Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-09-09

From Lynchbwgk Frsmaaa.
ICE MOUNTAIN IN VIRGINIA.

ICE MOUNTAIN ~ VIRGINIA.
The curiosity, which It is nv purpose t.
introduce 10 your notice, is appropriately
called the Ice Mountain 1t stands in the
county of Hampshire, not far distant from
he road leading from Winchester to ROM
ney, and near a small stream called the
North River. 1t is not OF very great alti-
tude, nor are its sides very steep or preci-
pItious. About half a mile, or perhaps
more, Of that side fronting the West, 10
formed entirely Of stone from its base to
very near its summit. These stones, vary
ing in weight, from to Zen or twenty pounds
lie loosely together and may be easily re-
moved with the hand-no earth of any
consequence being Ound among them, OF
course no trees can grow there, 81 the only
shrubs to be found are few wild current
bushes.
The side Of the above mentioned noun.
tain Is fully exposed to the rays OF the sun,
from nine or ten o'clock in the morning
until sunset, without any intervening noun
tain or grove 10 protect it. In this noun
tain may be found, at all seasons of the
year, In summer as well as winter, an a.
bundance of ice. Ii is procured without
the least difficulty; It is only necessary for
the stones lying on top to be removed, and
underneath, the ice will be found among
and adhe'lng to other stones, in pieces Of
different sizes, all as hard and as drm as
IN the winter season. Ii was on the 18th Of
July last, that visited this mountain; and,
It will be recollected, that prior to that
time, there had been soma very warm and
oppressive weather, nevertheless, with tho
assistance of a gentleman who accompa-
MED me, | procured plenty Of ice; and ]
am very confident, that in the space Oft
minutes, we could have found more than
We could have conveniently carried. So
easily is II procured, and so abundantly Is
it found, that persons living in the neigh
borhOod are IN the daily habit, during the
summer months, ofprocuriug it for the use
Of their families. The ice saw was found
near the foot of the mountain: but | was
informed, and have no doubt but that il
might be procured considerable distance
from the mountain; but the difficulty Of as.
cendlng over the loose rocks, and indeed,
the danger, of those from boye tumbing
down on the removal Of those from below,
prevented my ascertaining the fact.
Out OF this mountain, and through these
stones, there issued strong current of ex
tremely cold air. Iii is not like the com
mon breeze thatblows over our fields, aba
ting at interval, but is continual and min
termlttiug, and is as cold az the wind in
the middle of December. From my re-
collection the Blowing Cave, mentioned
by Mr.. Jefferson, IN his notes on Virginia,
| am pretty confident that the current OF
air which Issuses from the mountain ie
much stronger than that from the Cave,
and greatly colder. Itmay be furthermore
mentioned, as descriptive OF this singular
mountain, that gentleman who lives near
and whose plantation lies adjacent to tho
mountain, has built among the stones q
small house, for the purpose of keeping
flesh meats, butter, milk, &c. I saw,
whenllbere, icicles hanging from the bottom
logs of this house, as firm and as hard as
are found here in the depth of winter, and
was told, that it was not uncommon to find
the flies g. insects, attracted by the meats,
&c. lying numbcd and motoDless npon
the stone. NJ.
Amherst County, July22, 1929.