Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-10-10
CNSSceGGsyNeOaSS.
From the Miners Journal.

Pose ol VisillhS lHe DufnlnS wines. on lUe
Jusular Vein, al the gap of the Broad
Mountain. While the pleasure were
preparing, we look look about Miners
vile, and found many other things to ad-
mire, besides Mrs. Chrstie's lemoaadc.-
There are great number of buildings III
process of erection; aud steam saw mill
is nearly completed by Mr.. Laurence, of
Sunbury. The village appears 10 have
been steadily progressing, since we las,
visited it, and holds its own, better than
any Of our surrounding towns.
The cars we're at length equipped, and
we started at a fine pace up the inclined
plane. Diverging TO the left, we visited
the mining operations of Lebheus Chap
man, Esq, and were just housed at MIR.
Payue's, his superintendent, when the
"windows of heaven" were opened, and
young deluge poured down. We suffered,
however, but little, for we found profu-
sion of crackers and cheese, and those
anti-lempera,e articles, yclept brandy and
gin, 10 which we did ample justice, with
appetites sharpened by the braclng air and
exercise.
The shower over, we unhitched our
horse, and travelled the road to its juno
tion, with no assistance, but its descend
ing grade. Here the first symptoms Of
our miniature Vesuvius were visible. in the
clouds of smoke, which rolled down the
Gap. Leaving the cars, We walked up
The ravine, 10 the lower levels of the work
iugs here, although not surrounded by
flood of lava, we found the waters issuing
from the effects Of The internal fire, and
impregnated SO strongly with alkaline sub
stances, as TO be extremely nauseous 10 the
tasie.
We now prepared to ascend the west
brow ofthe Broad Mountain; bootstraps
were unbuttoned, stocks unbuckIed, and
coats taken of, and all preparations made
"for the nonce." Beetling above US for
some hundred feet, and belching forth
smoke ard flame, arose the tract of the
vein which ascended on the crop. A little
putting and blowing brought US to the Sc
cond level, where the disaster commenced,
during the very extreme cold weather of
las, winter. A hanging grate placed al
its mouth to equalize the temperature,
communicated fire to the couplings of The
gangway, and was the primary cause
Of the vast damage which has since accru-
ed. Some hundred feet further up he hill,
large space had caved in, and down
| the assures, between The upper and lower
rocks, could be seen a yawning, fiery
gulph, where Vulcan and his Cyclops
might revel in, and salamanders only ex-
list. A sulphurous exhalaton issued from
it, which rendered approximation nol quite
so grateful as lavender water, or rs iced
punch. About the jaws of this vast cave,
were deposites of sulphur. and some al
kalne substances, in great quanltics.-
Large rents aud fissures in the ground,
showed the extent of the raging internal
heat, and many places appeared ready TO
fall in, and precipita tie incaulious spec
tator iuro the c''asm. rown the old air
rushed with a rumbling 'earrhqnakery,"
sound, to feed with their oxygen, the vol
cano beneath. Now and then, crumbliug
masses of slate. or deta he'd portion of
rock, would leave the bed, where it had
been recumbent, since The world began {;
and with resisless force, plunge lfadlong
Into the smoky crater!
The vegetation on the summit and sides
of the hill, showed the scalhng effects #
this unnatural hear-the tall pine dropped
its giant arms, the hemock bowed its head,
as if parched by arid suiierings, the oak
and chesnut were clad in premature "sere
and yellow leaf" and here and there the
mountain vines seemed to cling more
closely 10 their parent trees. as if like the
children Of LAGOON, they soug ht aid from
the fiery breath, and
-" kissing jaws. iha, sputterd flame"
A dreary spot, is nnw, that Once lovely
| nounlsin Gap! The elemental war has
Frustrated all its beauty Of foliage, the
voice of industry Is hushed, the rustic cas-
cade seems to leap less merrily than il was
won't. and the once buoyanl air is heavy
aud oppressive with the murky vapours
that lower over The fair face of nature.
When, or in what manner, the ravages
will be stopped, is a matter of uncertainty.
| and equally so, is it, whether human in
genuity can restrain rhein. In the mean
iue. the loss of time and materials fall
heavily on MIR. L G.. Dougherty, the les
see, who has used every possible means
within his power, TO check the destruction.
Attempts have been made to smother the
flame, butit always breaks out in some
new place with increased fury, and battles
It's "pponent.
| Our curiosity satisfied, we descended the
mountain, aud betaking ourselves to the
cars. ran down post to Minersville again.
The West Branch Road is in excelIeut
order; the lower part nlthe iron track has
for some time required 20 repairs of any
importance, and the wheels now run over
I it as smoothly as if it were parlor floor.
! There is no ,loubl of The inexpedience of
wooden roads-rhr iron rails, il even they
W ear out from heavy business, are worth
almost their first value for old metal, but
when the wood becomes rotten and spln-