Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-11-04
GEOLOGICAL CURIOSITY.
rom q Clrrkabnrg Infeaigencer.
HARRisoS CoUsrr. Va. Oct.

] road leading from Harrisburg up biA
Greek to 8ooth's Ferry, and wilhn 81
miles from the latter place, on The pre-
misses OF David Hall, company has
been for some time engaged at inter
walls, in boring for salt; they com
menced IN the bed of The Greek upon
solid rock: at the distance OF about
"a feet, they struck allrge vein of beau
| tiul water, exceedingly cold, and
little brackish 10 the Taste, which DIS
charges itself at the top OF a small gum
inserted into the rock, abou, Is inches
high At the distance OF about 1lS
feet, they passed through rich vein,
or bed of copper, about a feet in thick
ness; anG at the depth of about $50
feet, they opened a strong vein or bed
of copper, about d feet IN thickness;
and atthc depth OF about 100 feet, they
opened strong vein Of wind, which
!instantly found vent at the top OF the
well in tremendous roaring and spout.
ing OF water, throwing up perpendieu
lar columns OF that element to the dis
lance OF so feel! Although the dia-
meter of the well is not more than
ct inches, it is supposed there is not
less than l60 gallons of water discbar.
ged in ore minute of iime!,- For some
distance round this perpendicular shoot
of water, plays an imperceptible gas
or vapor so very inflammable, as in
! stantly to take fire whenever that ele.
menl comes in contact with it, The
| verge Of the circumference OF this gas
is not perceptible, therefore those who
are not acquainted with its ignitable
qualities, in the act of putting fire 10
this curious lamp OF nature. have found
themselves enveloped in fame, and
pretty well singed before they hal any
idea Of being within reach OF lis tou b!
1t has been tried in vain TO extinguish
the fame with water.
The only effectuai method is 10 smo
| Their it with large cloth, which can
only he applied " hen the spouting and
fine has somew hat abated. The in
tervals between the times of spouiing
are uncertain, it has been known to
spout two or three times in week
and may be seen to spout at any time.
| by putting down the poles after tie
we'll mas been eight or zen days occu.
pied.
From the Hartford, Conn. Mirror of Oct. 16
/ Spontaneous CombUstion-A rare
and fearful case of spontaneous com
bustion is now going on in this city -
, Mr. Hanks, the proprietor of the Air
Furnace at Dutch Point, had deposited,
during the month Of August last, about
$500 bushels Virginia coal in his coal
s.; house, situated at one end OF the main
/ building, under the nould room. From
this heap, constant use had been made
for the supply of The Furnace, without
observing any thing peculiar until the
18Th OF the present month, 20 tober,)
when the smell having excited the at
tention Of the workmen, the heap was
opened, and found-to he in a state Of
ignition to considerable extent. Sc
veral upright posts, which support the
floor above. and which are surround
ed by the coal, are found to be COM
pIetely charred two or three inches
deep, ifnot entirely through. The coal
house is without a floor, and, conse
quently, the coal rests on the ground;
and to this circumstance, it is most pro
bahle, the combustion is owing.
Mr.. Hanks states, that the coal,
when deposited in its present situation,
was perfectly dry, and that neither
moisture nor any substance coad have
been introduced from above. l. is most
probable, therefore, that the comhus
ton is in consequence of the heat pro-
duced by The absorption OF the oxygen
Of the water, from the ground, by the
sulphur and iron contained in the coal.
Ifthis is the pro. er explanation, floor
Of boards, instead of ground floor,
would have prevented the combustion.
! (These cases OF combustion arc not
rare in this part Of the country, in cases
where the coal is exposed TO the action
! of the atmosphere, and particularly
when the rain has access TO it.-Nat Int.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 26 "A gen
! lleman received remittance from Tia.
vana few days ago of $270, in notes
of the Newark, N J. Elkton, Md.
and Bank OF Potomac, and on pre-