The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1870-11-11
A SEA PHENOMENON.
Long white Waves OF Light Floating
Refund a ship.

The kolnichc Zeitung publishes the
following, dated Gulf of Siam, April
II, 1870:
'Last night, between two and three
o'clock, [ had an opportunity of wit
Messing an illumination of the sea of
the most peculiar kind. 1t had be-
como quite calm, after sharp breeze
which he'd sprung zap from the north
northwest, caused by passing storm
in the distance. Heat-ighUning was
still very frequent i'll the west hOri-
Zon, and the sky was covered with
light clouds, through which the moon
shone rather brightly. We took in
sail and set the engine going. then
noticed on the water large white
flakes, which l first took TO be the re-
Election of the moon they were about
a fathom in diameter, apparently lus-
terless and of no particular shape,
like objects seen lying deep i'll the
water. By the rising and falling of
the seas surface, these flakes floated
OF to a short distance from the ship
without imparting any noticeable
brightness to the water, Illuminated
by the moons rays. After steaming
further forward for six or seven
knots. a most wonderful spectacle
presented itself. On both sides,
obliduely in front of us, long white
waves of light were seen floating to-
ward the ship, increasing in bright
ness and rapidity, till at last they al
most disappeared, and nothing was
observed but white, Iustreless, whirl-
ING (schtrirrendeS) light upon the wa
ter. After gazing for some time it
was impossible to distinguish between
water and sky and atmosphere, all
which were but Just now clearly dis
tinguishable, and thick fog Ill long
streaks appeared to be driving upon
the ship with furious swiftmess. The
phenomenon Of light was somewhat
Similar 10 that which would be pgO-
ducCd by the WhirliDg round OF ball
striped black and white, SO rapidly
that the white stripes seemed to be
lost and blended with the dark ones.
The light was just as if we were Gu
velOped in a thick white fog. The
| direction of the waves of light upon
| the ship was always OH both sides
Obliquely from the front. The pho
nomenon lasted about five minutes
and repeated itself once more after
ward, for about ono minute. Without
| doubt, shoals of small creatures in the
water were the cause of this luminOs
ity, and the waves of light find thcil
| cause according 10 my conviction, IN
the white flashes described. Yet
their moderate velocity of one and q
half geographical miles per hour, and
the weak light at first emitted by each
flake, so week as not to influence the
tint of the surface of the water, doe;
! not seem calculated 10 call forth {
| phenomenon of such magical effect a:
| the one described. The luminous ap
| pearance commonly seen i'll the wake
| of a ship cannot be compared will
| such a phenomenon as the above
In the former the light, lustrOus, glar
| ing green and blue, like phosphorus
| often very splendid in deepsclcar wa
| ter, mingled with Il reddish, whit,
foam. We saw a beautiful instanc
of this kind one night, in perfect,
still and smooth water, in lonely ba.
of Lipon. Ii was pitch dark and per
fectly quiet, when heavy shower @
rain came on in large but dense drop;
Every drop as it struck the water be
came illuminated, little drops Of fir
sprung up iii the air, and a little IL
! minous circle formed itself. 1t seem
ed as if the bay was suddenly file
with little flowers of fire. This pho
nomenon was almost Immediately di;
sipated by puff of wind