Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-12-25
A Railroad Dropping Out of Sight.


in the dropping out of sight of a piece OF
road near Ravenna, Onio. About ten
years ago there was Il settling in the
road, but no great change occurred until
last June, when, in a single night, that
whole portion eight rods) cracked
squarely across the road and disappeared
from sight, leaving the banks perpen-
dicular and as smooth as though severed
with knife. While the strange SUBJ
merging was taking place the south
side of the road was forced up from
beneath by some power to the height OF
nearly ten feet. Then, like grand
panoramic scene, it was slowly carried
across to the north fence, then dis
appeared, its place being taken by more
earth, which underwent similar
journey-seemingly attached to an un-
seen axle and slowly revolving.
The next DAY pond of water marked
the llace Of those eight rods of roadbed,
the depth of which was not nor has
since been ascertaired. The water came
in in stream the size of II barrel, but
whence it came was q conumdrum.
TIE most astonishing feature was, how.
ever, the presence of large number of
fish-shiners, sunfish and rock bass,
nearly all white in color, and had the
appearance of coming from some sunless
habitation, being sluggish in their ac-
tions. AS these fish can only live in
pure, healthy water, the basin where
they now are must be furnished from
such source. AS soon as the remark
able contortions ceased the work OF re-
building was commenced. In all about
1000 loads of gravel were thrown in.
For the first few days load after load
melted away like sugar, but at last it
began to build, and gradually, foot by
foot, the bed was established, and those
engaged in the work began to think that
the appetite of the "monster" had be"
come appeased. A careful watch was
kept until a recent Saturday, when the
contractor, upon visiting the work, no
ticed terrible commotion among the
fish, turtles, snakes and frogs. The fish
were leaping out of the water, turtles
running hither and thither in alarm,
snakes twisting and crawling about,
angrily darting out their tongues. In
an hour or so he noticed u sinking
spell" coming on, and almost imme-
diately the whole rebuilt portion broke
loose and seemed 10 dive forward and
disappear.
Cne Hundred and Twelve Years Old.
Many there are who are skeptical
about anybody nowadays living one
hundred years. The fiction concerning
George Washington's much too many
nurses had much to do with this in-
credulity. But last spring the legisla-
ture of New York sent official greeting
to an ex-member who had passed his
one hundred gears on May 26, and who
is not dead yet, and an Austrian cor
respondent writes of continental case
of interest and historical Importance.
He says:
One of the oldest ladies in Europe died
the other day in Gleiwitz, q small town
in Prussian Silcsia, having retained her
memory and the use of ali her senses
except that of sight, up to the day of he1
decease. Judith Singer was born on the
18th of June, l76S, and, although she
did not marry until she had completed
her twenty-sixth year, was the Lawful
mother of two children when tb epresent
emperor OF Germany came into tht
world, nearly eighty-three years and
half ago. Of the fifteen sons and daugh
tiers she bore to her husband, the vergei
of the Jewish synagogue at Gleiwltz
but three survive. Mrs. Singer buried
her eldest daughter, a venerable dame
of eighty-four, last year. On her own
II2th birthday, being the fittieth ami
versary of the emperor's wedding day
she addressed letter of congratulatior
to his majesty, and received an auto
graphic acknowledgment Of her commu
nication, inclosing a banknote for ONT
hundred marks, which she forthwith be
slowed on a local charitable institution
Amongst the remembrances OF Mrs
Singers unmarried girlhood wer'
events which have long since been rele
gated to the pages of history. Fighter
years of her life were passed under tn
reign of Frederick the Great, and sh
had Just attained her majority when tn
great French revolution broke out. Sh
proiessed to recollect with perfect clear
ness the rejoicings celebrated in her ma
tive town upon the occasion of the frs
partition of Poland, which took plac
three years before the Declaration G
American Independence.