The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-08-05
From Sstiimdn's Journal Of Science and .arts.
IGNIS FATUUs.
EY REV. JOHN MITCHELL

"Jack-a-lantern," have been alike the OBJ
Ject OF vulgar superstition and philosophical
curiosity; and Notwithstanding all attempts
to apDrehend and subject them to examina-
ton, they are not much more the subjects
OF knowledge now than they were centu-
ries ago.
i was myself formerly, familiar with
these appearances they were Of frequent
occurrence near my fathers residence,
owing, probably, to the proximity OF extern
slve wet grounds, over which they are
usually seen. The house stood upon q
ridge, which sloped down on three sides to
the beautiful meadows which form the mar
gin of the Connecticut
These mysterious luminaries used often
to be seen by the fishermen, who Piled their
nets by night as we'll as by day. They
commonly reported that they saw them a
little above the surface of the meadow,
dancing up and down, or gliding quietly in
horizontal line. Sometimes two, or even
three, would be dancing or sailing away in
concert, as if rejoicing in their mutual COM
partnership. | might entertain you with
abundance of fabulous accounts Of them
the offspring of imaginatons tinctured with
superstition, and of minds credulous from a
natural love of the marvellous Fables,
however, are of little value for the purposes
of science: if the following account of some
OF the phenomena of the ignis fatuus, shall
with the observations of others, contribute
towards true theory of its nature, you will
think them worthy of place in your Jour
nal.
A friend of mine, returning from abroad
late IN the evening, had to cross a strip of
marsh. Az he approached the causeway,
he noticed a light towards the opposite
end, which he supposed to be lantern in
the hand of some person whom he was
about to meet. 1t proved, however, to be
solitary flame, n few inches above the
marsh, at the distance of few feet from
the edge of the canseway. He stopped
some time to look at it; and was strongly
tempted, Notwithstanding the miriness of
the place, to get nearer to it, for the pur-
pose of closer examination. 1t was evident
ly vapor, [phosphuretted hydrogen n is
suing from the mud, and becoming igHited,
or at least luminous, in contact with the
air 1t exhibited a Pickering appearance,
like that of a candle expiring in its socket !;
alternately burning with large flame and
then sinking 10 a small taper {; and oc-
casionally, for moment, becoming quite
extinct. 1t constantly appeared over the
same spot.
With the phenomena exhibited in this
instance, have been accustomed to COM
pare those exhibited in other instances,
whether observed by myself or others; and
generally making due allowance for the
illusion of the senses and the crednity of
the Imagination in the dark and misty
night, (for it is on such nights that they
usually apPear,) | have found these phe-
nomena sufficient for the explanation of all
the fantastic tricks which are reported of
these phantoms.
They are supposed to be endowed with
locomotive power. They appear to recede
from the spectator, or advance towards him,
But this may be explained without locomo-
tion-by their variation in respect to quanti-
ty of flame. As the light dwindles away, it
will seem to move from you, and with
velocity proportioned to the rapidity of its
diminution. Again as it grows larger, it
will appear to approach you. If it expire.
by several chickering's or flashes, it will seem
to skip from you, and when it re-appears
You will easily imagine that it has assumed
a new position. This reasoning accounts
for their apparent motion, either to or from
the spectator; and never could ascertain
that they moved in any other direction,
I that is, in line oblique or perpendicular to
that in which they first appeared. In one
instance, indeed, / thought this was the
( fact, and what struck me as more singular,
the light appeared to move with great
rapidty, directly against a very strong
wind. But after looking some time, re-
/ flected that had not changed the direc-
I ton of my eye at all, whereas if the appar-
ent motion had been real, ought TO have
turned half round. The deception was oc-
casioned by the motion of the wind itself
as stake standing in rapid stream will
appear TO move against the current.
1t is u common notion that the ignis fatuus
cannot he approached, but will move off as
rapidly as you advance. This characters
tic is mentioned in the Edinburgh Encyclo-
pedia. 1t is doubtless a mistake. Persons
attempting to approach them, have been de-
ceved, perhaps, as to their distance, and
; finding them farther off than they imagined,
have proceeded little way and given over,
under the impression that pursuit was vain.
An acquaintance of mine, plain man. told
me he actually stole up close to one and
caught it in his hat, as he thought -" and
what was it % asked. 1t was nothing"
On looking into his hat for the "shining
Ilelly," it had wholly disappeared. His mo-
tons had dissipated the vapor, or perhaps
his foot had closed the oriice from which it
issued. To this instance another may be
added. A young man and woman walking
home from an evening visit, approached Il
| light which they took for lantern carried
1 by some neighbor, but which on actually
passing it, they found to be borne by no
visible being and taking themselves to
fight, burst into the nearest house with
such precipitation as to overturn the furni-
ture, and impart no small share of their
fright to the family.
The circumstance that these lights usual
ly appear over marshy grounds, explains
another popular notion respecting them ;