1Edward Hansford and John L. Clarke to Thomas Jefferson, 31 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
We the subscribers most earnestly solicit, that your honor will give us your opinion, on the following extraordinary Phenomenon Viz: At hour on the night of the 25 th instant, we saw in the South a Ball of fire full as large as the sun at Maridian which was frequently obscured within the space of ten minutes by a smoke emitted from its own body, but ultimately retained its briliancy, and form...