A MIRAGE IN CALIFORNIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1712, 16 June 1884, Page 3

A MIRAGE IN CALIFORNIA.

The San Francisco newspapers state that visitois to the Cliff-house had recently a clear view of the headland of Farallon, which, from the Cliff-house point of view, is absolutely below the horizon. The heights, which were clearly defined and seen as though they were within a dozen miles of shore, were at first thought to bo the saildraped masts of some ocean ship, but they were subsequently identified by the residents and visitors at (he CliffLouse as undoubtedly the cliffs of the North Farallon. Marine glasses and telescopes were brought into use, and ' the unusual sight of islands known to be ■ below the line of horizon, but Jf plainly pictured in the mirage, was regarded with intense interest. The Call newspaper states that the effect

just before the setting of the sun was ,'os though far out in the ocean some jutting rock had been utilized for the building of graces fully outlined castles, and when the light disappeared in tho cloudless western horizon, and with it the beautiful mirage, the illusion was as though the observers had been gazing on veritablo castles in the air, The atmosphere was so clear that the South'Farallon, with its lighthouse tower, clearly discernable, was seen as long as the already set sun left fi streak of goldon light in tho west. The whole effect was beautiful in the extreme, and so rare that it held

enchanted everyone who chanced to be Reen until darkness supervened and hid all view of the ocean,