Massachusetts Spy And Worcester Advertiser

SPARTA, (Tenn.) Jan. 24.

A River on fire!--On Saturday evening last, we witnessed a very novel and interesting spectacle, at the Salt Wells, belonging to Mr. Denton, on the Calf Killer River about three miles above this village. Rumor, with her hundred tongues had been so very active on the occasion as to prepare us for the exhibition of something very curious, from hearing it proclaimed on all sides "The River is on fire." Determined to see for ourselves we mounted our nag at 8 P. M. and rode to this scene of wonder. As we approached within 2 miles of the wells our attention was suddenly arrested by seeing corruscations of light quivering on the edges of the horizon, which was illumined with an unsteady flickering glare. Arrived at the spot, a scene presented itself which almost beggars description A column of fire nearly 40 feet in height, ascended from near the middle of the river, here about 50 yards wide, illuminating surrounding objects within the distance of two hundred yards. We are informed by. Mr. Denton, that, in boring for Salt Water the preceding day, they had suddenly struck upon a vein of sulphurous gas. which, in ascending, found another vent than the tube, through a rock in the bed of the river, forcing a passage through the surrounding waters, which boiled with considerable violence round the place of its escape. A torch was then cautiously applied, which quickly communicated to the Gas, and a blaze inconceivably grand burst upwards to the height mentioned, apparently from the very bed of the river. The cloud above the blaze, exhibited a mixture of colors beautiful beyond description, and a ruddy dismal light gave to various objects the hues of green and red, yellow and blue. For two elements so adverse in their nature, thus to associate and commingle as it were, presented such an anomaly, as, for the moment annihilated all idea, that fire and water delighted in separation.