CHAPTER XVIII.

PHANTOMS.

Phosphorescent light plays an important part in the composition of ghosts and phantoms; and the number of persons who believe that certain phenomena exist which cannot be explained by well-known natural laws is somewhat surprising. Some years ago I was introduced to a gentleman who was a firm believer in a modern Flying Dutchman. His house was upon a beautiful little bay, and from the piazza, he informed me that, more than once, he had seen a phantom ship. Sometimes it beat up the bay, the white sails showing distinctly at night. Again it was seen coming in directly against the wind, now appearing in one place, then in another, as fickle as the wind itself. On every other subject he was sane, and of more than ordinary intelligence; but some electric phenomenon or emanations from schools of fishes, together with a vivid imagination, had produced the phantom ship, which in his mind was a reality.

Many well remember the excitement occasioned around one of the New-York markets a number of years ago, by the appearance of a mysterious light. A fish-dealer’s assistant, who had occasion to enter the market late one evening, observed an unusual light there; and being an ignorant, superstitious fellow, he rushed out of the building and into a neighboring store, stating excitedly that the ghost of a former market-man was hovering about his old stand. A number of persons returned with him to the market, and there saw a light, a dull yellowish gleam, about six feet in length, proceeding apparently from some body lying in a recumbent position. The crowd pressed in, and found the ghost to be a large piece of fish that had become phosphorescent.

Such occurrences are not uncommon, and show that phosphorescence is not confined to any special place, object, or condition. As early as 1592 we read of its having caused surprise and astonishment among the Romans. Several young men having bought a lamb, and kept it over night for an Easter feast on the following day, were amazed to find that at night the flesh gleamed as if candles had been placed upon it. So much interest was aroused by the occurrence, that the animal was sent to a scientist of the day, Fabricio d’Acquapendente, for explanation; but it was as little understood then as it is to-day. This meat emitted a white light, and it was communicated to a piece of kid’s meat that was placed in contact with it.

Bartholin, the Danish philosopher, records an instance that excited much interest in his day. A poor woman had purchased a piece of meat; and, during the night having to go to the pantry, was terrified by observing that it was surrounded by a blaze of light. Many persons visited the house, and it was noticed that as soon as putrefaction commenced the light disappeared.

According to M. Nueesh, in a certain butcher’s shop the meat became strongly phosphorescent, and remained so as long as sound. If putrefaction set in, and _Bacterium termo_ made its appearance, the luminous appearance ceased. In many cases timid persons have thrown water upon such light, but without effect. Alcohol and certain acids, however, seem to extinguish it. Boyle was curious enough to place a piece of shining veal in the receiver of an airpump, which had no perceptible effect upon it, showing that there was no combustion, as we understand it. He also used his luminous meat as a lamp, and states that it made a “splendid show.” A printed paper was placed over the light spots, and the type made out without difficulty.

If heat is given out by this light, the instruments of the present day fail to show it. Every surgeon has had experience with this phenomenon in the course of his studies, yet it is still unexplained.

We have observed living forms producing light from special plates, or from the mucilaginous envelope of their bodies, and when dead the same curious light appears for a limited time. Dr. Phipson examined a luminous ray with great care, thinking to find traces of phosphorus in the luminous grease, but it was entirely wanting. The little boring-shell pholas, which we have seen is a brilliant light-giver when alive, is equally so after death; its luminosity continuing in honey for a year, as previously described.

A boat containing dead mackerel often presents the appearance of being loaded with coals of fire, each fish gleaming with a soft phosphorescent light, that seems to arise in the greasy mucus which covers them. Place one of these luminous fishes in the water, and the latter will soon assume a like appearance. Vegetables piled in cellars often appear phosphorescent, especially potatoes and cantaloupes. In a case of the former, a servant seeing the brilliant light gave an alarm of fire, arousing the neighborhood. The men rushed in, and the cellar was well flooded before it was discovered that some unoffending potatoes were the cause of the alarm.