500 



the average size of bricks) — and was very sparsely interspersed with 

 grass. 



Whilst resting some two hundred feet from the summit, on the north- 

 east flank (during a moderate breeze from the south-west) we were sur- 

 prised by a loud roaring noise proceeding from the other side, precisely 

 similar to that of an express train when crossing a bridge, or passing a 

 rocky wall. It continued for the space of several seconds, exciting 

 various surmises as to its character and cause. Prior to its occurrence 

 not a sound disturbed the pulseless silence. All agreed that it resembled 

 the rush of a railway train, a clap of thunder, or an avalanche of rocks 

 down the mountain side. Hurrying forward to ascertain the facts, 

 nothing whatever could be discerned to furnish a clue to them. The 

 day moreover was perfectly clear, — -not a cloud upon the horizon ; and the 

 theory of a clap of thunder was accordingly abandoned. It was sug- 

 gested that the goblins, who in the days of Rip Van Winkle played 

 nine-pins on the summits of the Kaatskills, might possibly have emi- 

 grated like the Mormons to this sequestered spot, and had been nearly 

 surprised at their accustomed game. In a few moments more, however, 

 the phenomenon occurred again, and in this instance to the abundant 

 satisfaction of us all. 



A petty whirlwind, such as dashes along our dusty roads in summer, 

 flitted past within some twenty feet, accompanied by a similarly boister- 

 ous noise, although not so prodigious as in the first instance. Their 

 identity, however, was unequivocal ; for, bare as the mountain was, the 

 wind was enabled to collect enough of dust to render its gyrations dis- 

 tinctly visible. This was followed by two or three others of like charac- 

 ter during the half hour of our stay, but each apparently less noisy than 

 the last. As the sun had just passed the meridian this fact might pos- 

 sibly account for their diminishing energy. 



As the second was sweeping by, the writer — in order to measure the 

 violence of its winds — rushed into its vortex. It was not traveling 

 faster than spirited walk, and was about a yard in diameter. Its verti- 

 cal current, however, was sufficient to invert the skirts of his frock-coat 

 above his head, although its pockets were loaded with specimens of sil- 

 ver ore to the extent of at least one pound each. His hat required to 

 be firmly secured, and although there was not force enough in the wind 

 to disturb his equilibrium otherwise, its effect on the earth's surface 

 developed a noise like that of a quick-moving empty cart over a stony 

 pavement. The loudness of the clamor appeared to be in each case in exact 

 proportion with the violence of the wind, and it is a notable and well estab- 

 lished fact, that in distinctive whirlwinds, such as tear up trees, the ac- 

 companying roar is that of the most appalling thunder. 



Having in no instance heard of these phenomena, as occurring on the 

 scale, and under the circumstances here mentioned, the writer deems it 

 well to impart the facts for the due consideration of the curious. 



P. 



