Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-08-05
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 5.
A PILLAR OF FIRE-The most curious phe-

A PILLAR OF FIRE-The most curious phe
nomenon Of which we have ever heard occurred
IN Cheatham county, Tennessee, on Wednesday
last. The day, it will be remembered, was re-
markably hot, so that most people in the
county had to seek the shade about noon. At
this hour, on the farm OF Ed. Sharp, five miles
from Ashland sort Of whirlwind came along
over the neighboring woods, taking up small
branches and leaves of trees and burning them
IN sort OF flaming cylinder that travelled at
the rate OF about five miles an hour, and devel-
oping 10 size as 1t travelled. 1t passed directly
over the spot where team OF horses were reed
lng, and singed their names aud tails up TO the
roots; it then swept toward the house, taxing
a stack of hay in itstourse, which 1t set Oh nte.
IL seemed to increase in heat as 1t went, and by
tho time it reached the houseit Immediately
h,ed the shingles from end to end OF the build
ing, 50 that in ten minutes the whole building
was wrapped in flames. The tall column OF
the travelling caloric then continued Its course
over a wheat field that had been recently
Graded, setting fire to all the stacks that hap
pened to be 10 it's course. Passing from the
fed, its course lay over stretch OF woods
which reached to the river. The green leaves
on the tree were crisped to q cinder for u
breadth OF twenty yards in straight line to
the Cumberland. When the pillar OF fire
reached the water, 1t suddenly changed Its
course down the Iivor raising column OF steam
which went up to the clouds for about hall
mile, when it finally died out. Not less than
two hundred people witnessed this strangest OF
strange phenomena, and all of them tell sub
stantally the same story about it. The farmer
Sharp was left houseless by the devoarlng ele-
ment, and his two horses were so affected that
no good is expected to be got out OF them IN
the future. Several withered trees IN the
woods through which it passed were set on fire,
and continue burning stilL-NoNtrtNe ifc>>,
goth WtiBlo.
A TRUE REPRESENTATIVE OF the nobility OF
of 4 past age has lust died In Paris. Count
de Chateauvilard was in his day one OF the
most brilliant men and das hing oqueStrians Of
France 1t was he who one day rode up the
steps of the Jockey Cub (theu at the corner
Of the Rue Drouot and Boulevard and played
4 game OF billiards on horseback. He rode for
some time most vicious horse. a friend
said: IF you ride that horse three months
longer, I'll bet he kills you The Count re
piled What do you bet2' Twenty. five
thousand francs" Taken. The Count
ielt in honor bound 10 MS friend TO ride the
horse every day, aud thc horse showed himself
10 he so very vicious that the Count had his
cofin made and sent home, for he was sure he
WOulC require IL DcIOGC UUS' iiS WIG A"H'
had long been extremely uneasy lest his horse
should kill him, seeing her husband look
upon the horse as dangerous, as she herself
considered him, no sooner saw the coffin placed
IN her husband dresSngroom, than she went
TO the stable armed with par ct pistols aud
shot the dangerous Stced throu.h the head
On one occasion the Count was asked By
friend, Marquis. to see her to her carriage.
They were at ball Going down stairs sou,;-
body trod on her dress and tore it. She
asked fer pin. The Count took from his scarf
a diamond pin worth 5000 and presented it to
her, She declined saying "Oh, Count, 1t is
entirely too valuable. Is that the only OBJ
lection to the pin l' Certainty" This
word was no sooner out of the Marqui>c's
mouth than he broke off the diamond threw
it out OF the neighboriug window, and gave
the golden pin to her.