Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-08-28

From the Washington Examiner. I
IHE PHENlME NON

N.
The curiosity of ihs public mind, has been oonsi-
ueraby excited oy the report of the appearances pre-
sented 10 the view at Mr.. VI Cooks salt works, near
Sanonsburgh. The object of this pro,luc ,ion !. ,o
give some idea Of the place the appcaranres ,ba,
sike the eye when there, the circumstances that pre-
Ceded those appear ances, and the nature of the
mat caused thenl-or the satisfaction of those who
nave not had AN opportunity OF seeing and Judging for
themselves. 800 80
The place is situated about mile Yves, of the turn
PIKE road, between Washington and Canonsburrf.
SIX miles from the former and two miles from the In,
ter place, ON branch OF Charters creek The I,anIs
oil The creek, al this place, low, and appear n. II
mey had formerly constituted part of It's channel
The ground is considerably elevated AT the disf,pc I
neen to twenty feet from the stream aud the well is
between ti,e creek and il.
Itappears that Mr.. MCuok had been enrared
boring Tor salt water, Induced do So from the Cir
cumstaDcc oi small quantities of salt having been
FOUND IN the creek bottom) had pro essed from four
to hye hundred feet below the surface OF the ground
and maj actually discovered current of water strong
" Jmpregnated with suit About this lime me ner-
ceved that some AIR was making its escape from the
mouth OF the well, but i; no uncommon occu,-
renee, particular notice not taken of IT, His
tubes for the purpose OF preventing "a mixture of tlc
salt and fresh water Of the we'll were Introduced and
SAT- water was raised in short tine in Sc, great a
quantity, TO enable him realize about three hun
dred dollars worth oil salt BY the inadyertency OF
some person, Tie pipes sunk nearly Que hundred
JeSt below the place from whence was supposed te
gas issued IL had, therefore, to force itself no bv
We SIDES Of the tubes, the consequence of which was
yeyiny Tie water, and oil course, die works ceased
IL was not until this tino The gas was found IS
sYDs from any other place tlian the well tLcn il
was discovered making its escape at several places TO
The DISTANCE Oh sixty or seventy PAGES up aud down
TIE stream, and W placing tubes foot in ougtl ip,-
mcdtiely over these places, and applying a lighted
naleb the gas took IRE, aud biazed very wildly viii,
Oiussh dame, until c%iInguiscJ, presenting al night
yery brilliant apperlDcss
The Else Of tao gas in tho well intermits For a
lew seconds t;g surface viii be quite calm and IN
rbibcd. The Rubbing sound of the ascending ras
VlH thou be beard, w1Icn will at length burst forth
WITT load nyisc, agltttIuy the water violently These
ptermission' are, however, by means fcgular-
USnig sometimes 9" longer shorter dnratiou The
nambor % streams ot water which enter the WE'LL has
weakcucd Tue salt water very much. II has however
Oiaekish taste sensible peculiar favor being
luumouicatsd by the gus TO IT,
VI iias been the suppOstiOn Of many, that this 1uid
p what ~ called uie s4pfdtea h1QyOgea ers indgc.
~ no doubt to believe 20, lrou the blue appearance
Q. i1e lame, when set dre Experiment however.
cOn'nccs me Iat II dJes coniain an, lpl,ur II
therefore cannot be tue gas spoken d. Others ha.
Supposed uift II the Orylsipdic acid or cligri,e
g-and eery plausi1y, too, OH account Of the pre-
stnee Of tac udriato Of soda. do not, however, tnk
u eau be THIS gas, Is II - destitute both Of the pecuil-
az smell aud green color that characteristics H. and
fcnders IL easily dIslisguishabie from all OILERS
Inc sds ~ question IS possossed of the following
propcrUes, viz
T. Il is very uGanmabIe, aud burns with blue
haLe
2. IL HIS disagreoablc smoU which is soon disco.
Nered W standing over tile mouth Of the well from
winch 1t escapcs
{? il - considerably lighter than atmospheric air
y thJlSh inIoiDmahe itself, il Will immediately
eNHsgei.h I,FDiug bodies, wien immersed in it,
D. II refnnmss 1n.,bsofbed V1ef ~aitr.