The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-09-21
Interesting Natural Phenomenon

lf"ttftStWS 4NUsWW INNeNOmcnOu.
On Wednesday before the last, Aug.
"a, had the good fortune to witness, in
conjunction wilh several friends, the most
splendid mirage ever beheld. This in.
,crcsting spectacle known under the ma.
mes OF The Spectre of the Brocken. Fata
Morgana, and Spectre Ships, is much
more frequent than is generally supposed
and though now divestcd of its superna.
tural character by the searching scrutiny
OF science, is yet an object of Intense de.
light to the philosopher and the lovers Of
nature. II was us an object of supers,i-
ton amcrg the carly American colonists,
and has been happily seized upoa by
Washington Irving, in his beautiful des.
cription of the storm ship. Baron Hum.
boldt, in his Travels in South America,
describes very curious mirage, in which
cows were seen at great height in the
air. Scoresby, during voyage to Green
land in 1922, says that having seen an in.
verted image of ship in the air, he ex.
ami.ed it with telescope, aud found it
TO be his fathers ship, the Fame. and i'm.
medlately announced il TO the officer of
the watch. Many more Interesting in.
stances Of a similar nature might be men,
toned, but hasten 10 describe the oUe'
we witnessed. The phenomenon is
more Interesting, as il differs from any on
record. IL was al seen from the verandah
Of the New Cove House, near Phllips's
Beach. The day was unusually clear
and pleasant, and we were on the look out
for the erial images, as one of our party
had seen them on n similar day, n few
weeks before. Towards o'clock. p. M.
the shore south Of Nahant, known as the
South Shore, began TO loom, ard in few
minutes the mirage was upon the coast
for leagues, and the Flying Duichman,
the terror of sailors, was before us in all
lis beauty. That part of the coas, nearest
to us, appeared to the naked eye to rise
to great height, and looked as if i, were
formed by immense perpendicular sand
cliffs. On examining it with glass,
double hinges of all discernible objects
were beautifully distinct. lfa house was
seen at the foot ofthc cliff, directly above
it and at the top of the cliff, was also
seen an erect image of the house, having
as perfect outlines as the real object.
> On following the coast towards its most
distant part, the mirage assumed diff
fcrent and more interesting character.--
The cxt!eme visible coast seemed pro-
jected and hanging over the sea for miles
without foundation. Ii looked as if the
sea had washed away its basis, and left
its upper portion dangling in mid ar. BY
the telescope, this was found to be the
inverted image Of the coast below the
/ horizon and perhaps many miles beyond
the limit ofdirect vision. The tops ofthe
trees were just dipping into the sea, and
above them small boat was seen sailing
IN the shrubbery. Presently the hitherto
hidden coast rose from the waves, and
now II looked as if it had been cleft by
some mighty effort and the light Of
heaven were shining through the chasm.
Trees were seen corresponding to the
inverted. images above, and the little boat
was seen sailing ner the coast. Follow.
ing tins image out TO sea, something like
balloon was seen floating in the air, but
by the glass it was found to be the in.
yerted image Of sloop under sail and
below the horizon. Vessels Of all des.
crip,ions we've seen sailing in the air with
their hulls uppermost, in some instances
the real objects not being visible, and in
others being blended with the image so
as to make vessel of twice The ordinary
height. Sometimes the image met the
object vessel at the top CT its mast, and
at others was high in the air above it,
The phenomenon lasted above an hour,
with constantly varying character.
The mirage is doubtless the origin of
The Flying Dutchman, and under variety
of forms was source OF superstiiious
terror until within the last fifty years,
since which time il has become an object
Of scientific investigation, ard is now
reduced TO definite laws, and can be pro-
duccd al pleasure on a small scale. II 10
the effect OF a double refraction through
stratum Of air Of irregular dcnsity.-
Those who are interested in the subject
will better understand it by referring TO,
Brewster's Letters on Natural Magic, %
listhcre explained by plates.