Show ST. ST EL ELMS S 'S FIRE FIR The rhe phenomenon of a phosphorescent light at the masthead is one so rarely wit rarely i by bv others than superstitious saili sailors sail sail- sai- sai i ors rt th that thit t it is seldom one finds an aa Itel- Itel Intelli- Intelli t gt nt g-nt nt acco account nl of it i It The fo lowing by tIc rev air r. r Mason of Burmah is Is therefore of On m one ic oCta ion I was wa with others on onboard b board b urd a d. srn Iral maIi ill schooner it t anchor off of T Point when a a severe s squall of wind ald i ml rain rai accompanied by much thunder an and J lightning came cae on OI After the storm storia be began an to abate we were te aro aroused b bv b ba a elY on deck There J. J here is a abali u ball bali of lire at al t the it masthead We went up iii p and sa sav t w w what hat is very rarely seen sen the lire cf of St St. St 1 Elmo mo or the tIe ore fire fre of or StElmo St St. S1 Elmo tre and St St. St Ann Anne It exhibited an appearance quite quie different from all al the te teI I descriptions 1 h have hi read says Lord 1 Napier ie ed the fire of oia StElmo St SE Elmo in the during du a fearful fearful fear fear- fer- fer ful thunderstorm Il As he be was wa retiring to rest ret a cry ery from th those se aloft alof St Elmo and St St. Anne induced him to BO go o odeck on on deck The rhe was vat completely enveloped enveloped enveloped en en- in in a blaze blae of pale phosphoric light The Thc St St. St Elmo that I saw aW SW did not envelop envelop envelop en en- the the- the masthead in a blaze at al all all- allbut but it took the ho form of a ct globe lobe of phosphoric light perhaps a foot in m diameter diem diem- dla eter It Jt was not on the summit of the mast but touched it on one ont side playing playing about it when the vessel essl epi rolled as a large soap bubble bubble a a. trifle lighter than th the air air After remaining some ten minutes the tho te light grew fainter and hn finally ill died out like Ie a a. soap bubble Youths Youth's Youth s Companion |