Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-09-30
A WONDERFUL MOUNTAIN.

OF Ice MOuHldlu anu IIIe IedSOHS lOi
the peculiar phenomenon is from the
pen of Hu Maxwell, who is geologist
as we'll as an author, and appeared in
the Wheeling Mtelligencer. Mr.. Max
well is doubtless right in his theory as
to the formation and preservation Of
ice during the summer months. Any
way the article will doubtless be read
with interest:
About twenty miles east of Rom
ney, in Hampshire county, is noun
tain which has long attracted atten-
ton from the fact that along It's base
ice may be found short distance be-
meath the ground, in midsummer. For
more than a century it has been OBJ
served. A few days ago | paid WIS.,
it to it for the purpose of ascertalnlng,
if possible, what was peculiar in the
material situation of the mountain
which caused ice to freeze underground
in winter and refuse to thaw in sum-
mer. To me the only matter difficult
of explanation is the freezing process.
There is no mystery about the ice re-
sistence TO the melting power of the
summers heat. 1t is simply a natural
ice-house on a gigantic scale.
Approaching the mountain along
the road leading from Slanesville, 1t Is
seen to be portion of the range ris-
ing very abruptly from the east bank
of the North river for many miles,
usually rocky and turreted with crags
above. but covered with thick forests
near the base. The broken rocks,
which in millions of tons cover the
face of the mountain, appear black
from a distance, but when examined
near at hand are found to be white
sandstone, very pure. North river
washes the base of the mountain where
the ice is found and after crossing
that stream, climbed few feet up
stony bank, covered with trees, and |
at once was conscious of the presence
of ice. The GOODNESS Of the air was IN
stantly felt. A large spring gushed
from the base of the mountain, and the
water had the peculiar taste of water
obtained from melting snow. The
whole slope of the mountain, down to
the rivers edge, is covered with broken
rocks, each rock usually weighing less
than one hundred pounds and many
of them weighing only two or three
pounds. By removing these rocks to
the depth of couple of feet ice Is
found. The cold is sufficient to numb
the hand if thrust down through the
cavities in the rocks and by standing
in freshly dug hole, the feet will soon
grow painfully cold The cool air
rises everywhere from the ground in
the vicinity. l had no thermometer,
but I Judge the temperature anywhere
in the neighborhood of the ice is twen-
ty degrees lower on hot summer day
than in the open country beyond the
river.
Now, as to the reasons for the Pc
culiar phenomenon. People in the
vicinity explain it by saying there is
a vast cave under the mountain and
the cold comes from the cave. That
explanation is neither scientific nor
satisfactory.
There is no cave under the noun
tain. Mountains of that kind have no
caves. But, if there were cave, air
freezing cold would not come out Of 1t.
Ice is found in strip about six hun
dred feet long, parallel with the river,
and about forty feet wide, extending
from near the edge of the water two
or three rods up the mountain. AT
this point North river, after making a
sweep around the point of hill some
distance above, strikes Ice Mountain
almost at right angles. In past ages
the river cut into the mountain and
carried immense quantities of rock and
soil. The evidence is conclusive that
a. = x;,,o,. o,,t N NOV 4ba ci 10 Of tha rnoI1r-