Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-27
ST. ELMO'S FIRE.
The Mystic Flame that Burned and
shocked a Dung MidshIpmaR.

The following account of an electrical
phenomenon which was witnessed on
the British ship John O'Gaunt appeared
in the San Francisco Bulletin, on Janu
ary ID, over the signature of ii. F0ord
Clark, the ships physician:
During the evening of November 20,
1880, the atmosphere had been disturbed
and had presented to our gaze five won
derful waterspOuts, one of great size and
volume. After the excitement conse-
quent on watching the waterspouts was
over | retired, and had just made myself
ready for the night when the chief officer
came to call me on 10 the poop. On my
arrival there perceived bright globe
OF light at the mzzen royal mast, of a
clear yellow tint, burning steadily, and
unaffected either by the motion of the
ship or by the wind, the globe being
about the size of a large tumbler re-
c0gnized it as the magic fire of st. Elmo.
observed it carefully for some time, and
was wishing that could climb the mast
and make a nearer view of this magic
flame when one of our midshipmen came
forward and volunteered to ascend.
Here, then, was my chance of making
an experiment through medium which
l believe has never before been attempt
ed, and in that way aiding the knowl-
edge of my fellow-men. Having dis
tinctly instructed the young man to take
diligent notice of everything, however
trifling it might appear to him, and
knowing he could be relied on for data,
he began his ascent. On his arrival at
the point where the fame appeared he
was heard to cry out, "Oh 1t is hot, !"
and all was silence. After waiting a
few seconds he was hailed by the Cap
tain and myself, telling him to come
down, but no answer could we get. An
other midshipman was sent. In short
time both were safely on deck and our
minds relieved
'On arrival on deck the young man
appeared dazed, and complained OF hav-
ing burned his thumb, and | at once
took him to my lighted cabin to ascer-
tain the amount of injury. Ga examlna-
tion found the pupils of his eyes very
much dilated and unaffected by light,
the thumb of the left hand drawn and
very painful and the whole of the arm
distinctly numb. The pulse (taken on
the affected side) 115, temperature 102
degrees. 10 minutes. The patient stated
that on his arrival at the seat of the
electric phenomenon the flame assumed
a distinctly blush color, and was appar.
emily attached to the mast in much the
same way as the flame TO the wick of
candle. On touching it with his left hand
(his right meanwhile holding on TO the
mast) he received a distinct electric
shock and felt his finger burnt. Great
cardiac disturbance took place and
spasmodic respiration, combined with
entire loss of power, with numbness of
hand and arm. also temporary deafness,
shown-by his not having heard us call
to him from the deck-the night being
q good one for Transmission of sound.
''The numbness of the arm passed off
in about an hour, but the thum5 con-
tinued painful till next morning, when
he seemed all right again, and returned
to his duty. After the experiment |
ordered him to his bunk, giving him
stiff glass Of rum and allowing him to
smoke.
MY young operator in this most in
teresting experiment is a clear headed
young man, aged twenty, son of a
General in the British army, aud a capi-
tai subject to work out the case. He was
at the lime of the experiment in perfect
health.
About fifty seconds after it was
touched the flame disappeared and did
not again appear.
The ship was in lat. % deg. south
and lon. 1876 deg. 40 min. west, steering
north by east half east, with the wind
southeast The Captain, mate and
several others were on the poop during
the whole time of the experiment, and
equally anxious with myself 10 know
more of this interesting flame"