Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-09-10
NO. GIG.
SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY.

A letter from Linden in Perry County,
Tenn, to Waynesboro' paper, in the
same State, gives the following curious
cry OF cave in Perry county, containg
some most remarkable stone formations
which would be of incalculable value If
not so late in the season, and cold weather
imminent: @8
"Some ten days since, T. Nj. Brasher,
Esq, our late representative from this
county; Major J. L. Webb, our excellent
Sheriff, and j. p. Wilson. our efficient tax
collector, were together at Major Webb's
and for recreation took walk In and
around his farm, when coming to the hill
south of Major Webb's place they ap-
preached the mouth of a cave in the side
of the hill, from which in wet weather q
stream Of water usually flowed. Feeling
very warm, they concluded to enter the
cave to cool off little, and upon entering
were surprised at the unusual coldness
that pervaded the cavern. Thinking there
must be something in the dark recesses Of
the cavern to produce such unusual cold
ness in the atmosphere, they concluded to
penetrate still further to see if they could
not clear up the mystery. Procuring lights.
they entered the cave, and after proceed
ing some seventy-five feet, upon turning
an angle, they beheld, to their astonish-
ment, the whole interior of the cave fes-
tooned with the most beautiful stalagmites
the eyes of man ever beheld. Holding up
their lights, they gazed upon the beautiful
sight with pleased astonishment, and upon.
nearer approach they found the stalag-
mites to resemble the hardest, ciearest ice
and cold as the touch of the ice-king him.
SELF Becoming by this time chilled
through with the GOODNESS of the place,
each of the gentlemen broke of lump
of this strange wonder, and started to
return. Before reaching the mouth of
the cavern, their hands were 50 chilledthsy
could scarcely hold the strange substance,
and upon reaching the outer air they laid
it down upon the ground, thinking it
would soon acquire the temperature of the
atmosphere. After resting fifteen or twen-
ty minutes. they started for Webb's resi-
dence, each carrying, as best he might,
his lump of rock ice, for know Of no
other name by which to call it. Arriving
at the house, they placed the crystal on
a table and waited patiently to see If it
would melt, or even turn warmer. After
waiting some half hour and finding that
it still retained its former coldness, one of
the party suggested that they should try
it in pitcher of water. This was done,
and to their infinite astonishment the glass
pitcher in which it was placed was soon
covered on the outside with moisture SIM
liar to that produced by ice. Not being
yet satisfied, they concluded to drink Of
its contents, and the question now was as
to who should give the first trial. Mr..
Wilson at length said as he was the young
est, and consequently the stoutest, be
would try it, and he thereupon drank
hearty draught of it, and declared it equal
to ice water. The other two gentlemen
also drank of the water, and Mr.. Brash-
ear assured the writer of this that It was
equal to the best ice water. At dinner
they tried it in milk, and it soon made
Mrs. Webb's excellent buttermilk as cold
almost as ice itself. 1t produced the same
effect upon butter as ice, and still retained
its original frigdity. A number of per-
sons have since visited this wonderful
cave and carried off portions of this rock,
which they are using for all the purposes of
ice, and it sustains no diminution in bulk
OF loss OF coldness. Strange and improb-
able as this may seem, yet it can be cer-
titled to by numbers of our best citizens.
DR.. Black is using it in his practice. Mr.
Thomas French and Col. Waggoner. hotel
keepers in Linden, used in their hotels
during Court week, to the astonishment
of their guests. Specimens will be sent
to our State geologists for analization. If
any one doubts the above plain statement
of simple facts, they are referred to Hon.
+. Nj. Brashear, Hon. G. II. Nixon, John
A Pitts, Esq. Major John L. Webb, 10.
Wilson. Thomas French, Capt. Easley,
Professor in the academy, and number
of others. of the most reliable men in our
country"