SHORTLY AFTER 7 AM IN JUNE 30, 1908, EARLY RISING FARMERS. HERDSMEN,
AND TRAPPERS IN THE SPARESLY SETTLED VASTNESS OF CENTRAL SIBERIAN
PLATEU WATCHED IN AWE AS A CYLINDRICAL OBJECT, GLOWING WITH AN
INTENSE BLUISH-WHITE LIGHT AND TRAILING A FIERY TAIL, RACED ACROSS A CLEAR
BLUE SKY TOWARD THE NORTHERN HORIZON. AT 7:17, OVER A DESOLATE REGION OF
BOGS AND LOW, PINE COVERED HILLS TRAVERSED BY THE STONY TUNGUSKA RIVER ,
IT DISAPPEARED; INSTANTLY, "A PILLER OF FIRE" LEAPED SKYWARD , SO HIGH IT
WAS SEEN HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY; THE EARTH SHUDDERED UNDER THE IMPACT OF
A TITANIC EXPLOSION; THE AIR WAS WAS WRACKED BY THUNDEROUS CLAPS; AND
A SUPERHEATED WIND RUSHED OUTWARD, SETTING PARTS OF THE TAIGA ON FIRE. AT
A TRADING POST FORTY MILES FROM THE BLAST, A MAN SITTING ON THE STEPS OF
HIS HOUSE SAW THE BLINDING FLASH, COVERED HIS EYES AND EXCLAIMED "OH
SNAP!"; HE FELT SCORCHED, AS IF THE SHIRT ON HIS BACK WERE BURNING, AND
THE NEXT MOMENT HE WAS HURLED FROM THE STEPS BY A SHOCK WAVE AND KNOCKED
UNCONSIOUS.
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