Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-04-09
THE TORPEDO GIRL,
A MODERN WONDER.

AA1A u OA0A AIkVO M II
A MODERN WONDER. #
We find among our late foreign pa
pers an account of a new phenomenon,
lnthe person ola French girl thirteen
years of age, who has recently been
astonishing the savants of Paris by
her possessions of the electric fluid in
a quantity, and of a force that may tru-
ly be termed shocking.
Angelique Cotton is native Of the
department of Finistere, off whose
coasts memorable battle was fought If
we do not mistake, between an Eng
lish and a French fleet, resulting in the
capture of the French by Admiral An
son, with 100000 pounds Of treasure,
a shock greater than any now in the
power of Angelique to give. The
state ofeducation is rather low in this
department, but the practical operation
ofignorance is not considered to be
unfavorable to the development of
wonders! She was at first only win
der in thread glove factory; she
winds up other thing with much more
effect at present. Her electrical force
was only discovered by accident, as
most great discoveries are SAID to have
been, The reel which she held in her
hand one day suddenly flew out of it,
to the establishment of all present.
On its being replaced ii shot off again.
There was of course sensation pro-
duced by the circumstance, the village
was excited, and the priest called in to
exercise the poor girl, and to drive
from her the evil spirit which evident
ly possessed her. The electrical fluid
defed the efforts of the Church, and
to the curate succeeded the Doctor
Hetoo was foiled, and being unable to
effect cure, proposed that Angelique,
her mother, and he, should 60 up to
Paris and see what could be done
there. On their arrival, the scientific
were Informed of the singular circum-
stances, and she was removed to the
observatory, where sundry expert
ments were performed in the presence
of Arago, Matthew, Laugier, and Gou-
jon. .5s.e SIS
We are told that piece of paper
being placed on the edge of a table,
was Immediately attracted to her left
hand. Holding the apron upon it,
she approached a gueridon, which 're-
tired at her approach She was then
placed in chair with her feet to the
ground. The chair was thrown with
violence against the wall, and in one
direction, and Angelique tumbled
down in another. The experiment
was repeated several times and with
nearly the same result. Next Mon.
sieur Arago, the famous astronomer,
laid his hands upon the chair, but
could not prevent its moving. NJ.
Goujon then sat upon a chair, and it
was projected as before, the moment
took her seat. On SUBJ
sequent occasion two men held it
down, but though it did not move any
distance, it was broken in pieces-at
least SOME pieces. A table and So
ia could not resist her electrical power
ofrepulsion. DR.. Tauchon ascertained
to his own satisfaction, that the chair
was first attracted, and then repealed.
But we do not learn that the chair, sofa,
Or table, was so much attracted as to
approach HER. 1t is stated that when
ever the girl is isolated by a glass
stool, oiled silk, or any similar nom
conductor of electricity, the projections
do not take place. An unbeliever
might say that she has no very good
point d'appui, when she sits or stands
upon glass stool, or even oiled silk,
which is reputed to be rather slippery.
A magnet, says the account, being
placed near the left hand, which is
alone magnetic, she experienced differ
ent sensations, corresponding with
the different poles. She thus felt what
might be properly termed a northern
sensation; she is not arctic in her taste,
however, as she is repealed by the
North Pole. When the electric dis
charges take place, she is violently ag-
ltated, experiences very great COM
motion, and complains of much suffer-
ing. The sceptical might say to this,
that there would be necessarily some
violent agitation, particularly Of the
hands and feet, whenever a table or a
sofa was to be pushed over. We do
not, however, wish to be understood as
at all favoring such an unkind suspi-
|'clon. By no means!
1 We find the electrical power much
gfeatef after she has dineu, and her
| pulse turing these remarkable displays
OF electric energy runs up to 100 a