Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-11-05
DISCOVERED BY LIGHTNING.
The Mine "a large: For Jovc's Thunderbolts
Whenever Il Storm Occurred.

The Min. II large: For Jovc'S ThupuerDoiIs
Wnencycr Il Storm Occurred.
"The best paying and most valuable
iron mine in North Carolina, " said one
of the biologists of the geological sur
yev. was discovered by lightning. Ii
came about in this way: A gentleman
who owned Il large farm picked out one
of the prettiest cliffs or small hills on 1t
as tie site for y residence. 1t was very
nicely situated, sloping from all sides,
and besides Fad II fine spring of water
very near it. The water was first tested
and proved TO be nearly pure, though II
had trace of iron i'll it, not enough,
however, to Interfere to any great en-
tent with its taste. There were four
large and finely shaped trees on the hill,
the locations of which were such that
the house was built among thom, tree
being at each corner of the house. Tho
::rst storm that cane up after the house
was occupied was severe one, and the
lightning seemed to linger around there
in preference to spreading through the
valley. The following storm was equal
" familiar. and aG its conclusion the
large gum tree, the largest and hand
soonest of the four around the house,
was found to be lying on the ground,
having been struck by lightning. In
less than year the other trees met
with the same fate, and when they were
gone the lightning destroyed the barns,
cornhouses, tobacco houses and other
outbuildings So far, however, the resi-.
dence was not struck, but the owner
moved out and deserted it. In one
month afterward the corner of tho house
was knocked off during Il storm.
The fatalities connected with the
house, coupled with the prominence oi
its owner, wero made the subject of III
article in the local paper. This found
its way into Pittsburg and other pa
pers.
"A prospector who is now one OF
the owners Of the iron mine happened
TO sec it, and it was not long before h&
was On the ground. He was satisfied
from the first that there were reason.
why the lightning played such havoc
with that particular property, and that
q bed of iron thereabouts was the at
traction. Without making public III:
reasons he began negotiations for tho
purchase OF the kill and surrounding
land, and he was able to secure the
same for about his own price. In les:
than six weeks he located the iron a:iC
examined to some extent its quantity,
which he found to be enormous. Thcl
he capitalized tho investment in Pitts
burg ard elsewhere, and i'll less than !
wear he had an iron mine in full opera
ton. 1t paid from the first day. Tht
hill on which the residence was located
turned out TO be- after ten feet of tht
dirt was removed therefrom, mass o.
iron.
The whole cost of the outfit, in
GLIDING the cost Of the land, was no
over S.l5. coo, and over $3.50, 900 wortl
OF iron has been sent from there every
wear since. with no telling how Ions
the supply will continue. This is no
the only instance in iron mining wher;
lightning identified the mine. The sur
prising thing to ne is that the residence
stood as long rs it did, with such an ut
traction for lightning Immediately un
der it. '-Washiugton Star.