The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-01-10
A STRANGE PHENOMENA.

What an Eyewitness Has to Say About the
Underground Fires Now Raging in High
land County, Virginia.
Among the recent arrivals in the city
was Mr.. Edward B. Elder, of Highland
County, Virginia. OF late there have
been reports from that section of the
country of strange phenomena which
was said to have been witnessed in the
mountains a few miles from Mon
terey Court House, Highland County,
where the earth was said to be one
burning mass. The fact that Mr.. Null
hatton was known to be in another
quarter of the globe gave the story
some credence, and more especially so
as it was vouched for by responsible
men. A reporter, learning of Mr.. FL
der's arrival, went in search of him last
night to see if he knew anything con-
corning the matter. He was found
comfortably ensconced in a cushioned
chair at the Gait House, talking to
some friends. When asked if he had
heard Of the strange performance ma
ture was said to be guilty of, he replied:
at is certainly true, and is the most
remarkable thing l ever heard of. From
present indications l should say that we
are likely to have another edition of
Mount Vesuvius produced in the noun
tains of Virginia, The phenomena con-
sists of fires which seem to be raging
under the earth, on top of the peaks in
Highland County, and the ground for a
considerable distance seems to be a
smoldering mass. The first heard of it
was a report brought bye a boy who
claimed to 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 accident that the discovery was
made. A few days ago the boy, who
was in search of some lost sheep, wan
dered on foot among the hills, until he
! rot several miles from home. All at
once he felt the air grow warmer, and
| experienced strange sensation, as if
I some burning substance was beneath
him. He was ON an elevated plateau,
! probably quarter of a mile square, on
| the top of one Of the small mountains.
At first he was greatly alarmed and
/ started to run away. His curiosity
overcame his fear, however, and he
! stopped to see if he could find the
! cause of the unusual warmth. He
/ stopped and placed his hand on the
earth, and was startled to find that it
was so hot as to almost blister his flesh.
He did not pursue his researches any
further, but proceeded at once to his
h. al 4 8
, currence. No faith was put in the mar
ratiye, and it was thought by the neigh
bors that the youth was going crazy.
''The news finally reached the town
! of Monterey, and some scientifically-in
! clined persons determined to investigate.
! Procuring the boy for a guide, they
/ went to the place and found that all he
! had stated was true. When they re-
| turned they told even a more wonder
! full 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 super
stitious were of the belief that the day
| of judgment was close at hand and be-
gan to make preparations to respond to
! the call of the trumpet, which they
momentarily expected to wake the 81,
! lence of the mountains. | lived some
| distance away, but when the news
| reached me | determined to satisfy N.Y.
self. After nearly days travel over
! the rough mountain road, which wound
around cliffs at the foot of overhanging
rocks, / arrived within a short distance
of the region. | here left my horse,
and, together with couple of friends
/ who had accompanied me, proceeded as
/ best [ could to the place indicated. l had
| heard exaggerated stories, and was
almost prepared for anything, but l must
/ confess that | was greatly startled. The
| earth for yards around seemed to be a
! smouldering heap and was as hot as an
oven. In places 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 a blush
smoke broke through holes in the earth
and spread over the mountain tops. We
! dug down to the depth of probably three
feet and came to ayellowish sort of clay
which was almost as soft as putty
| When a shovelful was thrown out on
the ground it smoldered like a heap of
ashes, and a quantity of smoke seemed
! TO rise from it. 1t was very hot, and
| glowed with strange brilliancy, which
lasted for hours. We tried the expert
ment of digging down in number OF
places, and always with the same re-
suits. The deeper we went the more
pronounced was the phenomena, 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 batflcd for areason. 1t looks
as if Il volcano was at work and ready
at any moment to burst an opening
through the earth and throw out its
volume of smoke and fire. Hundreds
of people have visited the place, and
all have come away more mystilied than
ever. "-LouiSUjLle C0Wrier-JOurNaJ.
|