Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-03-23

and the plying, compassionate face OF woman
was before him.
Nearly quarter Of mile from where his cry
For helm was raised, this woman had heard and
had been awakened by it. She awoke her nus
band; it was then half past O'Clock IN tue morn
ins. and he getting together other neighbors, they
started in search II him. He had ceased to cry,
and the men having got canoe crossed the
creek, and being unable on account OF the cur
rent to 90 up it, left their canoe and searching
the bank, found him leaning over the bushes
senseless. They were barely able to reach over
the bank and get hold Of the collar OF his coat,
so as to raise him up. They took him to a ca
bin, and in about an hour, by friction, &c. brought
him to lfe He staid with the woman men
toned. and her husband, five days, and he tells
me he could not have been treated more kindly
by his dearest relatives. He says he shall ever
after this love log cabin; and the compassion
ate and anxious look of Mrs. Patch. when he
first opened his eyes, will never be forgotten.-
He had, when here yesterday. entirely recover
ed. except that the extremities OF his fingers,
and some OF the muscles of his feet were still
numb, and retained peculiar p:ickly sensation.
He lost about two thirds Of his baggage. many OF
his papers, but none Of his money. He started
this morning for Cincinnati, and intends to re-
main there two or three weeks, until he can hear
from his friends at the east.
The Poisonous Valley Of Java. this
head we find the following singular story in one
OF our late London journals The account was
communicated to the Royal Geographical Socie-
ty in London, at it's meeting on the 2Sth of No
vember, by John Barrow, Esq. to whom it had
been written, in the form of letter from Mr..
Alexander Loudon. If the circumstances re-
lated are true the existence Of this poisonous val.
lev may account for the fabulous tales concerning
the Upas tree. There is nothing in it positively
incredible. as the effects attributed to the atmos
phere might be occasioned BY the exhalation >of
gases from poisonous minerals. and the whole val
lev only another Groto del Gaze on larger scale.
1N Y Eue. Post.
The letter contained an account of a visit to
small valley in the island of Java, which is par
ticularly remarkable for its power Of destroying
in very short space uf time the life OF man or
any animal exposed to its atmosphere. 1t is dis
tant only three miles from Batur, in Java, and on
the 4th of July, 1881, Mr.. Loudon, with par
ty of his friends. set out to visit it. 1t is known
by the name of Guevo Upas. Or Poisoned Valley,
and, following path which had been made for
that purpose, the party shortly afterwards reach.
ed it, with couple Of fowls, for the purpose Of
making experiments. On arriving at the noun
tain the party dsmounted. and scrambled up the
side Of hill, distance of quarter Of mile.
with the assistance of trees and projecting roots.
In consequence of heavy rain that had fallen
during the night. tins rendered more difficult.
and occasioned much fatigue. When few yards
from the valley, strong nauseous and srtfncat-
ing smell was experienced, but on approaching
the margin this Inconvenience was no longer found
ok,l .xaal soI thod
as one of the most appalling in nature The val
lev is about half mile in circumference. OF an
oval shape, and about thirty or thirty-fve feet in
depth. The bottom of it appeared to be fiat.
without any vegetation, and a few large stones
scattered here and there The attention of the
party was immediately attracted to the number Of
skeletons of human beings, tigers. boars deer.
and all sorts of birds and wild animals which lay
about IN profusion. The ground on which they
Law at the bottom of the valley appeared to be
hard sandy substance, and no vapor was perceiv-
ed issuing from it, nor any opening through which
it might escape, and the side covered with vege-
tation. 1t was now proposed to enter it, and each
of the party, having lit cigar, managed to get
within twenty feet Of the bottom, where sick
ening. nauseous smell was experienced, without
any difficulty in breathing. A dog was now fas-
tened at the end of bamboo, and thrust to the
bottom of the valley, while some OF the party,
with their watches in their nands, observed the
effects At the expiration OF l4seconds the dog
fell off his legs. without moving or looking round,
and continued alive only eighteen minutes. The
other dog now left the party and went TO his com
panion; on reaching him he was observed to stand
quite motlonless, and at the end of ten seconds
he fell down; he never moved his limbs after,
and he lived only seven minutes, A fowl was
now thrown in, which died in minute and half,
and another which was thrown IN after it, died in
the space Of a minute and half. A heavy show
err of rain fell during the time that these expert
ments were going forward, which. from the in
terestlng nature of the experiments. was quite
disregarded. On the opposite side of the valley
to that which was visited, Law human skeleton,
the head resting on the right arm. The effect Of
the weather had bleached the bones. Two hours
were passed in this valley of death. and the par
ty had some difficulty in getting out Of it. owing
to the rain that had fallen. The human skele.
tons are supposed to be those of rebels. who had
been pursued from the main road and taken re-