Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-16

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A LouisviIIe special says: Stories which
have sppcsred Of hate Of great underground
fires n tue mountains near Monterey
Courfhouse. Highland county, Va, are
confirmed. Edward D. Elder. who IL IN
this civ ON business, 10 q resident Of that
portion OF Virginia. When asked by re-
porter Of the CourieT-Jonrnaf II he bal
heard Of the stnsnge performance nature
was said 10 be guilty Of, he replied:
CIT Il certainly true and Il the most re-
ma, kablc thing ] ever heard Of. From
present indications should say that We
are likely to have apother edition OF Mt.
Vesuyius In the mountains OF Virginia
The phenomenon consists Of fires which
sccu to be raging under the earth. on the
.op OF the peaks In Highland county. and
the ground for q considerable distance
seems 10 I've o smou'dering mass. The first
heard Of It was report brought by a boy
who claimed 10 have walked over the place
which was on fire. The country around Is
almost inaccessible, and It Is very seldom
that any one ventures so far up on the
mountains, therefore It was only by acct
dent that the discovery was made.
DISCOVERED BY BOY.
"a few days ago the boy, who was In
search OF some lost sheep, wandered on foot
among the hills, until be got several miles
from home. All at oure he felt the air
around him grow warmer and experienced
a strange sensation az II some burning sub
.tupce was beneath him. He was on an ele-
waited plateau. probably a quarter OF mile
square, on The top Of one Of the small mouu-
tains. At first be was greatly alarmed and
started 10 run away. His curiosity over
came bis fear. however, and he stopped 10
see II he could find the cause OF the unusual
warmth. lie stopped aud placed his hand
on the earth and was startled TO find that 1t
was so hot as to almost blister his flesh. He
did not pursue his researches any further,
but proceeded at once to his home. where
he told OF the strange occurrence. NO faith
was put In the narrative. and 1t was thought
by the neignbors that the youth was going
crazy.
"Tbe news finally reached the town OF
Monterey. and some scieniiflcally-inclned
persons determined to investigate. Pro-
curing the boy 70 a guide. they went to the
place ard found that all be had stated was
true. When they returned they told even
more wonderful story than that told by
the boy. This produced great sensation
throughout the immediate country, and
great many persons were nearly frightened
out Of their wits. The superstltlous were
OF the belief that the Day OF Judgment was
close at hand and began to make prepare
tons to respond to the call OF the trumpet
which they momentarily expected to wake
the silence OF the mountains.
AS nor AS AN OVEN.
az lived some distance away. but when
the news reached me determined TO satisfy
myself. After nearly days traveloyer the
rough mountain road, which wound around
cliffs at the foot OF overhanging rocks. L
arrived within short distance OF the re-
| gion. / here left my horse, and, together
| with couple OF friends who had accompa-
nicd me. proceeded a best 1 could to the
place indicated. / had heard exaggerated
! stories, and was almost prepared for any
| thing; but / must confess that L
| was greatly startled. The earth for
| wards around seemed to be smouldering
| h,ap, and was as hot as an oven. In places a
| hard crust had formed over the clay and
large assures made by the heat. The air
| seemed very dense and foggy, and in many
| places q blush smoke broke through holes
| in the earth and spread over the mountain
| tops. We dug down 10 the depth OF prooa-
| bly, three feet and came 10 yelowish sort
| Of CLAW, which was almost rs soft rs putty.
| when a shovelful was thrown out on the
ground 1t smouldered like heap OF ashes
and quantity Of smoke seemed to rise from
| il. It was very hot and glowed with strange
brilliancy. which lasted for hours. Wetrled
| the experiment OF digging down In num-
Ter Of places. and always with the same re-
suits. The deeper we went the more pro-
nounced was the phenomenon, and we
found it difficult TO stand over the opening.
How long this has been in progress no one
knows, and the most learned are batiied for
a reason. II looks As II a volcano was at
work and ready at any moment to burst an
opening through the earth and throw out
it, volume of smoke and fire. Hundreds oil
people have visited the place, and all have
come away more mystifed than ever"