Audibility of the Sound of Firing on February¹

Abstract

I ENCLOSE a record of the sound of the guns heard at East-bourne, commencing at 3h. 14m. and ending at 3h. 57m. As you will see, the sounds came with great regularity every minute, but the period which the sound covered in each minute gradually fell off from eleven to about five seconds. My observations were checked by a friend, and we were stationed on the summit of a down some 500 feet above sea level with a clear sea horizon out to Newhaven. The distance to the Solent is about sixty-five miles, and there was a slight wind from the North-West. I should like to try to describe the sounds which, though faint, were perfectly distinct—er-er-er-pup-er-er-pup-pup, the detonation sound being more marked towards the end of each period. I need not say that the sounds were indescribably mournful to listen to.