Montreal’s Soot-Black Rain

Transcripción

In Sir George Duncan Gibb’s account of Montreal in November 1819, rain left behind a fine, soot-like deposit. On November eighth, dense black clouds brought heavy rain. The deposit was described as ordinary soot in its look, taste, and smell. The next day, at noon, the sky grew extremely dark. About three hours later came thunder, lightning, rain, and an earthquake shock. More soot fell. Then came the striking detail: runoff streamed through the streets, carrying dense foam that resembled soap suds. Gibb did not claim to know where the soot came from. He said its source was never accurately determined. Dust from a distant volcano was his probable explanation, not a confirmed cause. The report is vivid; the cause remains uncertain.