Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-08-03
Er0m .SiLlimnna Jo1irnnk

'n"JbmbHd on JEHsFMHUS Oy f0D, jOh1g
UitcheH Those luminous appearances, which
are popnarly called F." Willie 'ihe.ws p" and
Jack n.lanicrn," have been alike the Object
OF vulgar superstition and philosophical curt.
osiiy; md Notwithstanding all attempts 10
apprthend ans subject them 10 examination.
they are not much inore the subjects Of know,
ledge nowtban they were centuries ago. They
are still but an ig'is fhiuos 10 The philosopher,
and thing ofmyHery TO the cfednIops.
was myself. formerly, fanil,ar with these
appearance they were offfequ-nt occurrences
near my fatbers rssidence, owing, probably,
10 the pro xmity Of extensive wei ground. over
which they are usually seen. The house sibod
upon ridge, which slopod down on ul ee des
10 the beautiful meadows VIII, ch form he mar
gin, Of the Connecticut, and al rs tributary
creeks, and which, owing to their own Iusuri.
ance and the deposile of the sernnl fresbeis,
are covered with rich aud constantly deceying
vegetable matter. From Tie eiicumsinnce
also, that we had DO neighbors IN The direction
of these grounds. light could hoi be seen over
them without attracting OR uoiice | mention
this by way Of suggesting, thai probably tlis
iguis fatu,is, in conse gnence Of lis not being
always distinguished from he lighi' Of sur.
rounding houses, and Therefore exciting no
curiosity, is ohepef sern Than il 10 supposed Ia
be.
LUZ We mysterious ubtu oitfH ~ wv
seen by The fishermen who Piled their nets ~
nigh, a, well as by day. They commonly re
ported tint they saw them little above the
surface Of the meadow, dancing up and down,
or gliding quietly along in n hofiz tntnl line.
Sometimes Two. or even three, would be seen
together, skipping and dancing or. sailing
away IN concert as iffejocing in their msluai
compromising. ] might entertain you with
ahundnnce OF fabulous accounts Of ~ rn---ihe
Offspring Of sgnaiions liDctured with super
sutton, and of minds eiedulous IRON natural
love ofthe marvellous. Fables. however, are
OF little value for the purposes Of science I; n the
follow ing account Of some Of the phenomena
Of the gnis fstuus, shall, with the observations
of others, contribute towards true theory of
its nature, you will think them worthy Of u
place in your Journal.
A friend OF mine, returning from abroad hfe
in the evening, had TO cross strip If marsh.
As he approached the cadseway he ooiiced n
light towards the opposite end, which be sun
posed 10 be a lantern in the hand OF some prr-
son whom he was about TO meet. II proved.
however to be solitary flame. a few me hes
above the marsh, a. the distance Of n few feet
| from the edge Of the causeway. He s,opped
some time 10 look at il and was strongly
| tempted, notwithstanding the niriness of the
| place, 10 get nearer to il, for the purpose OF
closer examination 1t was evidently n va.
por, (pbosphurei,ed hydrogen ,)issuing from
tie mud. aud becoming ieniied, OF at least IL.
mmous, ia contact with the air. II exhibited
Pickering appearance, like that of canils
expiring in lis socket alternately burning
with large fame aud then sinking 10 a small
taper aud occasionally, for moment becom-
ing quite extinct. Il constantly appeared oyer
The same spot
! With the phenomena exhibited in this \,