The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-14
THE HIGHLAND ERUPTION.
ITS CAUSE A CONFINED VOLUME OF WATER
BURSTING THROUGH THE EARTH-cRusT-
CROWDS OF yIsIToRs AT THE SCENE


CROWDS OF VISITORS AT THE SCENE.
PouGHK ErrsiE April Is, 1sI6
The eruption upheaval in tho Highlands at the
base OF Sugar Loaf Mountain the principal topic OF
conversation on the streets, and the particulars
given In the papers read with the greatest inter-
est Many discredted the statement because the de-
tails were Of sach unusual and extraordinary char
acter but the facts given correct in all their
parts. All day to-day crowds visited the scene
They thronged tho railroad track and drove to
the spot from FishkIl Mattcwan, Cold Spring
and Ncwburg, and boat loads came over
from Cornwall little party from Poughkeepsie took
the nine O'Clock train Duchess Junction. and fran
there walked. ana were soon opposite Sugar Loaf
They met by McManns, the nagman, who stated
that two reports heard the clasm last night
and one this morning. and additional quantities OF
earth had been thrown out The amount OF debris has
greatly increased since Wednesday noon close ex-
animation OF the east side OF the railroad track showed
nifty feet length had been hurled from the top Of
me The hiil thousand iee,, butt on INTO the
immense boulder which split It almost in TWAIN. All
along the crcsts Of tho men and boys seen
looking INTO the abyss below and Tow and then great
masses oil earth sind downward into jumbcd mass,
dammng up the water for an instant only, when II
would burst from Its confines with rcdoubed fury and
pass onward in heavy stream 10 the cove beneath.
The Pougnkeepsans, resolving to make tour OF the
entire grounds started in Indian nlc up the mountain.
and afer short walk reached the highest and
peered down into the abyss. The view was
IRON dizzy height ana one instinctivey
graspcd the nearest saplng, fearing a sudden
avalanche. for the mysterious reports alluded to could
and then be heard. Alter gazing upon the extra
ordinary scene Tor awhile all set OUT tor the Wade
mansion, n short distance Off, where gardener was
at work. He stated that before tho eruption all the
land east OF the Wade residence saturated with
water and several streams through the grounds,
but afcrward the streams disappeared entirely and tho
ground there was not nearby us wet as before This
explain the true OF the colossal eruption The
land 1t the base Of tho mountain is OF sandy nature
and immense quantities OF water pcrcolating through
It from rains and from the immense water sheds OF
Sugar Loaf met at ono point and formed an under
ground lake which, increasing IN extent and volume
daily and hourly had TO have vent at last and with
tremendous force lifted thousands of tons OF the sandy
soil The top and hurled down the hillside
the and the railroad track. Then the no longer
pent-up water rushed down the hill from SPOT nifty
icet below the surface OF the miniature mountain, cut
ting deep ravnes and carrying everything before H.
Every hour almost tho earth totters all sides OF the
chasm and lumbles into the and ravincs These
avaanches Will probably not until the wator has
spent its force All day yesterday people crowded tho
windows OF passing passenger trains TO view the novel