Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-06

Mindsn. On the Sd August, 1914, sc played
off 6re-work from the summit. to which we had
assembled during the dark, and where no lgnis
fatuus was visible. But scarcely had we hfed
of the FIRST rocket. when NUMBER OF small red
flames were observed around US oeio~ the sum-
nit, which, however. speedily exunguished-to
be succeeded by Others on the firing OF the next
rocket, 49,
These facts induced me to separate the igncs
fatui from the luminous meteors, and to free them
from all connection with eec tricity. They are
of chemical nature, aud become infamed Oh
coming IN contact with the atmosphere, owing To
the nature OF their constitution
l think it highly probable tina, the fires that
sometimes break out in forests are caused Ly
these lights.
Falling Sars.-Ihaye frequrg,iy ohaervsd on
meadows and fields i,al sImv. lsek sr n mat
ter, which is commonly taken tor tn p la. 5 OF
falling stars, fre-ba's, &c. l. speedi', s,es
into state of pu,retaction, aud dls.o'es -"
whitlsh foam, which at length disappears can
not venture to speculate m its formation. This
slime appears to me to be intimately Connect.
ed with the pants which generally surround 1t,
although | cannot deny ITS haltened roundlsh
shape. Once, indeed. observed II on the bare
ground, at distance from vegetables of every
kind. In Finland observed it on rocks. but
they were richly clothed with m0sses What.
ever opinion may be formed as pit. the plants,
particularly the cryptogamic ones IN ITS vicinity,
ought to be examined. | may add. that ob'erv.
ed this jelly, in forest, under fir,rre, where
there no possibility Of its having fallen from
the sky
Thunder Storm.-On ascending mountain,
which rises rather more than 1000 feet above
Teschen, encountered a storm, concerning which
the following particulars are not without interest.
The wind blew from the SOUTH and, shnrtIy after
commenced my ascent, enyelopcd the upper
part Of the mountain in clouds. The oppressive
feel of the air seemed TO announce coming
thunder. storm, but, hitherto, neither thunder
lightning had occurred The nearer approach.
ed to the clouds, the darker was their color, but
still the sun shone brightly upon TescSen. The
clouds. as seen from below, which exhibited re.
markable roratory motion, appeared sharply
bounded, and was therefore surprised when
came near to them, to find, as usual, only era.
duaIly denser and denser cloud, which speedily
wet me through. A particular rotatory wind
appeared TO prevail in this region (above haifwa
up the mountain) occasionins piercing cold,
which was the more striking as contrasted with
the suItry heat and stiffness below the clouds.
| had hardly entered the denser part of the
cloud, where il was sn dark, that could with
difficulty distinguish all object at nv fuot-U
name this dark, because do not know any
other expression for it; il is not, however. want
of light; we have white veil before US, which
is constantly moving with a rotatory motion,
which we cannot compare with any thing else.
I was scarcely IN the cloud before felt through
out my whole body kind of expansive tension,
which was excessively oppressive, and seemed to
affect the walking of my companion. poodle
dog, even more than it did myself. The hair ap
peared to brsrle up. anu it seemed to me as il
something was drawn out OF the whole OF my
body. But this electric tension was of very
different character from that Of al isOator. |
bent down, in order to see the grass that sur.
rounded me, and on which no dew was OBJ
served, when | was suddenly enveIopcd in a
bright sea Of light. with yellow lustre, and
perceived, along with violent noise, a sudden
cessation of the former tension. The noise may
be best compared with distant dull cannon shot.
only more continuous aud louder, or may be
compared with the explosion ia mine; but no
rolling was heard The glass was IN motion,
but was too much surprised and confounded to
make more particular observations. The con-
vulsive motion Of the cloud ceased for a moment,
but Immediately began again. and with it the
tension was renewed.
During the moments Of rotation, the vaporc
PARTICLES appeared to be arranged in rows into
fbres, which moved still more violently amongst
each other, after the explosion all was again
calm, and mere fog or cloud was visible. My
poodle dog was the first object of my attention;
it seemed TO me- to be thicker than usual. and his
hair brisiled up; stroked 1t several times. and
saw it bristle up under my hand. A new flash
Of lightning took place. and | could distinctly
perceive, Notwithstanding the light, that the
whole body of nv dog sIimmered with peculiar
lusre, the hair, formerly bristled up. now fell
fiat. aud he sunk down on his knees This was
consequence of the stronger streaming OF cleo
trcity from him than experienced. and which
seemed, as it were. to draw me from the noun
tain. Although during the tension the feeling OF
drawing out was continuous and always Increas- |
ing in intensity, still it strongest at the mo-
ment when the electrical discharge took place;
the hair bristled up more, and felt something,
as 1t were passing from out nv interior, and IN
L anIt hah Aat