The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-10
A STRANGE paENOMENON,
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Formed-Queer Freaks OF Nature,
BRRTHEIR, QUE, Jan, "a most re-
markahle phenomenon occurred in the
Parish OF Bertheir, about three miles
from the upper town yesterday, and the
inhabitants hereabouts, about fifteen
sixtespths OF whom are French Cana
diaus, Of the deepest ignorance and
superstition, are in deplorable state Of
fear and panic over what they imagine
is visitation from God,
Farmer savignaC Just after daylight
heard arumbllng noise and felt a sway.
ing Of his house, He rushed into the
open air, where sight met his gaze
which all but paralysed him, A barn
about fifty yards from his house was
standing up on one corner, the roof slid
ing Oft and slowly crnmbllng to pieces
before his eyes,
Another barn, which had stood one
hundred yards from the first, was lying
fattened out on tho ground, the hay and
straw tumbled all about, and the cattle
and horses standing still, shriekipg with
terror, The trees along the banks OF q
small rlverthat ran by the Savignac farm
seemed 10 be drunk, for they swayed
about and assumed attitudes which
under certain circumstances would
make man believe hehad bad attack
ofthe jams. The ice which had cover
cd the river the night before was gone,
and the bed Of tho river dry, The fences
on his farm were, some ofthem, entirely
gone, the rest scattered about like shay
ings,
saYignac called his two SONS and wife,
and WIS pointing TO the movement OF his
larger barn, when the earth gave another
shiyer, seemed to assume an appearance
like the waves Of u sea, and then slowly
began to sink. The large barn Topped
over on its side, and then spreading out,
into the earth,
Tie barley field, formerly as flat aud
level rs q billiard table, got It's back up
in u hundred shapes, in some places |
into q depth Of 80 feet, in Others
rising up in series OF small hills. The |
banks OF the river curled back upon
themselves and the ground between
them arose to ridge, tic crust Of which
was formed by the river bed, the bot
toms Of the sides being formed OF what
formerly were the banks,
To the north OF Savignac's barns, and
on the farm OF Pierre Lalonde, the lat
ter's brick.lined well rose straight up
into the air, where II looks like the
chimney OF q subterraneanh house. In.
londe's iarm sunk fifty feet ut least, and
the river, which passed within 200 yards
OF his house, ran into a depression OF
tho earth, forty acres In extent, where
1t formed lake, the southern outlet Of !
which Is q crack in tho ground leading
to where no one knows.
A small grade on SavignaC's farm has
disappeared, the earth opening
and then closing over the trees in regu-
lar pantomine fashion.
The first news OF the phenomenon reach
ed here by score Of aiIrighted inhabi.
tants who came into Bertheir with news
that the devil wAs seen to issue from the
earth breathing blue fire and enveloped
In flames. They sworo they heard him
below and saw the ground move In great
billows wherever lie walked. They
could not be induced to return butruaL.
ed to tue nearest church, where they
said mass for over an hour.
George Viliquet headed purity Of non.
people, who started 10
drive 10 Savignac'splacc. Half mile
this side OF SaVignac's he was stopped by
q crack in the ground foot wide OK.
tending across the road and abont three
quarters Of q milo long, Stones thrown
into 1t, t,sent buck no sound, but the ear
placed to the crack heard q noise as Of
running water.
Savignac's farm was a curiosity. His
house looked like the leaning tower Of
Pisa, while his flat fields and well kept |
pastures were a succession OF hills and |
holes The farm Of La TondG was in n
similar condition, though only one OF
his farms had dropped through the
earth. A close examination OF tho earth
crust suggested tho theory that the
farms were over a yast subterranean
caves, and that the crust, which up.
appears to be from six TO twelve feet
thick, collapsed,
At some OF the holes and cracks n
rushing noise can be heard as Of some
mighty underground river, forcing it's
way through the bowels Of the earth. OF
all the snow which was on tho ground
fallen in there Is not particle left.
Asimilar phenomenon, but on q much
smaller scale, occurred at BeloCil Noun
tain lust summer, when ilfty-aCre farm
sank bodily some ten feet, houses, barns
and ali, CT