Page 4

“…snippets from Mark and Matthew…”

This brief passage is derived from numerous sources, but most prominently a passage included in some of the early scientific reaction to the night the stars fell, which collected accounts from around the country and was published in early 1834.

“On the Meteors of November 13, 1833,” Denison Olmstead, American Journal of Science and Arts, 1834, Vol. XXV., p. 382. (Olmstead is quoting from the Salt River Journal from Missouri.)

“…a dance frolic…”

Narrative of Alex Bufford.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Missouri Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 70.

Alex Bufford

“…Fellom City…”

Narrative of Silvia King.

Rawick, G. P., Hillegas, J., & Lawrence, K. (1978). The American slave: A composite autobiography: supplement, series 2. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Pub, Vol. 6, Texas Narratives, p. 2228.

Silvia King

“…cracklins…”

See “…a dance frolic…” above.

“In Texas…”

Narrative of Patsy Moses.

Rawick, G. P., Hillegas, J., & Lawrence, K. (1978). The American slave: A composite autobiography: supplement, series 2. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Pub, Vol. 7, Texas Narratives, pp. 2781-82.

“…like a skyrocket…”

Narrative of Willis Winn, who claimed to be 116 years old.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Texas Narratives, Vol. 4, p. 202.

Willis Winn

“…the color of fish blood.”

Quoting an unnamed New York newspaper.

“On the Meteors of November 13, 1833,” Denison Olmstead, American Journal of Science and Arts, 1834, Vol. XXV., p. 390.

“Most of those watching understood…”

Narratives of Daphne Williams, Mary Kincheon Edwards, and Narcissus Young.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Texas Narratives, Vol. 4, p. 161; Vol. 1, p. 15; Tennessee Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 81.

“…twelve feet from the ground…”

Narrative of Willis Winn.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Texas Narratives, Vol. 4, p. 202.

Willis Winn

“…or hit barns…”

“On the Meteors of November 13, 1833,” Denison Olmstead, American Journal of Science and Arts, 1834, Vol. XXV., p. 384.

“…chaff and straw…”

Narrative of Willis Winn.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Texas Narratives, Vol. 4, p. 202.

Willis Winn

“…like a sheet…”

Narrative of Gus Bradshaw.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Texas Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 130.

Gus Bradshaw

“…or like snow.”

Narrative of Willis Winn.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Texas Narratives, Vol. 4, p. 202.

Quoting a newspaper called the Columbian Centinel.

“On the Meteors of November 13, 1833,” Denison Olmstead, American Journal of Science and Arts, 1834, Vol. XXV., p. 367.

“…odd substances…”

Quoting the Richmond Enquirer.

“On the Meteors of November 13, 1833,” Denison Olmstead, American Journal of Science and Arts, 1834, Vol. XXV., p. 396, 408.

“…fallen on Armenia…”

From the Republican Banner  (Gettysburg, PA), December 3, 1833, p. 2.

“…India and Lusatia…”

“Observations on the Meteors of November 13th, 1833,” Denison Olmstead, American Journal of Science and Arts, Vol. XXVI, July 1834, p. 133.

“A soldier in Washington’s army…”

From the Carlisle Weekly Herald (Carlisle, PA), November 12, 1833, p. 3.

“In the Georgia forest…”

See “Three enslaved men,” above.

“Stories claimed…”

This description is derived from multiple sources. Denison Olmstead’s paper for the American Journal of Science and Arts is itself a collection of accounts from a variety of media sources.

The Sunbury Gazette (Sunbury, Pa), November 16, 1833, p. 2; the Evening Post (New York, NY), November 13, 1833, p. 3; “On the Meteors of November 13, 1833,” Denison Olmstead, American Journal of Science and Arts, 1834, Vol. XXV., pp. 389, 378, 376, 406, 377.