Nor was the darkness of the night less uncommon
and terrifying than that of the day; notwithstanding there was
almost a full moon, no object was discernible, but by the help
of some artificial light, which when seen from the neighboring
houses and other places at a distance, appeared through a kind
of Egyptian darkness, which seemed almost impervious to the
rays.
"This unusual phenomenon excited the fears and apprehensions of
many people. Some considered it as a portentous omen of the
wrath of Heaven in vengeance denounced against the land, others
as the immediate harbinger of the last day, when 'the sun shall
be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.'"
Not only over the land, but out at sea also, the unnatural darkness of
the day and night of May 19, 1780, was observed. In the _Independent
Chronicle_ of June 15, 1780, a correspondent, telling of interviews with
various observers, said:
"I have also seen a very sensible captain of a vessel, who was
that morning about forty leagues southeast of Boston. He says
the cloud which appeared at the west was the blackest he ever
saw.
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