The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-01-18
MtsceIlamp.
IGNES EATUL, OR MoCK,FIREs.

1
Mariners lights, or St. Helmo's fires, are
how considered as real exhalations from
the earth, produced by gas, vapor, OF
some other attenuated substance, eman-
ating from vegetable, animal, or mineral
materials, and combined with the mat
ter of light, or heat, or both. Instead
of being dense OF solid, they are uni
formly rare and subtle; and, instead of
originating in the Hottest regions of the
atmosphere, or beyond its range, are
5S">. - g. tho 1rea fer nartsin low
marshy plains or valleys. To the fear
full and superstitious, they are the source
of as much terror, as the nobler and
subimer meteors which have Just been
contemplated; and it is probable that
they have occasionally been the source
of real and extensive damage, when in a
state Of actual combustion; and that they
have still more frequently seduced the
timId and benighted traveller into dam
gerous boys and quagmires.
In Italy, in the Bolognese Territory,
they are so frequent, in morassy grounds,
that they are to be seen every night,
some of Them affording as much light
as kindled torch, and others moi being
larger than The flame of candle, but
all of them so luminous, as to shed a
lustre on the surrounding objects. They
are constantly in motion. but this motion
is various and uncertain. They some
times rise, and al other times sink, occa-
sionally disappearing of sudden, and
appearing again in an instant in some
other place. They usually hover about
six feet from the ground, differing both
in figure and size, and spreading out
and contracting themselves alternately.
Sometimes they break to appearance
into two parts, soon after uniting again
in one body and at intervals float like
waves, letting fall portions of ignited
matter, like sparks from fire. They are
more frequently observed 10 winter than
in summer, and cast the strongest light
in rainy and moist weather. They are
the most friendly to the banks of brooks
: and rivers, and to morasses; but are
likewise seen on elevated grounds, where
they are, however, Of a comparatively
: diminutive size.
10 the month of March, 1923, a trav-
eller being in mountainous road. about
ten miles south of Bononia, perceived,
as he approached the river Riovedere,
between eight and nine in the evening,
light shining very brightly on some
, stones which lay on the banks. 1t was
elevated about two feet above them
its figure describing parallelopiped,
more than foot in length, and about
six inches high, its longest side lying
parallel 10 the horizon. Its light was
so strong, that be could distinguish by
it very plainly part of neighbouring
) hedge, and the water in the river. On
, near approach, it changed from a
bright red to yellowish colour; and on
drawing still nearer, became pale; but
: when the observer reached the spot, il
vanished. On his stepping back, he moi
only saw it again, but found that the fur
Their he receded, the stronger and more
luminous it became. This light was
; afterwards seen several times, both in
spring and autumn, precisely at the
same spot, and preserving the same
shape.
On the 18th December, It's, several
very remarkable agnes .fatui were oh.
served on the road TO Broomsgrove, five
miles from Birmingham, little before
daylight. A great many of those light:
were playing in an adjacent field, in
different directions; flom some Of which
there suddenly sprang up bright branch.
es of light resembling the explosion of {
rocket, filled with many brilliant stars
if, in the case of the latter, the discharge
be supposed to be upward, or vertical
instead of taking the usual direction
The hedge and the trees on each side
we're strongly Illuminated. This ap
. pearance continued few seconds only
when the igmes fatui played as before
The spectator was not sufficiently near t,
observe whether the apparent explo
, 'ions we're attended with any report.
ln the month of December, 1898, be
tween the cath and 3Oth, fiery exhsl
alton, without doubt generated the same
way with the meteors described above
set fire to sixteen ricks Of hay, and two
barns filled with corn and hay, at a vii
lage in Hartech, in Pembrokeshire. 1
had frequently been seen before, pro
ceeding from the sea, and in these in
stances lasted for fortnight or three
weeks. II not only fired The hay, bu
poisoned the grass, for the extent of
mile, SO as 10 induce distemper among
the cattle. 1t was weak blue fame
easily exlinguished, and did not in the
least burn any of the men who inter
posed their endeavours 10 save the hay