The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-12-06
SEA LIGHTS THAT LIVE.


The wake is not infrequently defined as
clearly in this way as though the ship
herself were huge lump of phosphorus,
driven through yielding body possess
ing definite amount of friction. In a
steamship, more especially, the globe
trotter has many an opportunity of
witnessing such never-to- be-forgotten
Every sea that breaks on board occa-
sionally appears as though it were cas-
cade bearing innumerable miniature
electric lights, and each wave crest is
distinctly indicated by the phosphores-
cent glow, due to the presence thereon
of countless tiny sea creatures. AS
Shelley sang:
while the surf like chaos of stars, like rout
OF death flames, like whirlpOols of fire flowing
iron,
With spendour and terror the black ship environ,
fire
In fountains squirt over it,
Allowing little for poetic license, or
what Jack would term coming up"
Shelley's description of a phosphores-
cent sea is not SO very far removed from
sober fact That celebrated American
ship-master. Capt. S. Samuels, who
brought the Dreadnaught from Sandy
Hook to Queenstown in nine days and
fifteen hours, thus making the sailing
ship record, has given, in his autobi-
ography, q vivid word picture of his ex-
perience at Java. Men-of-war boats
towed out to sea the good ship then
commanded by Capt. Samuels. One
hundred voices kept tune, while as
many oars kept time. The oars seem
ed to dip into molten silver and
as they rose myriads of diamonds
appeared to drop from them. TO en-
nance the encbantment of the scene,
the many sharks which abound in
those waters darted hither and thither,
leaving streaks in their wake which
We're only comparab bic to fOrked light
ming. In those days there was time for
a full appreciation of the romance OF
the sea. Sir Wyville Thomson, during
the cruise of II. NJ. S Challenger. found
it quite All easy matter, when off the
Cape \'erdes, to read the smallest print
in his cabin solely by the light emitted
by the tiny sea creatures churned up by
the ship. Her wake was simply blaze
OF phosphorescence. At Pabellon de
Plea. on the west coast of South Amer
lea, some very luminous sea surface dis
plays are experienced by vessels at an
chor in the bay. During the day the
surface water alongside appeared to be
of dirty purple color. although quite
colorless in a glass. Every night for
quite week, without intermission the
sea surface was so brilliantly phosphor-
escent that the time could readily be
determined 10y its aid from a watch,
and the ships names on their stems
We're plainly visible to passing boats.
TO. If., 14T
world a reference to a log book shows
Shanghai the sea surface was extremely
phosphorescent: the light was vivid
enough to permit of moderate print be
ing read i'll the flashes. although the
night was otherwise very dark.
Outside OF Alden bay species of lum-
nous yapor appeared to linger tremu-
lousy on the sea surface The belt was
about 300 yards i'll length, aud connect
ed with very luminous water to the
eastward. Probably this semblance of
vapor may be rightly attributed to an
optical illusion, and the cause sought
for among the luminous little creatures
of the surface directly beneath. At
times the sea surface is like a vast
heaving mass of metal at white heat,
rather than an abiding place for tens
OF thousands of tiny points of light.
If anything, this form of luminosity
is the more owe-inspirlng. Off the
entrance to the Persian gulf the
sea suddenly became smooth. In one
short hour the whole horizon seemed
gorgeously illuminated. Shortly after
wards the vessel entered large area
of water of most dazzling brilliancy;
the sea was exactly similar in appear
n l-C1ty md In 11r,,
chuned up water which looked like
milk. \ bucket of water drawn from
over the side seemed quite clear, but
some placed in a bottle plainly indi-
Gated the presence of countless ami
malculH. Just eastward of Socotra a
similar experience is not uncommon. Off
there steamship commanded by Capt.
j. McKirdy, r. \. R., now marine SUI
perintendent of the Shaw, Savill & AL
bion Co., ran into a large patch of wa
ter which looked rs white as milk. AL
though the night was dark vessel S
Starboard light of green would have
been difficult to pick up under its in
huence Half way between Socotra
and Colombo a sailing ship had the sea
surface suddenly assume a milk white
appearance at night, without sparkle
Next night the curious creatures again
made themselves similarly manifest.
She seemed to be sailing through an ex-
tensive meadow covered with a spotless
sheet of snow. Within an interval of a
few hours over one hundred flying fish
came on board and We're picked up by
the crew. Apparently the ocean area
thus affected was an approximate
square of four degrees wide. Occasion
ally the sea is sphorescent, while at
the extremities of mastS and yards
are examples of electric discharge
known as corposants. Some years ago
the Wisconsin, when near Sandy
Hook, experienced a terrible thunder
storm. At each masthead and yard
arm there flickered corposant of re-
markable splendor, and all around. as far
as the eye could reach, the sea appeared
to be million of dimples OF liquid
shining silver Not unfrequently, if a
tumblerful of luminous water be kept
in dark room for some hours and APP
parently phosphoresent properties have
departed from it, they can be renewed
with less effect by agitating the water
with the fingers. Sailors are seldom
provided with microscopes OF Latin die
tionaries Hence it is worse than affec-
tation, it is downright fraud on con-
tiding public, to boldly rush into print
with detailed description of the APP