The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-02-10
ST. ELMO'S FIRE.
The Mystic Flame that Burned and
Shocked q Young Midship ipman.

The following account Of an electric
al phenomenon, which was witnessed
on the British ship John O. Gaunt, ap-
peared in the San Francisco Bulletin,
over the signature of II. Foord Clark,
the ships physician:
During the evening of Nov. %, 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
consequent on watching the waterspouts
was over, I retired, and had just made
myself ready for the night when the
chief officer came to me on to the poop.
On my arrival there I perceived a
bright globe of light at the mizzen-roy-
al mast, of 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. I recognized it as the magic
light of st. Elmo. / observed it care
fully for some time, and was wishing
that could climb the mast and make
n 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
attempted, and in that way aiding the
knowledge of my fellow-men. Hav-
ing distinctly instructed the young man
to take dilligent notice of everything,
however trihing it might appear
to him, and knowing he could be
ro);,J ~, fo- dot, 10 boror h;o
ascent. On his arrival at the point
where the flame appeared he was
heard to cry out. ooh! it is hot" and
all was silence. After waiting few
seconds he was hailed by the captain
himself, telling him to come down, but
no answer could be got. Another
midshipman was sent. In a short
time both were safely on deck and our
minds relieved.
"On arrival on deck the young man
appeared dazed and complained of
having burned his thumb, and / at
once took him to my lighted cabin to
ascertain the amount of injury. On
examination l 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 deg. 15 min. The
patient stated that on his arrival at the
seat of the electric phenomenon the
flame assumed distinctly blush color
and was apparently attached to the
mast in much the same way rs the
flame to the wick of candle. On
touching it with his left hand (his right
meantime holding on to the mast) he
received distinct electric shock and
felt his finger burnt. Great cardiac
disturbance took place and spasmodic
respiration combined with loss of pow
er, 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 a good one
for transmission of sound.
"The numbness of the arm passed
away in about an hour, but the thumb
continued painful till next morning,
when he seemed all right again, and
returned to his duty. After the exper-
iment ordered him to his bunk, Civ
ing him a stiff glass of rum and allow
ing him to smoke.
HMy young operator in this most in.
teresting experim ent is clear-headed
young man, aged 20, son Of a general
in the British army, and a capital sub
iect to work on the case. He was al
the time 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. 126 deg. 40 min. west, steering
north-by-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 to know more o.
this interesting flame."
/ rs