New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-15
REAL WILL~O'-THE-WISPS.
REMARKABLE DISPLAY In A FRENCH
HARBOR.

PHERIc CONDITIONS THAT FAVOR DISPLAY.
DR.. NJ A Blunard. in La Nature: Public Opin-
ions TRANSACTIONS.
The phenomenon known will-o'-the- wisp
appears rarely that its existence has been
doubted by some scientists. 1t Is OBSERVED
most frequently in graveyards and in muddy
channels In graveyards where the gas eS-
capes from the soil without traversing a layer
Of water the will-o'-the- wisp takes the form
Of long flame; in the water the gas escapes In
bubbles that take fire on reaching the air, pro-
ducing, when the air Is calm. white wreaths OF
phosporic anhydride. These phenomena can b
reproduced artifcialy with all their cnarac-
teristics by burying in moist sou or by throw
ing into water some calcium phosphde. SUD-
stance prepared by causing phosphorus vapour
to pass over red-hot lime. s- '."@. :.
Under the action of the water the phosphIde
gives off the gases hydrogen and hydrogen phos-
phde, which infiame spontaneously on coming
into contact with the oxygen or the arr inc
white rings are due to the combustion OF the
phosphorus which gives rise to phosphorio
anhydride. a white powder that takes the form
of wreaths. The formation Of wreathS Is due
solely TO the issue OF smoke through the cir
cular opening made by the bubble in issuing
from the water. All smoke while escaping sud-
denly through a circular hole forms similar
wreaths. "
had occasion during the months Of August
and September last to observe some very nu-
merous and intense will-o'-the-wisps in the port
of Crosic loire Inferieure). During severai
evenings especially about the middle OF August
the production of '-the-visps became so
abundant and manifested itself with so much
energy that the phenomenon was Aoticed by all
the bathers and sailors on the quays. The sail
ors particularly astonished for these Will
o. the-Wisps were entirely new to them.
The captain OF the port OF Croisic, although ne
had lived many years in the place. said tnat TINS
was the first time in his life that he had ever
seen these singular lights. 1t is unnecessary to
add that both bathers and sailors gave the most
fantastic explanations OF the phenomenon
owe II to the truth TO confess that at first !
thought II was the trick of some chemist, who
was amusing himself by throwing into the sea
sticks OF calcium phosphide; but this hypothesis
was not admissible. The bubbles were so large
that to produce them there would have been
required sticks of huge dimensions, not founo
In commerce Besides. the will-o-the-wisps re-
appeared every evening and over consideIao .1s
necessary 10 undergo a large expense quite as
proportionate TO simple practcal JOKE.
never saw any one throw the smallest OBJECT INTO
the sea.
Finally all my douh' were removed by the fact
that the bubbles Of gas, which were very large 10
August during the season or thunderstorms,
became smaller and smaller during september
as the temperature fell. Toward September ~
when the phenomenon ceased, only very sinai
bubbles appeared. though perhaps they were
more numerous and scattered over very erea'
surface. -.
II was then necessary to conclude that the
productive cause OF the phosphuretted hydrogen
underwent variations corresponding 10 tne
changes Of temperature and electric state OF inc
atmosphere Just as certain fernents decompose
mineral and organic bodies rich IN sulphur
and produce sulphure.ted hydrogen, so tnere
must exist in the waters Of the port or Croisic
ferments hitherto unknown. capable or decom-
posing phOsphates and organic substances ricu
in phosphorus. setting free phosphuretleu ny
drogen Now we know how atmospheric conoi-
lions act on ferments. On certain days, espe-
cially during thunderstorms, milk sours WIN
prodigious rapidly and meat also spofls In a
few hours.
I will close by giving some details regarains
the production of the will-o' the -wisps. Ihese
were very large and reproduced on a large scaie
the weIl-knovn experiment OF bubbles or pnos-
nhuretted hydrogen obtained by the action OF
water on calcium phosphide. | observed PLAINLY
the formation of the white fumes or pnos-
phoric anhydride and the characteristic odoe
~ garlic Wreatns were not produced, because
OF the constant agitation Of the air.
The bubbles occurred principally in the Two
basins that adjoin the ish-market. whence the
refuse Is often cast into the water especiaiiy
the heads OF sardines They rose somewhat IN
all parts OF these basins, but especially In Ger
tain localities where the tide would neap up the
refuse This part Of the port Of Croisic Is very
clean. and contains no mud. The bubbles some
times reached an enormous size l sa" nashes
so bright that the whole port was Illuminated
as If by lightning l noticed sometimes, Dus
ouite rarely regular series or bubbles IN
straight line as If the substance from winch
the bubbles were escaping were callieu oi'"o
by the current. $3.50
Some persons believe that the bubbles were
due 10 the putrefaction Of large jellyhsh, theu
unite abundant The production or the will-o-
the-wisps was coincident generally with the
nhosphorescence of the sea. another phenome-
non quite distinct from 1t and having quiss
another origin. I have nevertheless. ABOUT tno
Middle ~ September seen wi-o- the-wisps
when the sea presented no trace of phosphores-
cence.