Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-05-26
ICE r IN SUMMER.
Hill In Pennsylvania Contains n Cave
That L. Coolest in Warm
weather.

One OF the most remarkable freaks 81
nature to be found in the United States,
II not in the world, exists about a half
hours ride east Of Coudersport, Pa,
near a little hamlet known by the name
OF Sweden Valley. II is called the ice
cave" Some years ago, while excaya-
lions were going on in the construction
Of a railroad, a short distance under the
surface Of the side hill ice several inches
in thickness was found in crevices In the
rock in midsummer. Later It was dis
covered that on a large portion Of the
side hill facing the north, along which
the railroad was being built, ice was to
be found only a few inches under the
ground late in the summer, says the New
York Tribune.
Some persons. thinking the phenome-
non indicated the presence Of some sort
Of mineral in the locality, began eXca-
vations in the side hill. An excavation
nearly 20 feet deep was made directly in
TO the Hill, and about ten feet from the
surface Of the ground down to the level
Of the excavation, finding ice and a pc
culiar formation of rock, but no evidence
Of valuable mineral. A shaft was then
dug at the back part Of the excavation
about eight feet square and IS feet deep.
AS warm weather came on ice began 70
form along the sides Of the shaft from
the water which dripped down the sides
Of the shaft, until the work had to be
abandoned. The singular feature Of the
freezing was that on the hottest days,
when the air was dry, the ice formed the
fastest, sometimes an inch or more In
a day. II continued to form until about
the middle OF August, when the freezing
stopped, and by November ! the ice had
nearly all disappeared. There was no
appearance OF ice again until the follow
ing April, when, as the weather began
10 get warm, the ice again began TO
form. increasing in thickness as the
weather grew warmer. until by the mid
die Of July the ice was fully is inches in
thickness in places in the well or cave
Angleworms, lizards, ETC., would be
frozen into the fee as they attempted to
crawl down the surface.
This ice formation extended 70 within
a few inches OF the top Of the excavation,
often being several inches thick when
the summer sun was shining directly up
on It. A current of cold air is constantly
coming from the mouth of the eXcava-
ton in hot weather, and Is greatest on
very hot days, when the outside air Is
dryest. A thick fog at times forms over
the mouth OF the cave, caused by the
cold air coming in contact with the warm
air outside. AT the present time the ice
is TO be found in the ave more than a
foot thick, all or which has formed since
April 1 last. When the thermometer
stands at 80 degrees outside, the air In
the cave. only is feet from the surface.
stands at the freezing point. The sharp
splnes Of the forming ice can be seen
At any time in midday, or when the sun
Is shining outside and the thermometer
Is al the highest point II reaches in sum
mer. Another remarkable thing Is that
the current OF cold air appears only in
warm weather, ceasing as the weather
gets colder.
The mayo Of n of the large manu-
featuring cities Of England visited the
place two years since, and when asked
what be thought of Il, said: Il am gem
orally credited at home as a truthful
man. but If | went home and told hat
l have seen here to-day | should not ex-
pect to be believed. The whole thing Is
apparently directly contrary to nature.