The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-03-14
A STRANGE PHENOMENA.
What an Eye Witness Has to Say About thu
Underground Fires Now Raging In High

| 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 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 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:
| ut is certainly true. and is the most
remarkable thing ever heard Of From
present indications 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 by 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
got several miles from home. All at
once he felt the air grow warmer, and
| experienced strange sensation, as if
some burning substance was beneath
him. He was ON an elevated plateau,
probably quarter of 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
home, where he told of the strange oc-
currence. No faith was put in the mar
rative, 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 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 i determined to satisfy N.Y.
self. After nearly days travel over
the rough mountain road. which wound
around cliffs at the foot of oyerhangiug
rocks, l arrived within 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. Ihad
heard exaggerated stories, and was
almost prepared for anything, but 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
blythe heat. The air seemed verysdense
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 yellowish 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 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 a 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 bafflcd for reason. 1t looks
as if a 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 mystified than
ever. "-LouisUiile Courier-Journal.