Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-07-27
COMMUNICATION-FO, the y,,rin,an.

visit not long since 10 one of the western
counties of our State, afforded me an opponu-
nifty of seeing n curiosity, which, though not of
much fame. Is not destitute of interest, and is
at least entitled 10 passing notce-and per-
haps short description of II may not prove
unacceptable 10 YOU, aud not altogether UNI
interesting 10 some of Your readers. Indeed,
the whole scenery OF the western portion OF our
Slate, Al once grand. bold aud sometimes ter
rife, would furnish a lat subject TOR a graphic
pen, aud could not fail to awaken the liveliust
interest aud excite the most unqualified admi-
ration the never failing variety of hills aud
mountains, ofroeks and precipicss aud enta.
racts would arrest the attention even of those
who have been accus smed 10 contemplate the
works of NATURE in her widest mood Aud
should the eye OF the traveller wish TO turn from
scenes like these TO others OF loyelier kind he
will find enconpassed IN those mountains, aud
in the very bosom oil those hills the most beau
tiful valles and the sweetest landseapes-whose
beauty aud sweetness seem 10 borrow an add
tional charm from their striking contrast with
the rudeness and ruggedneSs around them.
The curiosity, which II is my purpose TO in
trodnce 50 your notice, is appropriately called
the Ice Mountain. II stands in the county of
Hampshire, not far distant from the road lead.
ing from Winchester 10 Romney, aud near u
small stream called the North river. II is not
of very great altitude nor are its sdesvery steep
or preclpitous. About n half mile, or perhaps
more, of that side fronting he VESTS formed
enfr'ly of stone from its base To very near its
summit These siones, varying IN weight from
one TO ten or twenty pounds, lie loosely together
and may be easily removed with the haud-no
earth ofauy consequence being found among
them, oil course no trees can g,ow there, and
the only shrubs 10 be found are a few wild cur.
rant bushes.
The side of the above mentioned n,onutain is
fully expo ed to the rays oil the sun. from . or
10 O'Clock in The morning until sun set without
any intervening mountain or grove 10 protect
thu this mountain may be found at all sea-
sons of the wear. IN summer rs well as IN win
ter, an abundance of zee 1t Is procured with
out the leasi difficulty II is only necessary for
the stones lying on the top to be removed, and
underneath, the lea will he found lying among
aud adherIng 10 other stones, IN pieces OF differ.
entsl2es, all n, hard and rs firm as 10 The Win
ter season. II was on the ih OF July last that
listed this mountain and il will be recollect.
ed that prior TO that time, there had been some
very warm and oppressive weather; neverihe-
less, with the assistance OF a gentleman who
accompanied me, procured plenty of ice F.;
aud I am very confident, that Ia the space OF 10
minutes, we could have found more than we
10
it procured and So abundauily is il found, that
persons living in the neighhorhood are in the
daily habit, during the summer months,
! OF procuring il for the use OF their families.
! The ice Jaw, was found near the foot OF the
| mountain hut | was informed, aud hive no
doubt, but that u might he pTocureda consid0.
ra bic distance up The mountain ! but the diff
Guilty Of ascending over the loose rocks. aud in.
deed, the DANCE, ofthose from above iumbng
down in the removal of those below, prevented
my asceItainng the fact. Out Of this noun.
tam, aud through these stones, there issues n
strong current OF extremely cold air. Ii Is not
! like the common breeze that blows over our
field, abating AT intervals. but is continual and
underwriting, and is ~ cold as the wind IN
| the middle of December. From my recolec-
ton of the Blowing Cave, mentioned by MIR.
Jefferson, in his Notes on Virginia, am pretty
confident that the current Of air which issues
from the mountain is much stronger than
thar from the Cave, and greatly colder. II may
| he furthermore mentioned, as descriptive of this
singular mountain that n gentleman who lives
| near and whose plantation lies adj accnt TO the
| mouf tain, has built among the stones small
| house, Tor the purpose Of keeping fresh meats,
butter, milk, &c.-I saw, when there, icicles
hanging from the bottom logs of this house, MS
firm IL as hard as are found here in The depth of
| winter and was told that IL was mol uncommon
| 10 end the flies and insects, attracted by the
meats, &c lying num5ed aud mo'ionless upon
| the stones,
A. may be supposed. a person, on approach.
ing the mountain, experiences a manifest change
in the atmosphere aud, have no doubt, that
in the wa"mesi aud must sultry day. person,
10y remaining on il for few hours, would feel IA
GOODNESS almost dsagreeable.
| have thus given you very imperfect ac-
coun' Of the ice mountain the causes which
conspire. % produce This singular phenomenon,
| am nor abb to explain and shall not there.
fore, make the attempt, but shall leave the task
to others who find more pleasure ia such inyes-
legations. M
amherst COWd, July 22d, 1929.