Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-06
Selected for The National Gazette.
SCIENCE.

j
SCIENCE.
Dissertations on the Ignis Fatuus, or Viii with
the Uisp, Falling Sta,s, and Thunder
Storms. By l.. Blossom, Major Of Engineers.
Berlin.
The first time saw the Ignis Fatuus, or Will
with the Wisp, Vas in valley in the Forest Of
Gorbitz in the Neumark. This valley cuts
deeply in compact loan, and is marshy on its
lower part. The water of the marsh is ferrugi-
nous. and covered with an irdescent crust Du-
ring the day bubbles of air were seen rising from
il. and in the night blue flames were observed
shooting from and playing over its surface. AS
suspected that there was some connexion be-
tween these flames and the bubbles OF air, mark
ed during the day time the place where the latter
rose UP most abundanty, and repaired thither
during the night; to my great JOY actually OBJ
served blush purple flames, and did not hesitate
to approach them. On reaching the spot they
retired, aud pursued them III vain; all attempts
to examine them closely we're Intellectual. Some
days of very rainy weather prevented farther in.
vestisation, but afforded leisure for rejecting on
their nature. cunjecIured that the motion OF
the air, on my approaching the spot. forced tor
ward the burning gas; and remarked, that the
fame burned darker when it was blown aside;
u
IF lnfammable air was formed by these bubbles,
which, once infamed, continued to burn-but
which, owing to the paleness of the light Of the
fame, could not be observed during the day.
On another day, in the twilight, went again
to the place where waited the approach Of night:
the flames became gradually visible. but redder
than formerly, thus shelving that they burnt also
during the day; approached nearer. and they
retired. Convinced that they would return
again to the place of their origin, when the aslta-
ton IF the air ceased, | renamed stationary and
motionless and observed them again gradually
approach. As could easily reach them, it &C.
CURED to me TO attempt to light paper by means
of them, but for some time did not succeed IN
| this experiment, which | found Vas owing to my
breathing. | therefore held my face from the
flame, aud also InterpOsed piece OF cloth Us
screen; ON doing which was able to SINCE paper,
which bee anne brown cOloured, aud covered with
| a viscous moisture. next used narrow SLIP
of paper, and enjoyed the pleasure OF seeing It
| take fire. The gas was evidently lnHammable.
and not a phOsphorescent luminous one, as some
have maintained. But how do these lights orr.
ginate? After sume reflection resolved TO make
the experiment of extinguishing them. follow.
ed the flame; brought It 80 far from the marsh,
that probably the thread OF connexlon, it may
SO express myself, was broken, and it was exlin-
su,shed But scarcely few minutes had elaps-
ed, when it was again renewed at its source
lover the air .buhbles.i without my being able to
observe anv transition from the net hborns flames
many of which were burning IN the valley. Ire:
| peated the experiment frequently, aud always
with success Tine dawn approached. aud the
flames, which to me appeared to approach nearer
to the earth. gradually disappeared.
T.l L Nunff IN fha
| and kindlcd fire on The side Of the valley, IN
order to have an opportunity OF trying to inAame'
) the gas. As on the evening before, first extin.
gu, shed the flame, and then ha,tenpd win torch
to the ,pnt from whence the gas bubblrd up, when
instap,aneous,y kind of explosion was heard,
and red light was over eight or nine square
feet of the surface Of the marsh, Which diminish
ed to a small blue fame, from two aud bali to
three feet in height, that continued to burn with
an unsteady mntion. Ii was therefore no longer
doubtful that this igns tatuus was caused by the
evulution of inhamm ,ble gas from the marsh.
In the year 1911. Twas at Malapnv, in Upper
Slles,a, and passed several nights in the fores',
because ignes fatui were observed there. sue
ceeded in extinguishing and infaning the gas.
but could not iIdlame paper or thin shavings OF
wood with it. 10 the course Of the same year
repeated nv experiments in the Konski torest.n
Poland The fame was darker cOlored than usu
al, but was not able to inflame either paper or
wood .shavings with it; on the contrary. their
surface became speedily covered with tiscous
moisture.
In the year 1919. spent half night in the
Rubenzahl Garden, on the ridge OF the Riesenge
brge. close on the Schneekoppe, which constant
~ exhibits the Will. with the. Wisp, but having
very pale colour The flame appeared and dis
uppeared, but was so mobile that could never
approach sufficiently near to enable me 10 set fire
to any thing with it.
10 the course of the same year visited place
at Walkenried, IN the Hartz, where these lights
are said always to occur; they we're very much
like those Of the Neumark, and collected some
Of the gas in flask. On the day after, found
bv experiment that occasioned cloudines in
iims-water, proof Of ito containing carbonic