Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-04-06
For the Spectator.
a Ut tfO boPcCTut"s
REMARKABLE

Es
Mr.. Edtor-'rhose familiar with the beautiful
stream appropriately called "Mossy Creek" in
the northwestern corner Of our county, have al.
ways admired the exceeding clearness and trans.
parency of its numerous "mil-dams" resembling
small lakes embosomed amidst it's fertile and
picturesque hills. The stream takes its rise near
the village OF Mount Scion, and is constituted of
two remarkably bold and never falling springs.
distant from each other, from one to two hundred
yards, and which break forth seemingly, at right
angles to each other. The North River of the
shenandoah is distan. from Messy Creek, at its
nearest point, something more than mile, and is
separated from it by rough, steep hill, from one
hundred and seventy-fve to two hundred feet
high, called "Castle HILL" from number of
crnmbiing pillars of limestone formation, of con-
Siderable height, which stand out in bold relief
from its sides and at distance to the imaginative
oeholder, are not unlike in appearance, the re-
mains of the ''od towers or keeps'' read of in
Scottish romance. This hill abounds in nume-
rous cayerns, some of which are very large per-
forating its sides in every direction, and encrus.
ed with stalactitic formation.
len or twelve years since, some gentlemen in.
terested in mill property on Mossy Creek. dis
covered that the waters of Free Mason Run and
North River, which unite at the base of Castle
Hill, seek .heir way by large cavern and sub
terranean passage, under this HILL and lind an OUT
let by one of these springs into Messy Creek.---
For the benefit derived by their mills from this
increased supply of water, they were induced to
spend some time and abour i'm clearing away the
drIfI-wood and rubbish from the mouth of the cav
ern and to place in it rack or screen to prevent
It's accumulation. After this discovery, some
were disposed to doubt whether the water Of those
streams, did "Arethusa like" find their way this
distance, but observation convinced them of
Its truth Messy Creek, at its head, is rarely
muddied by the wash of heavy rains, but if Il
does sometimes happen, it is soon clarified by the
great quantity of pure water supplied by its bold
springs. North River and Free Mason Run, (par-
tlcularly the latter very muddy at the time of
ireshet, and as soon as they have had time to
communicate with Messy Creek thew inpart
their tuTbldness to its waters. This, howeye
soon subsidies, and the stream flows on again in
Its Wonted clearness and beauty.
And new, Il come to relate what strikes every
one acquainted with the circumstance, as sim
gular phenomenon. On the night of the 18th of
the present month wednesday, considerable
shock, supposed TO have been slight earth.
quake, was felt by several persons in this neigh.
borhood, and so perceptbe as to produce treIn-
nlons motion, and what they termed, jarring Of
their houses. Its direction appeared to be from
north west TO southeast, but did not extend far,
as am informed, But this slight earthquake (if
such 1t was) very likely would not have caused
a passing remark, but for the fact, that on tire
next morning, the citizens of the VILLAGE of Mr..
Scion were surprised to find Messy Creek peru
,nuddy indeed, and more turbid than it has ever
been observed after great freshet in North Riv-
eer, and this too, at a Sine, when the earth has
been bound up with the fros.s Of a "Lapland''
winter Tor months, and when there has been no
rise In the creek itself, or those streams which
communicate with it, 1t is quite remarkable too,
mat but one OF the springs sends forth turbid wa
ter and that the one, generally believed to have
no connection with North River, and from which
the village was supplied entirely. making il ne
cessary for them TO procure water from the other
at great Inconvenience. Ten days have elapsed,
and instead of the turbid appearance subsdinp il
rather increases. feel some difficulty in account
ing for this phenomenon, otherwise, than by sup
posing the shock experienced the night in oues-
ton, caused an internal slide or falling IN OF the
earth, which probably has filled up the old chan
mel in which the stream had probably been tray
cling Tor centuries, it may be thereby causing it
to seek new one at the expense Of continual
wearing away of the earth, and consequently i'm
parting muddy appearance TO its waters. Should
any one entertain other notions with regard to the
cause, would be pleased 70 learn them.
Mt. Scion, 25th March, 1913. M.