Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-31


the Union College, Schenectady, entitled the
Parthenon and Academian's Magazine. Its
contributors are principally Under graduates of
the institution, and the articles do them credit.
The following notice Of curious local meteor on
the coast OF Long Island, is copied from this pub
LEGATION.
THE PALATINE LIGHT.
Since the first settlement Of this country, a
singular light has occasionally been seen upon
the ocean near Block Island IL makes its ap
pearauee at all seasons If the year, and is seen
from great distance. The inhabitants of the
island have never ventured to meet it; this su.
pernatMral dread is owing to story, which the
early settlers connected with its history. Some
time in the early part of the eighteenth century,
the ship Palatine, filled with German emigrants
and bound for America, was wrecked upon the
shores of this Island. and nearly all its cassen.
gers were lost. 1t was afterwards ascprtained
that a murder had been committed an board du-
ring the voyage, and that the destruction Of the
ship was preconcerted plan. Large sums of
money were found buried in the sand near the
shore, which confirms the truth of the above
Since that night, the inhabitants have often seen
spectre light floating over the place where the
vessel sunk, the name of which has been given
TO this luminous phenomenon. We here trans
cribe a letter written several years ago, by DR..
Wiley, who resided on the island, to the late
DR. Mitchell, of New York city. 1t contains
many curious facts concerning this meteor never
before published.
Block ISLAND. Dc. 10, 1911.
Dear Sr-ln a former letter | promised to
give you an account Ut the singular light which
is sometimes seen fran this place ! now hast.
en- To- fulfil my engagement. | should long since
have communicated the fat to the literary world
but was unwilling to depend wholly upon The in
formation Of others when, hy a little delay,
there wasa proba,;l { my receiving ocular
demonstration. Iha,e act. however. been so
fortunate. in this rcspest. Is could wish. having
had only two export lilies Il viewing this phc-
no,rtn n. NJ, residing nearly six mites frUr',
the shore, which lies next Ia the region OF It's
exhibition, and behind elevated ground, has pre-
vented me from seeing il so frequently. perhaps
as might otherwise have done. The people
who have always lived here so famiariZed to
the sight. that they never think of giving notice
to those who DO not happen To De present. or even
of menlinning 1t Afterwards. unless they hear
some particular inquiries made.
The curious lrra,iiaii0n rises from the ocean
near the northern part oi the Island. Its APP
pearance is nothing different from blaze of Are;
whether it actually touches the water, or merely
hovers over It, is uncertain. for l am Informed
that no person has been bear enough to decide
accurately. II beams with various magnindes.
and appears to bea" 10 more analogy to the lgnis
faiuuS, than it does to the .4urOra 50rsatis.-
Sometimes il is small, resembling the light
through distant window; at others expanding
to the bieness Of ship with ali her canvass
spread. When large, it displays either Pyra-
mitiical foi m, or three constant streams. In the
latter case, the streams are somewhat blended
! together ut the bottom, but separate and distinct
at the top, while the middle one rises rather high
er than the other two. 1t may have the same
appearance whenSmali, but owing TO distance
and surrounding Spour cannot be clearly per-
ce,ved.
This light often seems to be IN a constan, state
of mutation; decreasing by degrees 1t becomes
in, islbie, or resembles lucid point; then shin
Ing anew. sometimes with sudden Hare. at others
by a gradual increment, to its former size. Of
ten the mutab,lity regards the insfre, only, be.
Coming les. and less bright until il disappears or
nothing but a pale outline can b. dscerned Il its
full size, then resumlus its former splendor, in
the manner before related. The duration Of its
greatest and least state Of illustration Is not com
monty more than two or tn rec minutes; this in.
coustancy, however, does not appear in every in.
stance.
After this radiance seems TO be totally extinct.
it does not always return in the same place, but
| is not unirequenty seen shining at seme consde-
rable distance from which it disappeared. In
TIL, transfer Of locality it seems to have no Ger
tam line Of direction.
| When most expended this blaze Is generally
waverius ike the flame OF a torch. At one time
it appears sta,onary-at another progressive IL
is seen a, all season. OF the ear.and for the must
mart in the elm weather hich pre- cedes an eas-
! ter!y or soutoe sturm II mas. however, been
noticed during a severe northwestern gale. and
when no storm immediately followed. Its con-
tinuance Is sometimes but transient, at others
throughout the night. aud u has been known to
appear several nights in succession.
This blaze actually emits luminous rays.
gentleman whose house is situated near the sea,
informs me that he has known it TO illuminate
considerably the walls Of his room through the
windows. This happens on y when the light ia
! within half mile Of the shore; for 1t is often
seen blaxius at SIX OF seven miles distance, and