The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-16
ILLUSION TERRIFIED THE CREW.
Frost Rhine Produced Second Guilt
we're City PeopIed with Giants.
From the Philadelphia Times.

we're City Peopied with Giants.
From the Philadelphia Times.
No stranger reveal lion concerning a
most peculiar phenomenon, generally OBJ
served only at rare intervals in the in
accessible regions beyond the Arctic Cir
Gle, has probably ever been made than in
the story told by Capt. Irvine of the Brit
ish schooner Satellite, which arrived from
Newfoundland yesterday.
Although in a latitude far south OF
where the marvellous optical illusions have
their birth in the peculiar atmospheric
conditions of the frozen North, the crew
of the vessel mentioned have looked upon
the most weird of these curious manifes-
tations They have been afforded the I'M
usual spectacle of the frost rlme' IN all
its terrifying realism.
The frost rlme is in the nature of mir
age. Its popularity and the manner in
which 1t differs from the latter is the fact
that in IL the reflected mirage is magni-
fed to abnormal proportions. 1t has been
mentioned by Peary and other Arctic ex-
plorers and has been fully described by
DIR. Kane. Scientists have been disposed
to deny its existence. Capt. Irvine, how
ever, closely studied the frost rhine for
nearly two hours under most advanta-
geous conditions and has prepared a re-
markedly comprehensive report, which he
intends submitting to the Royal Geogra-
phical Society of England
When a Times reporter boarded the Sa-
tellite yesterday the captain gave a most
interesting account of his unique expert
ence. II is one certainly without parallel
in the cause of a vessel voyaging only to
Newfoundland.
'V. sailed from New York for Bluff
Hea4 about June 90 said Capt. Irvine
where we were to load a big cargo of
frozen fish. 1t was while entering that
port we saw this curious optical illusion
which l have often heard mentioned by
the Esquimaux when l sailed in the ergo
lite trade. incidentally I may say that
we all experienced the greatest scare we
ever had in our lives,
ut was on June so and shortly after
daybreak Floating ice was in the mar
row bay, and it was one of those cold,
dark mornings which always Expresses
one with a sense of gloom and fear Of i'm
pending danger.
Il was below at the time, and the first
intimation had of anything being wrong
was when the mate, wildeyed and shak-
ing with terror rushed into the cabin.
1.-The shore, the shore! he cried; look
at the shore
II hurried on deck and saw a spectacle
which we'll might appall the stoutest heart.
Imagine that peaceful little fishing vii
ment into a mighty collection of houses
of a size before which Guliver's portrayal
pales into significance. Men forty feet
tail walked the narrow streets, and dogs
enlarged by the mirage to the size of ele,
plants gamboled along the wherves and
nearby lands.
"On our ship terror reigned supreme,
The men threw themselves upon the deck
in abject fear. Two leaped into the sea.
The Satellite lost her steerage way and
grounded heavily on a bar where she re
manned many hours. l tried in vain TO
reason with the men. I told them that the
curiosity could be explained. After awhile
quiet was restored in a measure.
And now comes the strangest part OF
the story-the manner in which the frost
rime. as 1 then recognized 1t to be, was
dispelled
You remember that / told you enorm-
Gus dogs were playing in the streets. While
we watched one of these monsters at
tackled an Eiffel tower resident. He must
have fastened his teeth in the latter's leg,
for in an instant he had drawn-a revolver
and discharged it into the animals body.
The sudden report did the business. In
the twinkling of an eye the wild exager-
ated phantasma presented by the sea and
land gave way to peaceful serenity We
were nine miles from shore and Bluff
Head looked just as it would look when
viewed from that distance. OF course the
dogs the men and the little sloop men,
toned were imperceptible.
after we were pulled off the bar and
tied to the wharf 1 hurried in town to in
quire about the extraordinary delusion.
| Strange to say, no one seemed to know
| anything about it. The people laughed at
me and / was about to regard the whole
| thing as a hallucination when suddenly ]
came upon the body of the dead dog. He
| had been shot almost directly through the
heart.
The schooner was badly strained from
| being aground, and on our way down here
we were obliged to put in at Halifax for
| thirteen days to repair"
| -~-As-S-
AN AFRICAN LOVE CHARM