was compared to a skittle, a cone, a gingerbeer bottle, &c., the base being foremost. However, it seems to have been more or less of a spheroidical shape, the greater axis being in a ratio to the minor one of 4 to 1. 9. Its apparent magnitude is given very differently by the different observers-some comparing it to the sun, others only to ¼ of the moon's apparent disc, which may arise probably from the spheroidical form of the meteor, and the relative positions in its course. The apparent length of the column of vapour smoke was 16deg. to 17deg., according to measurement of Mr. Scott, in Camperdown. 10. The colour of the nucleus was reddish white, very intense, and of a molten appearance. With regard to the column of smoke, the following interesting optical phenomenon was observed by Mr. Wilkinson, at Back Creek. He says :-" After its (the meteor's) entire disappearance, its track was distinctly marked by a beautiful luminous appearance, at first of a blue colour, then, as it gradually dissipated, becoming white and very luminous towards the upper line, the lower part only retaining its blue appearance." This was corroborated by other observers in the west of the colony. 11. On the morning of the 4th the weather was very sultry and oppressive throughout the colony ; but in most of the localities the sky was clear and admitted of the phenomenon being well seen, with the exception of Melbourne, where at the time of its occurrence a heavy shower of rain passed and heavy clouds covered the sky, so that only in a few places in or near town the phenomenon could be witnessed. It was not seen at the Observatory, but the following remarks on the weather may prove interesting :- At the time of the occurrence no disturbances in the magnetic elements could be observed. The state of the weather was very peculiar, it being exceedingly oppressive during the preceding days, and although the sky was overcast at the moment of the occurrence, the temperature was 83deg., and only a slight draught of air was perceptible from N.N.W. The lowest reading of the barometer since the 19th of February was on the day of the occurrence, at 3 p.m., viz., 29.466in.b(120ft. above the sea.) On the evening of the 5th March, two very bright meteors were seen at Brisbane, while at the Flagstaff Observatory no shooting stars were registered ; and, in conclusion, it may be stated that the month of March is not very prominently represented in the register of meteors at this Observatory, which is clearly illustrated by the fact, that an average of only from 1 to 2 shooting stars during an hour has been observed, this being a mean value for the month of March during the last four year, while the average value for the same four years amounts to three meteors during an hour. GEORGE NEUMAYER. Flagstaff Observatory, March 24.

(Note: In these months a comet had appeared, and there are numerous accounts of the object.)