New-York tribune., 1909-11-07

size o; ships. which were moving about and
humping together ike fleet the widest
disorder. Passing beyond the belt, they dis
appeared one by one as Il they had been sunk
m the conflict
The mirage oftentimes Is so real IS 70 deceive
any but trained observers. Only the eyes of
explorers and Arctic sailors can, at times, de
teCt the illusion. and such detection Is highly
important, as the visions are o. course totally
misleading. The unknown islands Of mirage
that appeared N the ocean caused long search
for them Toy Swedish sailors before their Elusive
character was finally understood
The AurOra's Wonders
RUT III other Arctic pictures. as well as all
~ other sights the earth can offer, pale before
the Aurora Borealis, more commonly known as
the Northern Lights. This unique phenom-
enon with al rs infinite diversity, IS stll one OF
the magnetic mysteries of science. The first
one I encountered was shaped like a cyclone
taper.ng downward nearly 10 the surface OF the
sea- and expanding upward nearly 10 the
zenith II was Ike flmy cloud or vel ot pale
greenish blue. Il was undulatlng something
Ike the heated ar from a dIator. 4 lanbent
aarue. Il swung gently from side 10 side IS Il
some great hand Was moving II gently Its
whole movement Was q slow one from east 70
west Flashes 81 deeper hight of The same color
would illuminate parts az it, ana bands "i t-t
...r-e llgf- would now and then dart upward 10
the zenith. Alternately elongatlng and con
tracing II would occasionally burst out over
In -he northern and northwestern sky m SPIN
l',- AZ light. BunChes of these spindirs would
"a. .rce m a. moment INTO ribbons waving one
above another and suddenly changing -Alo
n'Uv lacelke patterns
Touches 81 color would appear-and such
wonderful harmony Tone would change 10
tfrlts url-rna tlc hueS 20 delicate shades, making
the most charming combinations, al seeming
Is e.ft as ,haugeaile six. waving this way ana
q q rs|ff o. al ar g.
ward The whole mas suddenly would lean
- the northwest. fare brightly, ana olas pear
As refer o. my notes ! find that the hight was
intense enough al time O. cast the sha uo"S %.
the rigging upon the snow covered ot'E. b-t
fle r,i,-nOrrenon was SD e-~cntially thlng IN
it-,lt seemed 50 alive, that its effect, Ike that
of tie sun dogs, Was unCanny silent silH'
rl,sterious. slowly undulatlng ana genuy
moving u told al great mysterious P'"Sis
that filed ones mind with awe
EVERY shade that the mind can conceive IN
au the colors that can b. imagined may De
2 ken iv these luminous clouds. Ihey are hol
.f,.ig-. Iut tins word alone can convey the
visual effect. They may IN the Sillie ne" -
"a great scroll like band 81 paper "l lili1I.l.' il,
,.,,.tI lluNound from measurelcss reel NJ
.-,,,,4a.-tirslle ribbon effect may change sud
.l.niv INTO q continuous line Of golden laths oI
l.r,.s a drOUpIng ram of Colorcd hfe- II"iH
f,sIsw the hOTIzon the phenomenon may "II','I
Is tive lr1ad radIatIng bands oi rainio" SYl"i
rising o. the zenith, moving ba' - an -
,rsri with q quiverlng motion, slowly ianlNs
svav INTO darkness, % rcapIear Win S~Ht ~
,.srd flashing darts oi pale green. lheh tie
,.i.,l. harilou blushes with most delicate aiAuea
.rf 'luf-. which sweep swhtly from W. 7,
~, l,k, wave of phosphorescent hight rolling
,- froru the lImitless ocean ot space. An"lNeI
f..r-,, would appear. famelke. but 50 thin iI
.i,.,..lry that The stars could be- seen throuRh
tf, gsuzc vapor n movement a. u kuln'H
Iy IN invisible hand Described ser"n iike '.i',ia
Z, 49,, 80 -, 49,. heaven. leaving luminous trails
gi.,,b .Io,lv died out again, burst oi gioN
,ng lght. united IN yellow and crimson. - on,
-Ith,,.it listing only long enough 10 create q"
f.,Iing unlike auy other ever eAperieiie'n'