The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15
A PUZZLE TO SCIENTISTS
Origin Of the Phenomenon Known
as Ignis Fatuus.
Curious Facts About the VIII o. the
Misp or Jack o. Lantern Opin-
Vary ~ 20 Their Make Up-Gen-
orally Found In FogEy Valleys.

Nothing has proved greater puzzle for
scientists than the phenomenon commonly
called Ignis Fatuus. VIII O. the Wisp or
Jack o. Lantern. Nevertheless, II has
been sung Of in prose and verse" for many
centuries. and every person living in coun-
try districts is acquainted with the little
body of light which dances at night like
FREELY over the most desolate and barren
wastes.
The opinion Of science upon the matter,
although it has never amounted to a DEM
onstration. is that these meteOrs are in
fact nothing more than real exhalation
from the earth. as vaporous gas. or some
other weaker substance. combined with
the matter Of light and heat, or even with
both mixed, which has been elected either
from animal. vegetable. or mineral sub
stances. They are at all times Of a rare
and subtle matter and are mostly gener-
ated in low. marshy plains. though at
times. but rarely. they may be seen on the
tops Of lofty mountainous tracts. where
DOGGY springs are situated.
To the weak minded and the supersti-
tious they are a source Of real terror. and
It Is probable that they have frequently led
a timid and benighted traveller into the
dangerous boys and quagmires where they
are generated. Oliver Goldsmith. in his
poem of the Hermit. alludes to this fact IN
the following couplet:
Forbear. my son. the hermit cries.
To tempt the dang rous gloom.
For yonder iaithlsss phantom flies,
To lure thee TO Thy doom.
The learned designate these luminous ex-
halaticns Ignes Fstui, or mock fires. and
the country people call them VIII o. the
Wlsp and Jack o. Lanterns. and when seen
at sea or near the coast they are called
Mariners Lights or st. Helmo's Fires.
To account for the true cause Of these
singular appearances has occupied much OF
the time and labor OF the most skillful nat
uralists and philosophers. but a completely
successful explanation has never been
given. The principal authorities who have
written upon the subject have been Eng
iishmen. and among these may be promi
nently mentioned the Rev. Mr.. Dereham
and Sir Thomas Dereham F. Willoughby
and Mr.. Ray, with others. think that Ignes
Fatui are only the shining OF a great mum
Der Of male glow worms. Some Italian au-
thorities concur in this opinion. This is
disproved. however. by the account Of one
traveller, who asserts that he approached
near enough to a fame Of this description
10 ignite a piece Of paper. which he found
upon extinguishing the fire TO be covered
with thick oily fluid. lt was only with the
greatest difficulty he says that he ap-
proahed near enough to the lgnis Fatuis
for this purpose. as it regularly retreated
as he advanced which he attributed to the
motion OF air produced By the movements
of his body.
Dr. Dereham records that in a valley be-
tween Rocky Hills which he suspected
might contain minerals he saw an ignus
fatuus on a calm. dark night. He got up
to within two or three yards Of it. ard
viewed It with all possible care Tie found
il frisking about a dead thistle growing in
the field. till a small motion Of air made
it skip from place to place 1T appeared"
he says. like a complete body Of light
without any division. so that u could rot
be occasioned by insects. but FIRE vapor.'
In some localities these phenomena rivs
as much light as a torch. but generally
they are no larger than the flame Of 4
candle. All Of them have the same prop
erty. both in color and light. lame
strong enough to reflect a lJstre on the
objects around. They are continue ly in
motion and are constantly changing in
shape spreading sometimes very v ide. and
then again contracting Themselves; some
times breaking. to all appearance. into TWO
parts, then meeting again and appearing
as one; then floating like waves and drop
ping sparks as if out Of a fire. They are
observed more frequently in the depth Cf
winter. when the ground is covered with
snow, than in the hottest summer. and
throw a stronger light in wet weather than
when it is dry. Accounted for in various
ways. the ignus fatui still remain a puzz
to scientists.