Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1870-11-12
4 SEA PHENOMENON.
Louf White Waves of Light Floating
Round Ship,

Al" AA~tA4-AL k-+A3t- EA-+.>l.-H %44-
following dated Gulf OF siam April
II $50.
Las. might, between two aud three
O lock. lad al opportunity OF wit
ssinl au Illumination Of tie Sea Of
.le MU., peculiar Kind. It lad be-
come quite calm after q sharp breeze
which led sprung up from tic north
northwest, caused " passing st0glu
In tic distance Heat.,ightuing was
still very frequent In tie west LOri-
lOu. and the ,ky We. covered with
light clouds, through which the moon
,houe rather brightly We took IN
,Ail and .ct the engine going I then
noticed yG lie water large white
flakes, aAigA ulaI lJyE 10 Ge Tie 4e-
lection OF the moon lAey WCrC about
3 fa,A0m In diameter, apparently lus-
:erl5ss and Of no particular shape
Ike object; seen lying deep in tie
water BY the rising and falling Of
thg sCss surface, these fakes f1oated
of TO q short distance from lie sfip
without imp3rtllg any noticeable
brightness TO the water. Illuminated
1y tie moons ray, After ,taaming
further forward for ,ix or seven
knots, most wonderful spectacle
presented .t.eli On both sides,
obIiquell iu front OF Us, long white
wave. Of hight were seen floating to-
ward the ship, increasing in bright
ness aud rapiiity, til. az .ast they al.
most disappeared, and nothing wai
observed bu, white. lustrele:s. whirl.
ing sch -irTeafeg light upon the va.
Ter After gazing for some time ].
We. impossible to distinguish between
water and ky and atmosphere, al
which were but Just now clearly di--
lHzu.sH4J.C, and q thick icr in long
,.rcaks appeared TO be driving upon
the ship with furious .gifIess. The
phenomenon OF Light was somavh2;
similar 70 that which would b pro-
luced bg the Eni...BE round Of tal.
striped black and white, 30 rapidly
that the white stripe, seemed 10 be
lost and blended with the dark ones.
The Ugh. was inst o il We were en-
velop5d in g thick white Jog. Tho
direction o. the wave. OF ligt. upon
the shin was ALWAYS on both side:
ob.iquely from tie front The phe.
uoneuon lasted -tou- five minutes,
aud reueated itself nee more after.
ward. for about one l.luie. Without
doubt. 0a.s Of IN, ] creatures IN the
water we're the can: Of this lumiuos'
itv. and the waves # light find theil
cause according to ay conviction, n
the white hashe. described. Yet
their moderate velocity Of one sud
half geographical miles per hour, and
the weak light al ir.t emitted By each
flake. 20 week IS n1. to influence the
tint OF the surface af the water .-e.
not seem calculated 10 c4.i forth 4
phenomenon vi such magical effect a.
he one j ,cribed. III luminou, ap'
pearancc 1mmou.y seen IN The wake
Of shin can ot be- compared will
such pbeu 'uvHgl - The above
In ll, iormC. e .ig..', f.troa,, glar
IN. -r.-u and b.- .i. pho,p .arn'
often vc ,p.enl iu deep clear va
ter. mingled with reddish, white
foam. " ,aw Il Je iiful ia.tsuc'
OF thi, Kind one nigh ia perfect!
s,Iiland smooth water, d lonely bsl
of l.ipon. It was pitch 4rk and per
fectly quiet, when a Alvy shower o
ain came gu Ia large but ,'cH.e drsps
Every drop as il struck the water be
anne Illuminated, little drops of tr
sprung up in lhc air, aud a l.a.6 lu
minons circle grmed itself IL sean
ed as ii the ba, was suddenly fllle'
with little aowc Of ire This phe
uomenou was ain 3,i Immediately dis
. ,ipa.ed by pua & wind.