American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-04-02
THE TORPEDO GIRL.

THE TORPEDO GIRL.
We find among our late foreign papers an
account OF a new phenomenon, in the person
of French girl thirteen years of age, who
has recently been astonishing the savans of Pa
ris by her possession of the electric fluid in
quantity, and ofa force that may truly be
termed shocking.
Angelique Cotton is a native of the depart.
ment OF Finstere, off whose coast memora-
BILE battle was fought, if we do not mistake
between an English and French fleet, result
ing in the capture of the French by Admiral
Arson, with 100000 pounds of treasure, a
shock greater than any now in the power OF
Angelque to give. The state of education is
rather low in this department. but the practi
cal operation of ignorance is not considered to
be unfavorable to the development of won.
ders! She was at first only winder in a thread
glove factory, but she winds up other things
with much more effect at present. Her cleo
trical force was only discovered by accident, as
| most great discoveries are said to have been
| The reel which she held III her hand one day sud.
denly flew out of it, to the astonshment of all
| present On its being replaced it shot off a.
gain. There was Of course sensation produ-
ced by the circumstance, the village was excit-
ed, and the priest called in to exercise the poor
! girl, and to drive from her tho evil spirit
which evidently possessed her. The electrical
fluio detied the efforts of the Church. and to
the curate succeeded the doctor. He too was
! foled, and being unable to effect cure, pro-
! posed that Angelique, her mother, and he,
should 90 up to Paris and see what could be
done there. On their arrival the scientific
were informed of the singular circumstances
| and she ranopaI IN tho ohcnru Tor
where sundry experiments were performed in
the presence of Arago, Matthew, Laugler, and
Goujon.
We are told thata piece Of paper being pla-
ced on the edge of table, was Immediately
attracted TO her left hand. Holding her apron
upon it, she approached guerdon, which
''retired 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, Monsieur Arago, the ia
nous astronomer, laid his hand upon the chair,
but could not prevent its moving. M. Goujon
then sat upon chair, and it was projected as
before, the moment Angelique took her seat.
On subsequent 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 sofa could not resist her electri-
cal power of repulsion. DIR. Tauchon ascer-
tanned to his own satisfaction, that the chair
was first attracted, and then repealed. But we
do not learn that chair, sofa or table, was so
much attracted as to approach her. 1t is sta
ted that whenever the girl is isolated by glass
stool, oiled silk, or any similar non-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 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 experience
ed different sensations, corresponding with the
different poles. She thus felt what might be
properly termed a northern sensation, and a
southern sensation; she is not arctic in her
taste, however, as she is repealed by the North
Pole. When the electric discharges take place,
she is violently agtated, experiences very
great commotion, and complains Of much sui
ierng. The sceptIcal might say to this, that
there would be necessarily some violent agita-
ton, particularly IF the hands and feet, when
ever table or a sofa was to be pushed over,
We do not, however, wish to be understood as
at all fayoring such an unkind suspicion. by
no means!
We ind her electrical power much greater
after she had dined, and her pulse during these
remarkable displays of electric energy turns up
to 100 minute. We have known persons
after severe exercise, experience the same result
Sufficient particulars have not yet reached vi
to enable us to form correct opinion as to the
!, manner in which these shocks are given. The
gymotus, TORPEDO and slluitus, can unquestion
ably communicate an electrical shock, but We
know of no we'll established case of human
being able to do SO.
:. From oar personal knowledge, we believe
J that persons may be sensible sometimes or
touching each other, Of the presence of electri
city in themselves, and this by sensation like
one produced by the pricking Of pin. The
| difference of temperature at the moment may
account for it, and several other accidental cir
: cumstances may favor the production even o
. slight spark. We fully believe this, for W.
| have seen it, but we are not yet prepared tt
think any man or woman can knock over
l. heavy sofia without some muscular exertion.-
Psychologists tell US that this electrical powe
is confined to small number of animals, ans
J. those of low grade in the scale of organiza
d ton.
1t is stated by some, also, that there is al
a identity of animal heat with muscular exaction
At present, however, we will dismiss tn
case of Angelique as an extraordinary one, re