The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-01-07
q srRANaE PHeNoMEnA.

~ I UNNAIMhNE N-NNEIMNNNU ENMNNa
what IN witness mas Co say About tho /
Underground Fires Now Raging i1 HiEh- |
land County, Virginia.
Among the recent arrivals IN the city
was Mr.. Edward b. Elder, OF Highlop1
County, Virginia. OF late there have /
been reports from that section Il the
country Of a strange phenomena which
was said to have been witnessed in the
mountains few miles from Nom
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 vouohed for by responsible
men. A reporters learning Of 1Ir M
der's arrival went in search Of him last
night to see IL he knew anything con-
Cerning the matter He was found
comfortably ensconced in cushioned
chair at the Gait House, talldng to
some friends. When asked If he had
heard of the strange performance ma
tuIe was said to be guilty of, he replied:
''It is certainly true, and is the most
| remarkable thing / ever heard of. From
| present indications I 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 q
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 i'm 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 a strange sensation, as if
some burning substance was beneath
him. He was on an elevated plateau,
probably a quarter of a mile square, on
the top of one of the small mountains.
q
started to run away. His curiosity
overcame his fear, however, and he
stopped to see if be could find the
cause of the unusual warmth. lie
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.
lcurrence. 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 scientifcallv-iI
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
r This produced q great sensation
throughout the immediate country, anC
a great many persons were nearly
( frightened out of their wits. The super
stitious were of the belief that the da,
! of judgment was close at hand and be
gan to make preparations to respond t.
the call of the trumpet, which they
momentarily expected to wake the 81
lence of the mountains. lived SOM
distance away, but when the new
reached me l determined TO satisfy my
/, self. After nearly a days travel owe
the rough mountain road, which wOunt
, around cliffs at the foot of oyerhangin!
rocks, / arrived within a short distanc
Of the region. 1 here left my horse
and, together with a couple of friend
who had accompanied me, proceeded a
best l could to the place indicated. hat
heard exaggerated stories, and wa
> almost prepared Tor anything, but mus
; confess that 1 was greatly startled. TIN
earth for yards around seemed to be
smoulderiug heap and was as hot as a.
oven. In places a hard crust had forme
- over the clay, and large assures mad
by the heat The air seemed very dens
and fOggy, and in many places a bluis
% smoke broke through holes in the cart
r. and spread over the mountain tops, w
:. dug down to the depth of probably thre
a feet and came to a yellOwish sort of ella
a which was almost as soft as putty
When a shoYelful was thrown out o.
the ground it smoldered like a heap O
J ashes, and a quantity of smoke SCENE
to rise from it. 1t was very hot, an
S glowed with q strange brilliancy, whic
d lasted COR hours We tried the exper
0 meut Of digging down in a number G
. places, and always with the same rC
@ suits. The deeper we went the NOR
pronounced was the phenomena, an
Q we found it difficult to stand over tn
. opening How long this has been i
progress no one knows and the mo;
4 s.. Il l.
as if q volcano was at work and read
j at any moment to burst an openin
through the earth and throw out il
,, volume Of smoke and fire. Hundred
of people have visited the place, an
}, all have come away more mystifed tina
Louisville COUrjer-JOurnai