Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-11-26

an emanation that IL highly phosphoF
escent, causing the phenomenon term
ed "will-o-the-wisp." or elf fire." Il
Is not reasonable to suppose that
there Is some relation, in respect tc
cause, between the will-o'-the-wisI
(Which occasionally misleads unfor
tunate travellers into Doggy places)
and the corpse candles" said to be
often seen moving about in the mys
terious and awesone darkness Of
cemeteries? The "sheeted dead" are
alleged to carry these candles in their
ghostly hands when they walk about
among the graves at night.
The skeleton of an adult human
being contains about four pounds OF
the metal calcium. This, In fact, ID
the most abundant metallic element
of the body structure. In the fluids
Of the body, also. there is good deal
Of it. But calcium and phosphorus,
when combined, form a selfignitable
substance. Indeed. water will set II
on fire. II bit Of phosphide Of cal
cium be dropped into saucer OF wa
ter. 1t will instantly burst into flame.
on which account, in the laboratory.
to protect 1t from dampness, 1t has
to be kept in an alright jar.
Three other self-ignitable sub
stances. all of then metals. are con.
tanned in the human body. One Of
these (about two ounces in quantity
is the silvery-white magnesium-of "a
miliar use for fiashlight purposes By
photographers. The other two are
sodium and potassiun-rather mora
than five ounces of each. A piece Of
the former, II thrown into water.
bursts into rosy flame, and swims
about violently on the surface until
burned out The latter is likewise set
afire by contact with water, on touch
ing which 1t explodes like fireworks
throwing a shower Of sparks into the
air. As for magnesium, it is so fierce
ly combustible that It has to be kent
tightly corked In glass bottles. to pre.
vent 1t from igniting.
Thus is appears that the bnr.r
body contains, in considerable opanti-
ties, quite a number Of substancas
which are self-ignitable, and fiercalv
10, on coming into contact with watar
The marvel is that we refrain from,
going of by spontaneous combusfion
70 to speak. while we are alive when
burned, these substances, of course
convert themselves into gases which
ire luminous. Under favorinp gr.r
ara conditions 1.-THE processes of do.
Jay going on very gradually, tbav
'ass on slowly. by evaporation ana
lot IN any such way as that above 40
criDed. They present Themselves ~
ne view. in darkness, as mere 49, -
cai Observation-Disclosures h,own
oou1 oy light airs, or dissipated on
rely Tor the moment by 4 nass;nr
ust OF wind. In all probability thas
onsist mainly Of phosphorus.
one cannot capture a ghost =, .s,u
IND. II cannot be trapped IN hns
bottle and conveyed to a sc;an.is~
iooratory for examination or ana,n
IS. Hence 1t is likely that the ,r,'.
of phantoms win forera.
smain as much mystery as n -
ay. But (supposing the theory No.
= forth to be correc9 1t is q corsors
Know In general way. what grava
ard spectres are made Of. $50
When people are murdered GA
leir bodies Gas often hapens, ars
lried In cellars or other damn n,.o 81
'eir ghosts. for the chemical rsasors
ready given. are particularly IiLa,v
walk So says Prof. Charles =
unroe. famous chemist. and dean :
the George Washington univsrs,tr !,
no even goes SO far as to declare
at he could at pinch produce -
5 laboratory phantoms IN All IN
rtant respects correspondent
ose which graveyards are popn,ar,v RI
pposed to manufacture. II